Ownership of Property among Two Sets of Spouses

“Rodriguez’s Right to 50% of the Property Was Created by Operation of Law”

In this case, the Deed to the subject real property indicated ownership of the property as follows:

“GILBERTO HERNANDEZ and CONSOLACION HERNANDEZ, HIS WIFE … AND ERLINDA QUE and ELPIDIO RODRIGUEZ, HER HUSBAND.”

As to the 50% interest in the property owned by movant  Elpidio Rodriguez and his wife, Erlinda Que, they owned their share as tenants by the entirety. Based upon the substantial case law in New York State, Mr. Rodriguez and Erlinda Que took ownership of their half-share as husband and wife, have continued as such until Erlinda Que’s death.

In Prario v. Novo, 168 Misc.2d 610 (Sup. Ct., Westchester Co. 1996), the court held that a grant of real property to a husband and wife creates a tenancy by the entirety “unless expressly declared to be a joint tenancy or tenancy in common.”  Estates, Powers and Trusts Law § 6-2.2(b). A joint tenancy is subject to partition during the lifetimes of the joint tenants (24 N.Y.Jur.2d, Cotenancy and Partition, § 33; 3A Warren’s Weed, New York Real Property, Partition, § 3.03; id., vol. 2A, Joint Tenants, § 4.01) whereas a tenancy by the entirety cannot be divided absent consent of both spouses or upon a divorce (24 N.Y.Jur.2d, Cotenancy and Partition, §§ 38, 56; 3A Warren’s Weed, op. cit., Partition, § 3.12) The tenancy by the entirety can be changed by voluntary act of the couple, divorce or death.

In Goldman v. Goldman, 95 NY2d 120 (2000), the Court of Appeals noted that a tenancy by the entirety is a form of real property ownership available only to parties married at the time of the conveyance (Kahn v. Kahn, 43 N.Y.2d 203, 207, 401 N.Y.S.2d 47, 371 N.E.2d 809). As tenants by the entirety, both spouses enjoy an equal right to possession of and profits yielded by the property (Neilitz v. Neilitz, 307 N.Y. 882, 122 N.E.2d 924). Additionally, “each tenant may sell, mortgage or otherwise encumber his or her rights in the property, subject to the continuing rights of the other” (V.R.W., Inc. v. Klein, 68 N.Y.2d 560, 565, 510 N.Y.S.2d 848, 503 N.E.2d 496). Only if the legal relationship between the husband and wife is judicially altered through divorce, annulment or legal separation, does the tenancy by the entirety converts to a tenancy in common (Kahn v. Kahn, 43 N.Y.2d, supra, at 207, 401 N.Y.S.2d 47, 371 N.E.2d 809).

Courts have recognized that a tenancy by the entirety cannot be altered without the mutual consent of the spouses or divorce. In Sciacca v. Sciacca, 185 Misc.2d 105 (Sup. Ct. Queens Co. 2000), the court held that: “As articulated by the Court of Appeals in Kahn v. Kahn, 43 N.Y.2d 203, 401 N.Y.S.2d 47, 371 N.E.2d 809, a court cannot direct the disposition of property held by married couples as tenants by the entirety until the court first alters the marital status, such as by entering a judgment of divorce or separation. Indeed, the law is long-settled that neither entirety tenant may, without the consent of the other, dispose of any part of the property to defeat the right of survivorship.” Citing to Hiles v. Fisher, 144 N.Y. 306, 39 N.E. 337.)

The Court of Appeals held, in Hiles v. Fisher, 144 NY 306 (1895), that the husband had a right to mortgage his interest, which was a right to the use of an undivided half of the estate during the joint lives, and to the fee in case he survived his wife; and by the foreclosure and sale the plaintiff acquired this interest, and became a tenant, in common with the wife, of the premises, subject to her right of survivorship.

Revisiting this issue, in V.R.W., Inc. v. Klein, 68 NY2d 560 (1986), the Court of Appeals held:

What makes this right of survivorship unique and differentiates it from the right of survivorship inherent in an ordinary joint tenancy is that it remains fixed and cannot be destroyed without the consent of both spouses (see, Kahn v. Kahn, 43 N.Y.2d 203, 401 N.Y.S.2d 47, 371 N.E.2d 809; compare, Matter of Polizzo, 308 N.Y. 517, 127 N.E.2d 316; Matter of Suter, 258 N.Y. 104, 179 N.E. 310, with Matter of Klatzl, supra, 216 N.Y. at pp. 86-87, 110 N.E. 181; Hiles v. Fisher, supra). As long as the marriage remains legally intact, both parties continue to be seized of the whole, and the death of one merely results in the defeasance of the deceased spouse’s coextensive interest in the property (see, Stelz v. Shreck, supra, 128 N.Y. at p. 266, 28 N.E. 510; Bertles v. Nunan, supra, at p. 156). Similarly, involuntary partition is not available to either cotenant as a means of severing the tenancy by the entirety, since a contrary rule would permit a vindictive or irresponsible spouse to deprive the other of the comforts of the marital home (see, Kahn v. Kahn, supra, 43 N.Y.2d at p. 208, 401 N.Y.S.2d 47, 371 N.E.2d 809; Anello v. Anello, 22 A.D.2d 694, 253 N.Y.S.2d 759; Vollaro v. Vollaro, 144 App.Div. 242, 129 N.Y.S. 43).

Accordingly, the ownership interests of Mr. Rodriguez and Erlinda Que as “husband and wife” created a tenancy by the entirety. Upon the death of his wife, Mr. Rodriguez became the owner of her share by operation of law; any Last Will and Testament of Erlinda Que would not alter his rights.

