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1 Cal. Unrep. 59

Morse v. McCarty

California Supreme Court

Decided March 3, 1857

California Supreme Court · decided 1857-03-03

This was an action to foreclose a mortgage. The facts were these: On April 7, 1851, A. M. Cooper conveyed by deed to Michael McCarty. On December 16, 1853, McCarty, being then a married man and the premises being occupied as the family homestead, executed a mortgage to William C. Gray in which mortgage the wife did not join. On October 23, 1854, McCarty and wife joined in a note and mortgage to the plaintiff. .

Relies on Taylor v. Hargous · Rich v. Davis

Decided 1857-03-03

TERRY, J.

¶1— In the eases of Cook v. McChristian, 4 Cal. 23, and Taylor v. Hargous, 4 Cal. 268, 60 Am. Dec. 606, this court held that no specific acts were required to indicate the selection of a homestead, and that occupancy by the family was presumptive evidence of the appropriation of the premises as a homestead, and was notice to all the world. It was also held that when a place, by the residence of the family, once acquired the character of a homestead, this character cannot be devested except by the joint act of husband and wife in the manner provided by law.

¶2From the record in this case, it appears that the premises covered by Gray’s mortgage were, before the execution of said mortgage, the homestead of McCarty’s family. The deed, not having been signed by the wife of the mortgagor, was a nullity.

¶3The question as to the admissibility of evidence to supply the omission in the certificate of acknowledgment to plaintiff’s mortgage is one in which we think defendant Gray had no interest, and we can see no advantage which he would derive from defeating plaintiff’s lien.

¶4As no objection to the testimony was made by the parties interested, it was properly admitted.

¶5Judgment affirmed.

I concur: Murray, C. J.
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