{ "id": 1566889, "name": "MENGER v. OTERO COUNTY STATE BANK et al.", "name_abbreviation": "Menger v. Otero County State Bank", "decision_date": "1940-01-22", "docket_number": "No. 4503", "first_page": "82", "last_page": "89", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "44 N.M. 82" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "98 P.2d 834" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.M.", "id": 8835, "name": "Supreme Court of New Mexico" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 52, "name_long": "New Mexico", "name": "N.M." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "163 N.Y.S. 803", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.S.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "87 N.E. 1130", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "194 N.Y. 518", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.", "case_ids": [ 4460073, 4461236 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ny/194/0518-01", "/ny/194/0518-02" ] }, { "cite": "108 N.Y.S. 493", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.S.", "case_ids": [ 3364674 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "496" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nys/108/0493-01" ] }, { "cite": "123 App.Div. 846", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "A.D.", "case_ids": [ 5298065 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ad/123/0846-01" ] }, { "cite": "50 A. 490", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "A.", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "492" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "62 N.J.Eq. 503", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.J. Eq.", "case_ids": [ 191248 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nj-eq/62/0503-01" ] }, { "cite": "145 N.E. 55", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "250 Mass. 180", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mass.", "case_ids": [ 3818195 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mass/250/0180-01" ] }, { "cite": "108 A. 434", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "A.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "91 N.J.Eq. 82", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.J. Eq.", "case_ids": [ 121960 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nj-eq/91/0082-01" ] }, { "cite": "85 Utah 364", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Utah", "case_ids": [ 8868240 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/utah/85/0364-01" ] }, { "cite": "128 Am.St.Rep. 543", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Am. St. Rep.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "86 N.E. 980", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "194 N.Y. 49", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.", "case_ids": [ 4462074 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ny/194/0049-01" ] }, { "cite": "206 P. 796", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "71 Colo. 346", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Colo.", "case_ids": [ 2719456 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/colo/71/0346-01" ] }, { "cite": "85 A.L.R. 275", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "136 Kan. 193", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Kan.", "case_ids": [ 493399 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/kan/136/0193-01" ] }, { "cite": "119 N.E. 926", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "283 Ill. 36", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 2416839 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/283/0036-01" ] }, { "cite": "136 S.E. 444", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "163 Ga. 542", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ga.", "case_ids": [ 127586 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ga/163/0542-01" ] }, { "cite": "56 N.D. 152", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.D.", "case_ids": [ 2360220 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nd/56/0152-01" ] }, { "cite": "71 L.Ed. 1338", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "47 S.Ct. 769", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "S. Ct.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "274 U.S. 759", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "136 A. 459", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "A.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "126 Me. 84", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Me.", "case_ids": [ 594687 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/me/126/0084-01" ] }, { "cite": "66 A.L.R. 888", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "48 A.L.R. 199", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "218 N.W. 739", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "116 Neb. 686", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Neb.", "case_ids": [ 2372436 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/neb/116/0686-01" ] }, { "cite": "230 N.Y.S. 558", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.S.