Posey v. Rome Oil & Fertilizer Co.
Posey v. Rome Oil & Fertilizer Co.
Opinion of the Court
(After stating the foregoing facts.) The bankruptcy act Of 1898, sec. 6 (Collier on Bankruptcy, 9th ed., 279), confers jurisdiction upon the courts of bankruptcy to set aside exemptions to bankrupts as may be claimed by them in conformity to the State laws on that subjéct, in force at the time of the filing of the peti-' tion. .See McGahan v. Anderson, 113 Fed. 115 (51 C. C. A. 92, 7 Am. Bkr. R. 641); In re Gerber, 186 Fed. 693 (108 C. C. A. 511, 26 Am. Bkr. R. 608); In re Baker, 182 Fed. 392 (104 C. C. A. 602, 24 Am. Bkr. R. 411). But the bankruptcy act does not confer jurisdiction on courts of bankruptcy to set aside exemptions not in conformity with State laws. If the exemption so set aside is in conformity with the State law, such exemption is no more subject to levy and sale than if it was set aside by courts of ordinary of this State. Brady v. Brady, 71 Ga. 71; Ross v. Worsham, 65 Ga. 624; Barrett v. Durham, 80 Ga. 336 (5 S. E. 102); Dozier v. Wilson, 84 Ga. 301 (10 S. E. 743); Evans v. Rounsaville, 115 Ga. 684 (42 S. E. 100); Pincus v. Meinhard, 139 Ga. 365(2), 372 (77 S. E. 82). In the instant ease the bankrupt in his original petition filed a schedule and claimed household and kitchen furniture of the value of $25, corn on hand of the value of $40, and cash $235, which was set apart by the trustee to the bankrupt, who ■ later sought to amend his schedule, stating in substance that his original claim of cash was made through inadvertence, and that it was his intention to claim the “constitutional unwaiver able homestead,” and prayed that the cash in the hands of the trustee be invested for him in one of the articles authorized by the Georgia law, to wit, corn, etc. It has been held by this court that that cannot be done; and therefore if it was attempted to be done, such effort would be a mere nullity. In Arnwine v. Beaver, 134 Ga. 377 (67 S. E. 937), this court held that “The property protected against the waiver of exemption, and as to which no waiver can be effectual, is wearing apparel, household and kitchen furniture, and provisions; consequently money, though less in amount than $300, and though it might readily be converted into any one of the
But it is argued that the judgment of the lower court in subjecting this money, which was converted by purchase into corn, to a homestead-waiver noté, in effect set aside the judgment of the court of bankruptcy, which authorized the purchase of the corn with the money first sought to be set aside as exempt. The answer to this contention is that even if the referee in bankruptcy passed such an order, as contended, the judgment would not be in conformity with the laws of this State, as pointed out above; and therefore that court would be without jurisdiction to pass such an order, and such order would be illegal. It will be observed that the order of the trial judge did not interfere with the exemption as set apart by the bankruptcy court, except as to the corn which was purchased with the money first sought to be exempted. The court merely ordered the receiver of the State court to sell the corn and out of the proceeds to pay first the cost of the proceeding and the balance to creditors in this cause pro rata. We are of the opinion that the court in so holding ruled correctly and in conformity with the rule laid down in the Arnwine case, and others cited to the same effect. It cannot be held that cotton is “provisions” as provided by art. 9, sec. 3, par. 1, of the constitution of this State (Civil Code of 1910, § 6584), which provides that “The debtor shall have power to waive or renounce in writing his right to the benefit of the exemption provided for in this article, except as to wearing apparel, and not exceeding $300 worth of household and kitchen furniture, and provisions, to be selected by himself and his wife, if any;” etc. Butler v. Shiver, supra.
070rehearing
ON MOTION ROE REHEARING.
Cash can not be set aside as a homestead exemption. When a debtor applies for a homestead, and he is possessed of cash, it is competent for the ordinary to order the cash invested in property, and then set aside the property as a homestead exemption. Civil Code (1910), § 3391. This section does not deal with, and does not affect, the rights of creditors under homestead exemptions. When the debtor waives his homestead rights he cannot thereafter assert his homestead against such waiver, except in the case wherein the constitution declares that certain articles cannot be waived by the debtor. When the debtor waives his homestead he vests his creditor with the right to subject all his property to the payment of his debt, except the articles specified in the constitution, viz., wearing apparel and not exceeding three hundred dollars’ worth of household and kitchen furniture and provisions. If his property consists of other articles, his waiver of homestead subjects all such articles to the payment of his debt created by his obligation waiving the homestead. He cannot defeat this right of the creditor under his waiver by having articles sold and the proceeds invested in articles which are not subject to waiver; nor can he have cash, which would be liable under such waiver, converted into articles not subject to the waiver. Motion for rehearing denied.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.