Berrato

Berrato v. Ray

Good Law
135 Cal. App. 3d 684·185 Cal. Rptr. 544·1982 Cal. App. LEXIS 1945
Court of Appeal of CaliforniaSeptember 13, 1982Civ. No. 24671California3,260 words

Opinion

Lead Opinion

Staniforth, J.

James R. Hart shot his wife Theresa and then himself. She died immediately; he died later the same day (Mar. 26, 1980). Both died intestate. 1 At the time of the deaths the couple owned real property in joint tenancy and certain items of personal community *687 property consisting of life insurance policies, a sailboat, trailer and bank account. The petition of Serrato, the administrator of the wife’s estate, seeks to quiet title to the real and personal property of these parties in the estate of the deceased wife. (Prob. Code, § 851.5.) Ray is the administrator of the husband’s estate, The trial court held (1) all real and personal property of the decedent wife was held in joint tenancy to be divided equally between their estates and (2) all personal property held as community property, including the proceeds from all life insurance policies held as community property, be divided equally between their estates with the exception of a life insurance policy (Aetna) on the husband’s life, naming his father contingent beneficiary. The administrator of the wife’s estate appeals, contending the heirs to the deceased husband are barred from succeeding to any portion of either…

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