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "132 Misc. 570", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Misc.", "case_ids": [ 785727 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/misc/132/0570-01" ] }, { "cite": "132 A. 761", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "A.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "99 N.J.Eq. 119", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.J. Eq.", "case_ids": [ 32045 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nj-eq/99/0119-01" ] }, { "cite": "67 A.L.R. 1051", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "144 A. 848", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "A.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "83 N.H. 489", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.H.", "case_ids": [ 2350663 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nh/83/0489-01" ] }, { "cite": "320 Mo. 989", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mo.", "case_ids": [ 1823142 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "9" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mo/320/0989-01" ] }, { "cite": "297 S.W. 415", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "220 Mo.App. 1165", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mo. App.", "case_ids": [ 1815335 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mo-app/220/1165-01" ] }, { "cite": "48 A.L.R. 191", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "148 S.E. 229", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "197 N.C. 274", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8628392 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/197/0274-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 875, "char_count": 17806, "ocr_confidence": 0.665, "pagerank": { "raw": 3.092051836373276e-07, "percentile": 0.8587056619903323 }, "sha256": "ae5c2ad9cb848fe1925b214a253d102a9d0ec982519119ed30c882d6d09f4e2f", "simhash": "1:9585e080309ab1d8", "word_count": 3138 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T22:29:04.217426+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "BICKLEY,- C. J., and BRICE, ZINN, and SADLER, JJ., concur. . ." ], "parties": [ "MENGER v. OTERO COUNTY STATE BANK et al." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "MABRY, Justice.\nThe question here presented involves one of the right of tjie surviving wife to claim as her own the money from a joint account placed in defendant bank by the husband and out of his own estate and with the right of both husband and wife to withdraw from the account upon their individual signature during their respective lifetimes.\nSuit was instituted by plaintiff, as administrator of the estate of the deceased husband, seeking to have the defendant bank pay over to him for the benefit of the estate, certain moneys held by the bank 1 in a joint- savings account opened and \u25a0 carried' as hereinafter explained, unexpended by the wife at the time of her death. Judgment was for defendant bank !''ahd\u2019 interven\u00f3r, the administrator of the ' est\u00e1te \u00f3f the wife \u25a0 whose death occurred \u25a0 some three years after that of her husband, ' and' plaintiff' appeals.'\nPlaintiff and appellant, as administrator of' dec-eas\u00e9d husband\u2019s estate, claims, on -behalf''Of the est\u00e1te; that the wife had only \u00e1 right-t\u00f3 'such part of the money on-deposit as she may have used during her lifetime, and that the remainder belonged to the estate of the deceased husband.\nDefendant bank, and intervenor Johnson as administrator of the estate of the deceased wife, urges that as survivor, the wife became the owner of all the money and after her death any remainder belonged to her separate estate.\nThe amount involved, some $2,000, it is conceded, was placed in the joint account by the husband and from his own separate estate; the wife made no contribution thereto from her own estate, and none of the money represented community property.\nThe account was opened in the name of \u201cMr. Elmer. Watkins or Mrs. C. M. Watkins\u201d in June of 1930 and some four years prior to the death of the husband,' at which time the account had been augmented somewhat, but not substantially, by interest earnings and contributions by the wife after the husband\u2019s death.\nBoth husband and wife had the right to and did withdraw from the account during their lifetimes; the withdrawals by the wife, during the- lifetime of the husband, as well as thereafter, being small and rather infrequently made. The wife had some slight income which was in amount substantially sufficient to provide for her after her husband\u2019s death.\n. The wife was appointed administratrix of the. estate of her husband soon after his death, but never proceeded with the matter beyond qualifying and doing some incidental acts, unimportant in a consideration of the case. She never prepared and filed an inventory which would indicate her understanding of her estate in or right to the money in question.\nPlaintiff presents the view that, the trial court, without consideration of the intention of the parties at the time the said joint saving account was opened, based its conclusions of law and judgment upon the fact that the joint account, payable to the husband or the wife, as a matter of law, became the property of the wife as a survivor upon the husband\u2019s death.