In the Matter of the Estate of Watson

In the Matter of the Estate of Watson
1998 OK CIV APP 145
965 P.2d 409
69 OBJ 3814
Case Number: 90014
Decided: 06/09/1998
Mandate Issued: 10/15/1998

RELEASE FOR PUBLICATION BY ORDER OF COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS.

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF EITHEL M. WATSON, Deceased, RAY E. WATSON, Appellant,
v.
IRENE FAY ESTLE, Personal Representative of the Estate of EITHEL M. WATSON, Deceased, Appellee,

APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF WOODWARD COUNTY, OKLAHOMA;
HONORABLE JOE MAREK, JR., TRIAL JUDGE.

AFFIRMED

J. David Ezzell, Brian N. Lovell, Enid, Oklahoma, For Appellant,
Bryan L. Billings, Woodward, Oklahoma, For Appellee.

OPINION

CAROL M. HANSEN, Judge

¶1 On September 6, 1979, Appellant Ray Watson borrowed $31,000 from his parents, Wilbur and Eithel Watson. The loan was secured by a mortgage on certain real property in Woodward County, Oklahoma. Soon thereafter Ray and his wife executed a second mortgage on the property in favor of American National Bank. In January of 1988, Bank filed an action to foreclose the mortgage joining as additional party defendants, Wilbur and Eithel Watson.

¶2 In February of 1988, Ray and his wife filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy relief. Included as creditors were Bank and Wilbur and Eithel Watson. Ray and his wife were granted a discharge in June of 1988. Prior to discharge, Bank obtained an order lifting the bankruptcy stay and abandoning the property. This allowed the foreclosure action to proceed. On October 17, 1988, Wilber and Eithel Watson filed a crossclaim in the foreclosure action to foreclosure their first mortgage on the real estate. On December 21, 1988, the trial court entered judgment in favor of the Watsons, foreclosing their mortgage and finding it to be a first lien upon the property. The property was sold at a sheriff's sale to the Watsons for $5,000.00 and confirmed by the court. Neither Bank nor the Watsons filed an action for a deficiency judgment.

¶3 Mr. Watson died in 1994. Mrs. Watson died April 1, 1996. Mrs. Watson's will provided:

¶4 The trial court admitted the will to probate and appointed Appellee, Irene Fay Estle, as personal representative. Ms. Estle petitioned for distribution of the estate claiming Ray's debt to Deceased was still due and owing and as such, his share should be reduced by that amount under the terms of the will. Ray filed objections pointing out his debt had been discharged in the bankruptcy action. Thus, he argued, he was entitled to his full share of the estate. The trial court disagreed and entered its order allowing final account and final decree finding the balance due on the promissory note to Ray and his wife in the sum of $55,770.58

¶5 Ray argues on appeal the discharge in bankruptcy of the indebtedness to his parents precludes the offset allowed by the trial court. He emphasizes his parents did not seek a deficiency judgment after sale of the property; thus they waived the provision in the will. We do not agree.

¶6 A bankruptcy discharge does not extinguish the discharged debt. It simply renders it unenforceable. Haddock v. First National Bank and Trust Company,

¶7 In Smith v. Citizens National Bank in Okmulgee,

The probate court having jurisdiction to make settlement and distribution of a decedent's estate may determine the share of each distributee, and, to that end, can inquire into and determine the indebtedness of the distributee to the estate, and order a deduction of the same from his share. A deduction of such debt should be made although an action to recover the same might be barred by the Statute of Limitation. (emphasis supplied).

¶8 Similarly, the probate court in this case may determine the indebtedness of a distributee and order a deduction of the debt from his share even though an action to recover the debt might be barred by a discharge in bankruptcy.

¶9 Ray's argument the debt was deemed to be fully satisfied pursuant to 12 O.S. 1991 §686, because the Watsons did not seek a deficiency judgment against him in face of the bankruptcy discharge, must fail. The bankruptcy court order declared the real estate abandoned and allowed Bank to proceed against the realty. It did not lift the automatic stay so as to allow motions for deficiency judgments. Thus §686 does not apply to these facts. See, Don Huddleston Construction v. United Bank,

¶10 Ray's argument that such a "setoff" violates the bankruptcy provision disallowing setoffs also fails. Title 11 U.S.C. §524 (a)(2) provides that a discharge "operates as an injunction against the commencement or continuation of an action, the employment process, or any act, to collect, recover or offset any such debt as a personal liability of the debtor. However, §553(a) states: " ...this title does not affect any right of a creditor to offset a mutual debt owing by such creditor to the debtor that arose before the commencement of the case under this Title against a claim of such creditor against the debtor that arose before the commencement of the case." In Lott, the bankruptcy court allowed the probate estate of a Chapter 7 debtor to set off the debtor's obligation to the estate against his interest in that estate under §553(a) even in face of the automatic stay. In De Laurentiis Entertainment Group Inc., Carolco Television Inc., v. National Broadcasting Co., 963 F.2d 1269 (9th Cir. 1992), the Court discussed the possible conflict between §524(a)(2) and §553. Although not dealing with a probate claim, that Court recognized the majority of other decisions hold §524(a)(2) must be subordinate to §553. Based in part on the reasoning of these cases, that Court held §553 must control in the majority of cases. It stated §553 allows setoffs in bankruptcy to the same extent they are allowed under state law.

¶11 Oklahoma law clearly allows such setoffs. However, here the trial court did not treat Ray's debt as a setoff to his share of the estate. Rather the court ordered that the balance due on his note should be distributed to Ray "as part of his share of the cash portion of the estate." Even if this distribution is considered as a "setoff", the Oklahoma Supreme Court has held unpaid debts owed by an heir may be set off against that heir's share of the estate even absent a provision in the will to that effect. In In re Dorris' Estate,

¶12 The injunction granted in §524(a)(2) does not prevent application of the equitable right of retainer described in In re Dorris Estate. A testator is free to fashion bequests based upon previous gifts or loans, and is free to reduce bequests in the amount of such loans, whether they are enforceable, or unenforceable via discharge in bankruptcy or barred by limitations.

¶13 Because of the specific provision in the will, this case presents an even stronger argument Deceased's intent was that Ray's debt should be satisfied from his share of the estate. We do not believe Deceased intended the bankruptcy discharge to wipe out that provision in the will.

¶14 Under Oklahoma law a will is to be construed to effectuate the intention of the testator. See, 84 O.S. 1991 §§ 151, 152, 158. Clearly, Deceased intended Ray's unpaid debt to be set-off against his share of her estate.

¶15 The probate of a decedent's estate is a matter of equitable cognizance. On review, we will thoroughly review the record and weigh the evidence. We will not reverse or modify the trial court's judgment, however, unless the record shows it is clearly against the weight of the evidence or contrary to law or well-established principles of equity. Estate of Heimbach, Matter of,

¶16 ADAMS, J., and BUETTNER, P.J., concur.

FOOTNOTES

1 On appeal, Ray does not dispute this amount.