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28 La. Ann. 430

Whiteman v. LeBlanc

Supreme Court of Louisiana

Decided April 15, 1876

Supreme Court of Louisiana · decided 1876-04-15

<p>Tlic question is whether the creditor ol the community can seize tho buildings and other improvements placed by tho community on a plantation, tho separate-property ol the wile, and sell the same previous to the dissolution of tho community, separate and apart from the land whereon they are situated. The judge a quo erred in deciding affirmatively.</p> <p>The buildings and improvements attached to tho plantation constitute a part ol the immovable, and can not be sold separately.</p> <p>Where the separate property of the wile has boen increased or improved during marriage, the husband or his heirs “ shall bo entitled to the rowai-d ol one-half oí tho valued tho ineioaso or the ameliorations, if it be proved that the increase or ameliorations bo the result ol the common labor, expenses, or industry.” It. C. 2108.</p> <p>until the dissolution' ol the community the wife owes nothing for tho augmentation of the value of her hereditary property by the common labor, expenses, or industry; and at tho dissolution she will not owe for the cost of each piece of the improvements, but only for tho augmentation of the value of the hereditary property resulting from the improvements created during marriage.</p> <p>As the buildings seized by defendants do not belong to the community, nor the cost thereof, but to plaintiff, tho owner of the soil, subject to tho payment at the dissolution of the community of the enhanced value of her hereditary property by reason of said improvements erected thereon by the common labor, expenses, or industry, the court a qu% erred in dissolving the injunction sued out by plaintiff. Her property can not bo sold for the payment of the debts of her husband or the community.</p>

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently June 1961

1 state decisions

Relies on Dominguez v. Lee · Babin v. Nolan

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1876-04-15

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Wyly, J.

¶1In this caso tho question is, can a creditor of the community *431seize the buildings and other improvements placed by the community o.n the plantation, the separate property oí the wife, and sell the same previous to a dissolution of the community, separate and apart from the land whereon they are situated ? The court below hold that lie could, and plaintiff appeals.

¶2We think the court erred.

¶3The buildings and improvements attached to the plantation constitute a part of the immovable, and can not be sold separately. Revised Code, 464, 504; 21 An. 324; 12 An. 227; 23 An. 749; 25 An. 434; 26 An. 349.

¶4Where the separate property of the wife has been increased or improved during marriage, the husband or his heirs “ shall be entitled to the reward of one half of the value of the increase or the ameliorations, if it be proved that the increase or ameliorations bo the result of the common labor, expenses, or industry.” Revised Code, 2408.

¶5“ It can not be controverted that under the spirit of this article buildings and other improvements erected by the spouses during the marriage on the hereditary property of' either belong necessarily at the dissolution of the community to the owner of- the soil, in this sense, that ho may keep them, and that he owes to the other spouse the recompense of one half of the value of the increase or ameliorations,, to bo ascertained by an estimation of the value which such improvements have added to the property.” Waggaman vs. Zachrie, 8 R. 182; 4 Rob. 279; 6 An. 634.

¶6“ Whatever right one of the spouses may have to claim a recompense from the other for funds of the community employed for the separate benefit and advantage of such spouse, either in the payment of his or her debts, contracted anterior to the marriage, or in the increase and improvement of the hereditary property of such spouse, this right can only be exercised at the dissolution of the community.” 10 An. 308.

¶7Until the dissolution of the community, the wife owes nothing for the augmentation of the value of her hereditary property by the common labor, expenses, or industry; and at the dissolution she will not owe for the cost of each piece of the improvements, but only for the augmentation of the value of the hereditary property resulting from the improvements erected during marriage. • •

¶8As the buildings seized by defendants do not belong to the community, nor the cost thereof, but.to plaintiff, the owner of the soil, subject to the payment at the dissolution of the community of the enhanced value of her hereditary property by reason of said improvements erected thereon by the common labor, expenses, or industry, we think the court erred in dissolving the injunction sued out by plaintiff.. Her property can not be sold for the payment of the debts of her husband or the community. •,

¶9The case of Domingues vs. Lee, 17 La. 295, which recognizes the right *432of a community creditor to sell the buildings erected on the hereditary property of the wife, during the marriage, separate from the soil, is not supported by the case of Fricque vs. Hopkins, 4 N. S., 212, to which it 'refers; nor does it accord with the textual provisions of the articles of the Code to which we have referred, and the subsequent decisions of this •court, especially the decision of Kelly vs. Robertson, 10 An. 308.

¶10All that which becomes united to or incorporated with the property belongs to the owner of such property; and the ownership of the soil carries with it the ownership of all that is above and under it. Revised Code, articles 504, 505.

¶11It is therefore ordered that the judgment herein bo annulled, and it is decreed that the injunction herein be perpetuated with cc-sts of both courts.

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