Stahl v. Wilson, 59-683

• Decision Date: 16 June 1960
• Docket Number: No. 59-683,59-683
• Parties: Malcolm STAHL and wife, Ofelia Stahl, Appellants, v. Victoria Crawford WILSON, a widow, Appellee.
• Court: Florida District Court of Appeals

Page 662

121 So.2d 662

Malcolm STAHL and wife, Ofelia Stahl, Appellants, v. Victoria Crawford WILSON, a widow, Appellee.

No. 59-683.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.

June 16, 1960.

Rehearing Denied July 12, 1960.

Redfearn, Ferrell & Simon, Miami, for appellants.

Hilton R. Carr, Jr., and Herbert A. Warren, Jr., Miami, for appellee.

PEARSON, Judge.

Appellants were the plaintiffs in the trial court. They appeal from an order dismissing their complaint for declaratory decree. The complaint alleges that the plaintiffs purchased on May 5, 1958, certain real property. The history of the plaintiffs' title as set forth in the complaint reveals that in February, 1939, title to the property in question was conveyed by Fred Wilson, joined by a presumed wife, Minnie Wilson, and that after mesne conveyances, the plaintiffs became the fee-simple owners in 1958. The complaint continued as follows:

'That the said Fred Wilson, also known as Fred Douglas Wilson, who, with his alleged wife, Minnie Wilson, conveyed to Paul D. Moss the property described in paragraph one of this complaint, died on April 16, 1955 and said alleged wife caused administration proceedings to be filed in the County Judge's Court of Dade County and John W. Wright was appointed administrator of said estate.

'That thereafter Victoria Crawford Wilson filed her petition in said court in which she alleged that she was the lawful wife of the said Fred Douglas Wilson; that Minnie was not his wife; that the letters of administration granted to John W. Wright should be revoked; that she should be declared the lawful wife of said Wilson and should be appointed administratrix of said estate; and that on May 16, 1955, said County Judge entered an order in which the said Victoria Crawford Wilson was adjudged to be the lawful, surviving wife of the said Fred Douglas Wilson, deceased, and in which the letters of administration granted to John W. Wright were revoked and Victoria Crawford Wilson appointed administratrix of the estate of the said Fred Douglas Wilson.

'That on November 25, 1955, the said Victoria Crawford Wilson filed her election to take dower in the estate of her husband, the said Fred Douglas Wilson, and that on March 4, 1959, the County Judge entered an order for dower in which he adjudged the said Victoria Crawford Wilson was entitled to her dower of one-third part in fee simple in and to the above described property: Lot 3, in Block 1 of said Manhattan park, on the ground that said Fred (Douglas) Wilson, on February 28, 1939, joined by his alleged wife, Minnie Wilson, while he was still married to Victoria Crawford Wilson, conveyed said property and the said Victoria Crawford Wilson did not relinquish her right of dower therein.'

The complaint concludes with the prayer as follows:

'Wherefore, plaintiffs pray that the court resolve the doubt as to whether or not said paragraph 3 of section 731.35 applies to the judgment of dower entered herein on March 4, 1959, and if so, order, adjudge, and decree that said judgment shall not be enforced against the above described property.'

The legislature of the State of Florida amended section 731.35, Fla.Stat., F.S.A., in 1957 by adding the following paragraph, numbered '3', which reads as...