Summary
In DeLuca v. DeLuca, 388 Pa. 167, 130 A.2d 179 (1957), which concerned a house and furniture bought with the balance of a joint bank account, we said: "... [these properties] are subject to the use and enjoyment of both parties. If they cannot live together amicably and enjoy them together, the only alternative is to account for the property and divide the proceeds equally."
Summary of this case from Lindenfelser v. LindenfelserOpinion
January 7, 1957.
March 25, 1957.
Appeals — Review — Chancellor's fact findings.
1. The findings of fact of the chancellor supported by competent evidence and confirmed by the court en banc have the weight of a jury's verdict.
Husband and wife — Jointly owned property — Tenancy by the entireties — Rights of respective spouses.
2. Property which is owned by husband and wife as a tenancy by the entireties cannot be used for the exclusive benefit of one party without the consent of the other.
3. Where a husband and wife are unable to agree upon the use and enjoyment of property owned as tenants by the entireties, the only alternative is to account for the property and divide the proceeds equally.
Equity — Jurisdiction — Land outside territorial jurisdiction — Compelling action by defendant.
4. Where a court of equity has jurisdiction of the person of the defendant, it may render any appropriate decree acting directly on the person, even though the subject matter affected is outside the jurisdiction; a decree does not operate directly on a res which is beyond the territorial jurisdiction of the court, but the court may, acting in personam, compel action respecting it.
Argued January 7, 1957. Before JONES, C. J., BELL, CHIDSEY, MUSMANNO, ARNOLD, JONES and COHEN, JJ.
Appeal, No. 296, Jan. T., 1956, from decree of Court of Common Pleas No. 1 of Philadelphia County, June T., 1955, No. 8875, in case of Henry De Luca v. Jennie Rizzi De Luca. Decree affirmed.
Equity. Before GRIFFITHS, J.
Adjudication filed finding for plaintiff in part; exceptions to adjudication dismissed and final decree entered. Defendant appealed.
Rames J. Bucci, with him Bucci Bucci, for appellant. Charles P. Mirarchi, Sr., with him Mirarchi Mirarchi, for appellee.
This suit in equity between an estranged husband and wife involves a controversy growing out of their antenuptial agreement with respect to the ownership, after marriage, of their separate estates. Both parties had been married before, their spouses being dead, and each had children. At the time of their marriage on February 14, 1953, they were well along in years.
The findings of fact of the learned chancellor, which fully cover the issues, are supported by the evidence, were confirmed by the court en banc upon exceptions and therefore have the weight of a jury's verdict: see Mann v. Mann, 387 Pa. 230, 233, 127 A.2d 666, and cases there cited. Obviously, no good purpose would be served in re-discussing the issues which were so adequately resolved by the court below; and the law pertinent to the findings was correctly applied as the following excerpts from the adjudication of the learned chancellor demonstrate.
"Plaintiff went to a great deal of effort to prove by his own testimony and that of his children and son-in-law that he and Defendant had made an oral prenuptial agreement that all the property of each of them should become the joint property of both. This in fact was done as to Plaintiff's savings account, to which was shortly added the proceeds of the sale of his house on Mole Street. This fund as so enlarged thereupon became an estate by the entirety: Leach's Estate, 282 Pa. 545 (1925), Berhalter v. Berhalter, 315 Pa. 225 (1934). Hence it could not be used for the exclusive benefit of one party without the consent of the other.
". . . the Margate house and the furniture bought with the balance in the joint bank account are subject to the use and enjoyment of both parties. If they cannot live together amicably and enjoy them together, the only alternative is to account for the property and divide the proceeds equally. Berhalter v. Berhalter, supra; Werle v. Werle, 332 Pa. 49 (1938); Wakefield v. Wakefield, 149 Pa. Super. 9 (1949); and Lindenfelser v. Lindenfelser, 383 Pa. 424 (1956). The question remains as to whether Defendant's Morris Street property was covered by the alleged prenuptial agreement. Should it be conveyed to the parties' joint names on the ground that equity will regard as done that which ought to be done?
. . .
"It is true that the Margate property is outside the jurisdiction of this Court and we therefore have no power to act upon it directly. Nevertheless, we do have jurisdiction over Defendant personally and can therefore order her to act or to refrain from acting with regard to such property: Schmaltz v. York Manufacturing Company, 204 Pa. 1 (1902); Cohn v. Weiss, 356 Pa. 78, 85-88 (1947)."
Decree affirmed; the costs to be borne equally by the parties.