\nWe cannot say that the trial court took this narrow view of the matter. The evidence in the case, the making and denial of findings of fact and conclusions of law, amply affords a reasonable assumption that it did not.\nThe question- becomes simply one of whether there be any basis in fact and law for the support of the court\u2019s findings, conclusions of law and judgment. We think there is. While .testimony of the banker, Witness Spence, standing alone, does not make it very plain as to what was in fact the reason for the opening of the joint account, his testimony does throw much light upon the subject when taken in connection with the testimony of Witness Lawson, as well as that of other witnesses.\nWitness Lawson testified to having been consulted by Elmer Watkins, the deceased, about June 30th, 1930, the said Watkins being much concerned about having the available cash which he then possessed, \u201ctied up in court\u201d in the event of .the death of either himself or his wife, if. either of them at the time held the money or any part of' it in their individual names. .\nSpeaking of the conversation with Elmer Watkins the day after he had put $1,000 of the amount in the bank in the sole name of his wife, this witness testified: \u201cHe seemed worried about money to take care of his wife if anything happened to him and wanted her to have the money in the bank * * * he didn\u2019t want his money involved in court * * * it was then that I suggested to him to put their money in the name of himself or his wife, and have it understood with the bank that either could check on it during their life, and in case of death it would be available to the other party. After that I don\u2019t know what took place.\u201d What then took place was, that Watkins, the 'husband, returned directly to the. bank, withdrew the $1,000 just deposited to the separate account of his wife and opened the joint account, to which other amounts were thereafter added.\nLawson was attorney for the defendant bank; the husband had been sent to him by Witness Spence, cashier of the bank, for direction and advice which Spence himself felt incompetent to give. This was immediately, and a few hours after the said deceased'had inquired of tb<= said Spence what would happen .to the $1,000 he had just the day before placed to the individual account of his wife, Mrs. C. M. Watkins, in case either should die, and after he had expressed some concern to Spence lest he still had not so placed the money that it would not be \u201ctied up in court.\u201d\nIt seems clear enough that there is evidence to sustain the court's finding that it was the desire of the husband to place the money where, although it would be subject to \u2022 the use of either while they lived, upon the death of either of them the money so deposited and still left would belong to the survivor, under such conditions that no court action would be necessary to accomplish this immediate result,\nThis is particularly true when we take the testimony of other witnesses. This shows clearly the procrastination and unexplained delay on the part of the widow in preparing and filing an inventory in the estate of her deceased husband.\nThe testimony of the attorneys for plaintiff, while persuasive, is not sufficient to overcome the binding character of the court\u2019s findings and conclusions that the widow\u2019s circumstantial or indefinite commitments, and her actions in connection with the matter of the inventory, were not sufficient to show she held and claimed only a life estate in. the money. There is sufficient evidence to support the findings and conclusions to the contrary and they will therefore not be disturbed.\n. Some reference is made to a will executed by the deceased husband some two or three years before the joint account in controversy was opened. Though the will itself is not in- evidence, testimony was admitted to show Substantially the terms thereof. The wife by the will was given a life estate in the property of the husband with anything remaining after her' death to go to the children of the husband by a former wife. No specific reference was made to money. This will is relied upon by plaintiff to show the intention of the husband that - the money here involved in the joint account should likewise be treated; plaintiff claiming said will should have been received and considered as lending strength to -plaintiff\u2019s theory that neither husband nor wife, during the lifetime of both,-as well as after the death of the husband, ever considered that the wife had more than.alife estate in any of the property.