Hays v. Blanks
Hays v. Blanks
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court.
Hays exhibited this bill against Blanks and wife, seeking to subject to the satisfaction of a judgment against the former, his interest in right of his wife, in her father’s estate. The Court below dismissed the bill and Hays has brought the case to this Court.
The bill alledges that Blanks was a non-resident; that he was an industrious, prudent man, possessed of a good estate, and that he provided well for his wife and children.
Blanks and wife filed separate answers, each resisting the relief sought. Mrs. Blanks prays the protection of the Chancellor, and that her share in her father’s estate may be settled upon her and her children.
The habits and pecuniary situation of the husband are not controverted, but sustained by the testimony. The estate of the father of Mrs. Blanks was undivided and
In this view of the case, the question arises whether the Court below was right in refusing to appropriate the patrimony of the wife or any portion thereof, to the satisfaction of the complainant’s demand against the husband:
The equity of the wife in a case of this kind does not rest, as contended, upon the insolvency of the husband, nor upon the ground tha the is improvident and fails suitably to provide for her support, and that of her children, although such circumstances would constitute an additional and powerful reason why the Chancellor should protect the interest of the wife. But it rests upon the broad ground that in a Court of equity it is regarded as her estate, which she has a right to have expressly set apart and secured, or such portion thereof as may be necessary for the permanent support of herself and children. Hence the doctrine is now well settled, that the Chancellor will not aid the husband, nor permit him nor his assignee nor creditor, to acquire possession of the funds or personal estate of the wife, until an adequate settlement is made upon her. In this case the husband and wife reside in the State of Missouri, and are not within the jurisdiction of the Court. But if they were, and the husband’s estate was here, still the Chancellor would not attempt to provide for the wife out of his estate. He would only refuse to aid him in acquiring possession of her estate.
The creditor occupies no better attitude than the assignee, and neither no better attitude than the husband. As to the extent of the interest of Mrs. Blanks in this case, we are not satisfied that it exceeds a proper settlement for her. In some cases, the Chancellor directs the inter, est and profits of the wife’s estate to be paid over to the husband when she is properly maintained by him, but
In support of the foregoing principles, Clancy on Rights, 140 to 150; Kenny vs Udall, (5 Johnson’s Chy. Rep. 464, and authorities there died, and numerous cases in this Court,) are referred to.
The decree is, therefore, affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.