Long-established New York law is that real property held as tenants by entirety does not pass under the Will of a decedent spouse. In re Rothko’s Estate, 77 Misc.2d 168 [Sur. Ct., NY Co. 1974]; In re Strong’s Will, 171 Misc. 445 [Sur. Ct., Monroe Co. 1939] (“A severance of a tenancy by the entirety cannot be effected by the unilateral last will of one of the spouses alone.” Citing to Levenson v. Levenson, 229 AD 402 [2 Dept. 1930]).

On the death of the first tenant by the entirety of real property, his estate ceases to have any interest in such property. Matter of Harris’ Estate, 88 Misc.2d 60 [1976], affirmed 61 AD2d 881.

R. A. Klass
Your Court Street Lawyer

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The (Property) Bonds of Matrimony That Can’t Be Broken

Two sisters and their respective husbands decided to purchase a two-family house in The Bronx in 1995. At the closing, they took title to the property, reflected on the Deed, as follows: “Gilberto Hernandez and Consolacion Hernandez, his wife …. And Erlinda Que and Elpidio Rodriguez, her husband.” Erlinda executed her Last Will and Testament, in which she devised her “half share and interest in the real property” to her sister, Consolacion, and her husband, Elpidio, in equal shares. In December 2000, Erlinda passed away, survived by her husband, Elpidio.

For a long time after Erlinda’s death, Elpidio and his deceased wife’s sister continued to maintain the house. At some point, he remarried and wanted to sell it and move. And, when they all couldn’t agree on how to accomplish this, a lawsuit was initiated called a “Partition and Sale” action. In this type of lawsuit, the parties ask a judge to order the property sold at auction.

The decedent’s sister and her husband, along with the nominated executor under the Will, claimed that ownership of the Bronx property passed under Erlinda’s Last Will and Testament. Therefore, they claimed that half of Erlinda’s quarter-share went to Consolacion (or one-eighth of the total interest in the property), and half of Erlinda’s quarter-share went to Elpidio. By their claim, Elpidio would be entitled to only 37.5% of the house.

Elpidio, the decedent’s surviving spouse, came to Richard A. Klass, Your Court Street Lawyer, for legal advice. Elpidio felt that, as Erlinda’s husband, he should get more.

Tenancy by the Entirety:

One of the “perks” of being married is that real property deeded to a husband and wife creates a “tenancy by the entirety,” under New York’s Estates Powers and Trusts Law Section 6-2.2(b). This form of ownership, among other things, prevents creditors of one spouse from forcing the sale of the house and easily transfers title to one spouse upon the death of the other. The exception to this rule about a tenancy by the entirety is if the Deed expressly declares it to be a joint tenancy or tenancy in common (where each spouse owns a divisible share).

Commonly, the Deed to a husband and wife will indicate that they are married, with language such as “A and B, as husband and wife” or “A and B, his wife” or “A and B, her husband.” This form of ownership, by statute, cannot be altered or changed without the mutual consent of the spouses or a divorce. Obviously, the ownership of a house by spouses as a tenancy by the entirety gives comfort that one spouse cannot sell his/her interest in the house without the other spouse’s consent. Only in limited circumstances, such as a divorce proceeding or bankruptcy case, can a court force the disposition of a house owned by the spouses in this form without their consent.

Granting of Summary Judgment:

The term “summary judgment” means that the litigant believes that there are no issues of fact which necessitate a trial before a judge or jury. When one litigant “moves” or asks the judge to grant summary judgment, he must present proof (in admissible form) which supports the request and which demonstrates that the matter may be decided on the law alone. It can then be said that the movant has established his“prima facie” case (meaning “at first sight”). Then, the other side to the litigation must present the judge with proof that there are genuine factual issues, and that the matter cannot be decided without a trial. Many readers will understand that judges deny summary judgment motions in most cases because they want to give litigants their day in court, and the facts are not always the facts.

In the probate proceeding in the Surrogate’s Court for Bronx County, Elpidio asked the Surrogate to grant him “summary judgment” on his claim that he is entitled to Erlinda’s entire interest in the house. The ‘Exhibit A’ proof, offered by Elpidio that he was entitled to Erlinda’s whole share, was the Deed itself. There was no express declaration in the Deed that it had been conveyed or transferred to Elpidio and Erlinda as anything other than husband and wife.

In granting summary judgment to Elpidio, in In the Estate of Erlinda Que, Deceased [Surrogate’s Court, Bronx County, February 25, 2010], Surrogate Holzman determined that, despite the language of Erlinda’s Last Will and Testament granting her sister a half-share of her interest in the house, Elpidio should be declared the full owner of half or 50% of the whole house. Specifically, Surrogate Holzman held that:

“ A tenancy by the entirety is different from both a tenancy in common and a joint tenancy in that ‘it remains fixed and cannot be destroyed without the consent of both parties’ for ‘as long as the marriage remains legally intact,’ with both parties continuing ‘to be seized of the whole, and the death of one merely results in the defeasance of the deceased spouse’s coextensive interest in the property.’ (V.R.W. Inc. v. Klein, 68 NY2d 560 [1986].) ”

Accordingly, by operation of law, the death of Erlinda, one of the spouses, resulted in that spouse/tenant no longer having an interest in the property, with Elpidio, as the surviving spouse, now owning her share as well as his own. Surrogate Holzman recognized the long-standing rule that “a severance of a tenancy by the entirety cannot be effectuated by the unilateral last will of one of the spouses alone.” (Matter of Strong, 171 Misc. 445 [1939].

 
by Richard A. Klass, Esq.

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Richard A. Klass, Esq., maintains a law firm engaged in civil litigation at 16 Court Street, 28th Floor, Brooklyn Heights, New York.
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Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

R. A. Klass
Your Court Street Lawyer

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