Goff v. Moore
Goff v. Moore
Opinion of the Court
So much of the facts in this case as are necessary to understand the issue involved are as follows:
Abner Goff died in 1896, intestate and without issue, leaving Martha Goff, his widow, surviving him. She was his sole heir at law. At his death he was seized in fee simple of 162 acres
“First: I give and devisé to my brother, Ensley Finney Haas, to have and to hold during Lis natural life, 'all of the farm with its appurtenances which was owned by my husband, Abner Goff, at the time of his death, and of which I became seized as his widow, consisting of 162 acres, more or less, and situated in Washington township, Licking county, Ohio.”
There is no other reference in her will to this real estate. Ens-lay Finney Haas was the sole heir at law of Martha Goff, and he died shortly after the death of his sister, Martha Goff, leaving a will by the terms of which he gave the residuum of his estate to the defendant, Allen B. Gregg.. This action is for partition of the lands described, and being the 162 acres mentioned above. An issue was made by the pleadings as to the descent of the title to this land from Martha Goff, and this is the question to be determined in this action.
Martha Goff took title to this land by virtue of Section 8574 of the General Code. At her death intestate and without issue, it would pass one-half to her brothers and sisters, and one-half to the brothers and sisters of her deceased husband, Abner Goff. If she should dispose of it by will or deed, of course, it would descend according to the terms of such deed or will. This, however, she did not do. The question peculiar to the case is whether or not Martha Goff died intestate, or testate, so as to control the descent of this land from her. It is conceded that in either event one-half of the land would descend to her brother, Ensley Finney Haas, he being her sole heir at law, and the same would pass under his will to the defendant, Allen B. Gregg. But what of the other one-hal.f? She died leaving a will, but she did not dispose of the fee of this land in her
It is the opinion of the court that Martha Goff died intestate as to the real estate which she inherited from her husband, and that the title to such real estate "would pass and descend in accordance with the terms and provisions of Section 8577, and not according to the terms and provisions of Section 8574. Or, in other words, the one-half of this land will pass and descend as intestate property to the brothers and sisters of said Abner Goff, deceased, or to their legal representatives and a partition of the same will be ordered as prayed for by them.
The cause will be remanded to the court of common pleas to carry this order of partition into effect.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.