\nThe court -\u00a1doubtless. gave no weight to this argument .and found the evidence of no value in( support of such claim. The trial court doubtless reasoned, as well it may have, that the intention of the deceased husband at the time of his making the will some years prior, would have no bearing upon what his' intention may have been some time later. Thereafter, the court may have' reasoned, notwithstanding the provision made' for' the wife by will, the husband h\u00e1d now concluded that, as to the money in the bank at least, he wanted to make different disposition, and moreover, he wanted to avoid, if possible, any delay arid expense^ of: Kfer having-to carry such funds through'-'-pfiobate' court - in order to get the benefit 'thereof. ' \u2022\nThe testimony going to the husband\u2019s deep concern as to how easily and quickly his surviving wife could have for her use the money in the bank in case of him predeceasing her, amply supports the theory that the husband quite properly may have given consideration to the provisions of his will when he opened the joint account or, he may have forgotten or may not have been concerned about such will.\nThat question is not important. It is the' intention of the owner of the funds at the time of making the deposit that controls.\nWe know that generally it is held to be not sufficient to show simply the opening of a joint account in the name of one person \u201cand\u201d another, \u201cor\u201d another, without more, in order to establish a gift of a trust. Jones v. Fullbright et al., 197 N.C. 274, 148 S.E. 229; see other cases cited in 48 A.L.R. 191.\nBut, if there be substantial evidence from which the intention of the parties may. be .ascertained, and it is the intention to: make a gift, create a joint estate, or set up a trust, then this action does accomplish such results. Ball v. Mercantile Trust Co., 220 Mo.App. 1165, 297 S.W. 415; Mississippi Valley Trust Co. v. Smith, 320 Mo. 989, 9, S.W.2d 58; Burns v. Nolette, 83 N.H. 489; 144 A. 848, 67 A.L.R. 1051; Commercial Trust Co. v. White, 99 N.J.Eq. 119, 132 A. 761; In re Lee\u2019s Adm\u2019r, 132 Misc. 570, 230 N.Y.S. 558; In re Johnson\u2019s Estate, 116 Neb. 686 218 N.W. 739; and numerous cases cited in annotation in 48 A.L.R. 199 and 66 A.L.R. 888.\nMany of the courts distinguish such cases from ones where the donee has no beneficial interest in such deposit until after the death of the donor depositor, and, in this latter class of cases, such attempts to create a gift by such deposits are generally declared invalid. Garland\u2019s Appeal, 126 Me. 84, 136 A. 459, certiorari denied in 274 U.S. 759, 47 S.Ct. 769, 71 L.Ed. 1338; McGillivary v. First Nat. Bank, 56 N.D. 152, 217 N.W. 150; Clark v. Bridges, 163 Ga. 542, 136 S.E. 444. However, such is not the situation presented in the case at bar.\nAs was well reasoned in the case of Burns v. Nolette, supra, the unlimited right of one of the parties to draw upon the account was always present until defeated by the death of the other party; and, the retention of a right to draw upon the account during his life time' did not defeat the gift, because the donee\u2019s right vested at once and was not increased upon the donor\u2019s death; that the effect' of his death was simply to remove the power of the donor to defeat the donee\u2019s right by himself withdrawing the deposit.\nThe court in that case further pointed out that there was no more reason for holding such a gift bad than there would be in the quite analogous case of a deposit by a third person to an account payable to two persons with the provision that the balance left upon the death of either of the two should' be payable to the survivor.\n\u201cIt is well established that a bank account may be so created that' two persons shall be joint owners thereof during their mutual lives, and the survivor take the whole on the death of the other, The right to make such deposits has generally been held not to be done away with by statute abolishing joint tenancy and survivorship generally, as they existed at'common law.\u201d 7 Am.Jur. 299-300, Par. 425, citing Erwin v. Felter, 283 Ill. 36, 119 N.E. 926, L.R.A. 1918E, 776; Malone v. Sullivan, 136 Kan. 193, 14 P.2d 647, 85 A.L.R. 275.\nIn creating a joint, bank account with right of survivorship, it is of no importance that the particular terms \u201cjoint ownership\u201d and \u201cjoint account\u201d are used; but the controlling question seems \u25a0 to be \u2022Whether the person opening the account intentionally and intelligently created a condition embracing the essentials of joint ownership and survivorship. . No one formula, is set up as controlling or required; the courts are controlled not by the .name given the relationship or estate, but by the substance of the transaction. See Miller v. American Bank & Trust Co., 71 Colo. 346, 206 P. 796; Kelly v. Beers, 194 N.Y. 49, 86 N.E. 980, 128 Am.St.Rep. 543; Holt v. Bayles, 85 Utah 364, 39 P.2d 715.\nIt is enough that it was intended.to create the estate by which the survivor should have the remainder of the money to which both had'access and from-which both cotild draw for use during their lifetimes; and that no rule of law: or -Statute-be'\u00a1violated. New Jersey Title Guaranty & Trust Co. v. Archibald, 91 N.J.Eq. 82, 108 A. 434.\nThe case of Kelly v. Beers, supra, is somewhat in point. In that case the court observes that the rule to the effect that the possibility of so fixing a bank account that two persons shall be joint owners thereof during their mutual lives and the survivor take upon the death of the other is so well established that it need not be discussed.