Treme v. Lonaux's Syndics
Treme v. Lonaux's Syndics
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the 1 courp The question presented in this case 1 1 is whether the renunciation made by the wife of the insolvent, of the mortgage which she had on her husband’s estate for the restitution of her dotal and paraphernal effects is binding on her.
This renunciation was made by public act, in a contract where the husband gave a mortgage to secure a person, who is now one of the creditors, against the responsibility he incur-ed by endorsing notes for the insolvent. The property on which the mortgage was renounced formed a part of the acquests during marriage.
The act of mortgage after stating that the wife of the mortgagor appeared and had become a party to the act, she being duly au-thorised to that effect, by her husband, proceeds thus, “ and the said Mrs. Lanaux, after having read and understood what is already written, said and declared, that being well
As there seems to exist jet a considerable doubt, as to the extent which married women may bind themselves with their husbands, and to the form as well as the effect of the renunciation made bj her; the present seems a convenient and proper occasion for bringing together, and passing in review, the decisions already made in our courts on this subJect-
The first case was that of Beauregards' executor, vs. Peirnas’ wife. That was ao action to recover out of the property of the wife, :(Ae husband having become insolvent) the price of a slave sold by the testator to the husband by a notarial act of sale, to which the wife became a party, as surety, and as such in conjunction with her husband, hypothecated her property present and to come.
It was decided in favor of the defendant, bn the ground that the renunciation was general, instead of being as the law required special; that the notary had failed to make mention the 81st Law of Toro was renounced,
The second was that of Brognier vs. Forstall. C |n that case the wife bound herself jointly with her husband, to the payment of a debt, to secure which, they mortgaged to the creditors certain slaves. She afterwards contested the validity of the contract, on the ground that the obligation had not been made in such a manner as to bind her and that it had not destroyed the tacit mortgage which she had on her husband’s properly, for the restitution of her dowry. The court gave judgment against her. On the first ground because the renunciation was formal; on the second, that the effect of this renunciation, was to destroy the tacit mortgage she had for the restitution of her dowry, as well as to render her liable according to the obligation she had entered into.
In pronouncing judgment, the court also decided, that when the renunciation was made in doe form, it was unnecessary to prove the contract had turned out* to be beneficial to the wife; and also that the - was not such a one as required a special renunciation, that being only requisite when t- '
The third case was that of Bourcier vs. Lannusse, where the wife joined in the sale ofproperty belonging to the community. The court there took the distinction between those contracts io which the wife was a party principal, and those where she made her appearance in the character of a third party. But decided that the instrument produced was not binding on her, because she had renounced a law not made for the contract she had entered into; but for her protection in case she bound herself in solido with her husband. 3 Martin, 581.
The next time the question came before the court, was in the case of Chapillon and wife vs. St. Maxenfs heirs. In the contract which gave rise to it, the wife had bound herself jointly with her husband, and mortgaged her property for a debt due by him. The renunciation was in due form, and the court adhering to its decision in the case of Brognier vs. Forstall, declared, that it was not necessary, to prove the debt was created for her advantage. 5 Martin, 167,
. The same subject was again presented in the case of Durnford vs. Gros and his wife,
In that case,the court also held that the civil code had not changed the ancient law's in this matter, and they further declared, it their opinion, that in no case could the wife bind herself as surety for the husband. 7 Martin, 484,
The point last mentioned came directly before the court in the late case of Banks vs. Trudeau, and the opinion there expressed, in relation to the power of the wife to become security for the husband, was in conformity with that already intimated in the case of Durnford vs. Gros. The court also held, that this prohibition could not be avoided by giving to the agreement the form of an obligation in solido, Vol 2, 39.
From this review of these cases, it will appear, that, that now before us, is different from them all. Here the wife neither bound herself jointly, nor as surety for her husband; she merely consented, that the property of the community on which she had a mortgage,
The renunciation there made, was on a contract similar to this, and the manner in which the renunciation was made The same. That now before us, pursues almost literally, the 58th law of the 18th title of the 3d Partidas, which prescribes the manner the act .should be drawn up, where the wife consents to an alienation made by the husband. We therefore think the renunciation binding on her,. This opinion accords with an intimation made by the court in the case of Bourcier vs. Lanusse, though the point was not necessary to a decision of that cause.
It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the parish court be affirmed with costs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- TREME v. LONAUX'S SYNDICS
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- Published