Mulvanity v. Nute.

Decision Date03 October 1949
Citation68 A.2d 536
PartiesMULVANITY v. NUTE.
CourtNew Hampshire Supreme Court
OPINION TEXT STARTS HERE

James F. Mulvanity, Sr., sued Mary E. C. Nute for partition of realty which had been devised by a testatrix to the plaintiff's grantor and to the defendant as joint tenants with the desire that they should have right and privilege of occupying the premises during their lifetime, and with title to vest in survivor on the decease of one of them.

The trial court, Lampron, J., on an agreed statement of facts reserved and transferred without ruling questions whether deed to plaintiff created in him an undivided one-half interest in fee as tenant in common with the defendant, and whether the defendant became the owner in fee of the other untivided half interest as a tenant in common.

The Supreme Court, Johnston, J., answered the questions in the affirmative.

Petition, for partition of certain real estate situate in the city of Nashua. This had been devised by the following clause of the will of Nora S. Mulvanity of Nashua: ‘First: I give, bequeath and devise my Old Homestead, on the East Dunstable Road, in said Nashua, to my son, James F. Mulvanity, and my sister, Mary E. C. Nute, as Joint Tenants. It is my desire that my son and sister shall have the right and privilege to occupy the premises during their lifetime, and, upon the decease of one, the title to vest in the survivor.’ Said will was probated February 27, 1945 in the Probate Court for the County of Hillsborough. April 6, 1948 the son James F. Mulvanity deeded to his father James F. Mulvanity, Sr., all his rights, title and interest in the devised premises.

In advance of a hearing on the petition, the Court, Lampron, J., on an agreed statement of facts reserved and transferred without ruling the following questions of law: ‘1-Did the above deed from James F. Mulvanity, Jr. to James F. Mulvanity, Sr., create in James F. Mulvanity, Sr. an undivided half interest in fee as tenant in common with Mary E. C. Nute in the above described premises? If not, what interest did James F. Mulvanity acquire in said premises by said deed? 2-As a result of said deed is Mary E. C. Nute the owner in fee of the other undivided half interest in said real estate as tenant in common? If not, what is her interest in said real estate?’

John D. Wilcox, Nashua, for plaintiff.

John D. Warren, Nashua, for defendant.

JOHNSTON, Justice.

Because of the language used, it is certain that the testamentary clause under consideration did not create an estate in common. R.L. c. 259, § 17.

An estate in joint tenancy in fee with the right or incident of survivorship was established unless the devise should be construed as a gift to the son and the sister as joint tenants for life, with remainder in fee to the survivor. Burns v. Nolette, 83 N.H. 489, 496, 144 A. 848, 67 A.L.R. 1051; 48 C.J.S., Joint Tenancy, § 4, page 929; 33 Am.Jur. 467, 468.

The language of Mrs. Mulvanity's will and the fact that the second and the third attesting witnesses were lawyers indicate that the draftsman was familiar with the meaning of the words ‘Joint Tenants' and other legal terms. Therrien v. Therrien, 94 N.H. 66, 46 A.2d 538, 166 A.L.R. 1023. The formal wording of the devise states that the real estate is given to the son and the sister ‘as Joint Tenants,’ without...

To continue reading

Request your trial
14 cases
  • Baker's Estate, In re
    • United States
    • Iowa Supreme Court
    • October 16, 1956
    ...v. Klajbor, 1950, 406 Ill. 513, 94 N.E.2d 502, 504; Berry v. Berry's Estate, 1949, 168 Kan. 253, 212 P.2d 283, 286; Mulvanity v. Nute, 1949, 95 N.H. 526, 68 A.2d 536, 538; Ball v. Mann, 1948, 88 Cal.App.2d 695, 199 P.2d 706, 708; Hammond v. McArthur, 1947, 30 Cal.2d 512, 183 P.2d 1, 2, 3; K......
  • Albro v. Allen
    • United States
    • Michigan Supreme Court
    • March 20, 1990
    ...cannot be affected by a conveyance of the life estate, 48A CJS, Joint Tenancy, Sec. 19, p 352. See also Mulvanity v. Nute, 95 N.H. 526, 527-528, 68 A.2d 536 (1949). In Spurlock v. Commercial Banking Co, 138 Ga.App. 892, 897, 227 S.E.2d 790 (1976), aff'd 238 Ga. 123, 231 S.E.2d 748 (1977), t......
  • Gagnon v. Pronovost
    • United States
    • New Hampshire Supreme Court
    • December 6, 1949
    ...Stimpson v. Baterman, 5 Cush. 153, 59 Mass. 153; Cross v. Cross, 324 Mass. 186, 85 N.E.2d 325, 328. The recent case of Mulvanity v. Nute, 95 N.H. ----, 68 A.2d 536 is consistent with the cited cases in holding that such words of survivorship are an incident of a joint tenancy. It may be con......
  • Allaire Estate, In re
    • United States
    • New Hampshire Supreme Court
    • May 31, 1961
    ...intent is reasonably ascertainable. North Hampton School District v. Hampton Society, 97 N.H. 219, 220, 84 A.2d 833; Mulvanity v. Nute, 95 N.H. 526, 68 A.2d 536. In Gagnon v. Pronovost, 96 N.H. 154, 71 A.2d 747, it was held that a joint tenancy was not created where the only phrase so indic......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT