Leonard v. Wren
Cases that cite this one
6 later published cases cite this decision.
- Schenck v. Schenck (Iowa 1951)
- Hall v. Hall (Iowa 1928)
- Trustees of the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church v. Horel (Iowa 1944)
- Browne v. Johnson (Iowa 1934)
- Burmeister v. Hamann (Iowa 1929)
- Goodman v. Andrews (Iowa 1927)
This list shows which later cases cite this one. It does not say how they treated it, and no review of that has been done. Not a substitute for Shepard’s or KeyCite — verify before relying.
Opinion of the Court
The real objective of the present suit is to obtain a decree holding void a deed of real estate, on the ground that it was wholly testamentary in character, and conveyed no present interest. The deed was delivered and recorded in 1886. It contained the following reservation:
*1340 “This deed is not to take effect during the lifetime of either of the grantors, but after the death of Thomas- Leonard and Mary Leonard, then this deed to vest complete title in Thomas Wren,” etc.
Thomas Leonard died in possession, in 1915. The plaintiffs’ claim of invalidity is based upon the proviso here quoted.
The question thus presented -has been before us in somewhat varying form in several previous cases. These cases have all been reviewed by us in the recent case of Shaull v. Shaull, 182 Iowa 770. It will be noted that, in the Shaull case, we have receded from the holding in some of our previous cases.
The holding in the Shaull case is decisive of the case before us. The decree of the district court is, accordingly,— Affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.