Aden v. Aden
Aden v. Aden
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
H. E. Aden, complainant’s testator, died October 27, 1884, having, in 1870, made his will, which was proved after his death. It contained a provision that “all I may have charged to them” (his three children), “ either as a running account or as a gift, should be taken into a final adjustment that all may be equal.”
In May 1884, some five months before he died, testator made, executed and delivered a deed in the usual form, though without attesting witnesses, for one hundred acres of land in Henry county, to his son, the defendant, B. S. Aden, in trust, for the then wife of said. B. S., and the issue of their marriage,' to be
The consideration expressed is love and affection, and the grantor covenants that his title is unencumbered, and further covenants and warrants the title against the lawful claims of all persons whatsoever. It contains the further recital that the grantor wishes it to be “further understood, that this gift is not to be, under any circumstances, or at any time, treated by any person or persons who may be interested in my estate after my death, as an advancement, to be collated in the partition or distribution of said estate,” etc. The execution and delivery of said deed were satisfactorily established upon the hearing in the chancery court, and the deed .had been previously admitted to registration upon proof of the handwriting of the maker by two witnesses.
The chancellor dismissed the bill so far as it sought to make defendant, B. S. Aden, account for the one hundred acres conveyed in trust to him for his wife and children, and directed a partition of the real estate, remaining at testator’s death, equally amongst the three children of testator, and appointed three commissioners to perform this duty, including the land set apart to the widow for homestead and dower, she having dissented from the will, and homestead and dower having been previously set apart to
We think it was perfectly competent to testator to convey the land, and to declare in the conveyance that it was not to be accounted for in the partition and . distribution of . his estate as ah advancement. This has been done in unmistakable language.
The chancellor has so held, and we affirm his decree, with costs of this court, and the cause will be remanded to the chancery court for further proceedings.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Clinton Aden v. B. S. Aden and Wife
- Status
- Published