\nSome cases rest upon the theory that the right of either depositor is not founded upon a gift either at the time of the deposit or at the time of the depositor\u2019s, death, but is rather to be considered as a chose in action created against the bank by a contract with the bank. See Battles v. Milbury Savings Bank, 250 Mass. 180, 145 N.E. 55.\nSome few cases hold that the mere fact a joint account is opened by the donor without any further explanation indicates an intention to make a gift. See L.R.A. 1917C, 556, note 20 citing cases. It may not be said however, that this is the general rule.\nA brief but helpful discussion of the question, before us may be found in Zollmann on Banks and Banking, permanent edition, 1936, Vol. 5, \u00a7 3227, where the author said:\n\u201cOne great purpose in creating joint deposits, particularly in connection with savings banks, is to create a survivorship in the surviving depositor and eliminate the necessity of formal probate proceedings.\n\u201cIt is a well settled rule that, where a written instrument is executed by husband and wife, upon opening an account with a bank, to the effect that the deposit when made and all accumulations thereof shall be held by them as joint tenants with the right of survivorship, each is seized of the whole estate from the creation of the tenancy, and the whole vests in the survivor without regard to the prior ownership or title to the property. .\n\u201cVarious legislatures have favored such a purpose to the extent of passing statutes expressly authorizing such deposits. The presumption created by a survivorship statute is sufficient to establish title to the deposit in the' survivor.\u201d\nHoboken Bank for Savings v. Schwoon, 62 N.J.Eq. 503, 50 A. 490, 492, disposes of the argument that the power of disposition of the deposit remained in the donor during his lifetime, by saying: \u201cThis circumstance has not deterred the courts from giving effect to such- arrangements. This has been done on two grounds: First, that a joint estate or interest is created, with an express right of survivorship, which operates naturally and legally upon whatever of the fund remains unused at the death of the donor; and, second, on the ground of a completed trust.\u201d\nThe purpose to create a joint deposit is particularly apparent where the deposit is made by husband or wife. The intent to create survivorship rights is more easily 'found under such circumstances than \u2018Under any other. See West v. McCullough, 123 App.Div. 846, 108 N.Y.S. 493, 496, affirmed in 194 N.Y. 518, 87 N.E. 1130; In re Reynolds\u2019 Estate, Sur., 163 N.Y.S. 803.\nSince a husband at common law could not benefit his wife by putting a deposit in their joint names so far as immediate enjoyment is concerned, the court in the c\u00e1se of West v. McCullough, supra, reasoned, because he had the right to reduce even her own choses in action to possession, it was concluded that he intended to benefit her by giving her the right of survivorship. Else his action would have been utterly futile.\nThe court In re Reynolds\u2019 Estate, supra, states that where an account is opened in the name of two persons who are not husband- and wife, there would be a fair presumption that it was opened as a matter of convenience merely, but holding this presumption not conclusive and one that would yield to evidence of an intent to create a survivorship.\nThere was sufficient evidence in the case at bar to support the court\u2019s find'ings of fact that the deceased husband put his money into the bank with the intention, \u2018well understood, and acquiesced in by the bank, that in case of his death his wife as survivor, would take it all, as indeed under the arrangements and the conditions of \u2019the deposit as in the form of a joint account, either she or he had the right to take a part or all while they both lived. We think it does not become important that there was no written contract between themselves or with the bank covering the point, so long as the understanding and intention of the donor, the husband, may be ascertained.\nIt does not become important to determine whether the court based its conclusions of law and judgment upon the theory of a trust, a joint tenancy or a gift to the wife, for if any one of the theories be good the objections urged are without merit and the judgment should be affirmed.\nThus finding no error the judgment will be affirmed, and, it is so ordered.\nBICKLEY,- C. J., and BRICE, ZINN, and SADLER, JJ., concur. . .", "type": "majority", "author": "MABRY, Justice." } ], "attorneys": [ "Shipley & Shipley, of Alamogordo, and Edwin Mechem, of Las Cruces, for appellant.", "J. L. Lawson, of Alamogordo, for appellees." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "98 P.2d 834\nMENGER v. OTERO COUNTY STATE BANK et al.\nNo. 4503.\nSupreme Court of New Mexico.\nJan. 22, 1940.\nShipley & Shipley, of Alamogordo, and Edwin Mechem, of Las Cruces, for appellant.\nJ. L. Lawson, of Alamogordo, for appellees." }, "file_name": "0082-01", "first_page_order": 114, "last_page_order": 121 }