196 F.3d 1225, 13 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. C 158, Bankr. L. Rep. P 78,041
United States Court of Appeals,
Eleventh Circuit.
In re William Frederick COLWELL and Ruby Colwell, Debtors.
William Frederick Colwell, Ruby Colwell, Plaintiffs-Appellees,
v.
Royal International Trading Corporation, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 98-5626
Non-Argument Calendar.
Nov. 19, 1999.
Creditor objected to separate homestead exemptions claimed by estranged couple that had filed joint Chapter 7 petition. The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida, No. 96-35148-BKC-SHF, Steven H. Friedman, J., 208 B.R. 85, held that, under Florida law, debtors who were still married but living apart on separate, noncontiguous parcels were not each entitled to claim homestead exemption. Debtors appealed. The District Court, No. 97-8500- CIV-ASG, Alan S. Gold, J., reversed, and creditor appealed. The Court of Appeals held that spouses who had been separated for 3 1/2 years before they filed their joint Chapter 7 petition, and who had each acquired separate residence, could each claim separate homestead exemption under Florida law, absent evidence of any fraud on their part suggesting that they were not legitimately living apart.
Affirmed.
On exception to separate Florida homestead exemptions claimed by debtors in their joint Chapter 7 case, bankruptcy court had to interpret and apply Florida exemption law in same manner as Florida state court. West's F.S.A. Const. Art. 10, § 4.
Under Florida law, homestead exemption can be established to each of two people who, while married, are legitimately living apart in separate residences, if they otherwise meet requirements of exemption. West's F.S.A. Const. Art. 10, § 4.
To be "legitimately" living apart in separate residences, as required under Florida law for spouses to each claim separate homestead exemption, spouses must not be guilty of any fraudulent or otherwise egregious act. West's F.S.A. Const. Art. 10, § 4.
There is presumption under Florida homestead exemption law that exemption applies. West's F.S.A. Const. Art. 10, § 4.
Spouses who had been separated for 3 1/2 years before they filed their joint Chapter 7 petition, and who had each acquired separate residence, could each claim separate homestead exemption under Florida law, absent evidence of any fraud on their part suggesting that they were not legitimately living apart. West's F.S.A. Const. Art. 10, § 4.
*1225 Tina M. Talarchyk, West Palm Beach, FL, for Defendant-Appellant.
John P. Tynan, Jupiter, FL, for Plaintiffs-Appellees.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Before ANDERSON, Chief Judge, DUBINA, Circuit Judge, and GODBOLD, Senior Circuit Judge.
PER CURIAM:
The Colwells jointly filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case. Although Florida law *1226 does not recognize legal separations the Colwells had been separated for 3 1/2 years before filing the petition. Prior to the bankruptcy petition each had acquired a separate home and had obtained a separate homestead exemption on that home.
Florida has chosen to opt out of federal exemptions and elected to apply its own. 11 U.S.C. § 522(b)(1); Fla. Stat. §§ 222.21 and 222.20; 3 Collier on Bankruptcy, § 522.08 at 522-44, n. 8a. The Colwells asserted to the bankruptcy court that Article X, § 4 of the Florida constitution required that they be granted separate homestead exemptions. Royal International excepted. In 1998 the bankruptcy court sustained the exception, stating that it could find no case law to support dual homestead exemptions for married individuals residing on two distinct, non-contiguous parcels of property. See In re Colwell, 208 B.R. 85 (Bankr.S.D.Fla.1997). The Colwells appealed to the United States District Court, S.D. Florida, which reversed the bankruptcy court. Royal appealed to the Eleventh Circuit.
Pursuant to Erie Railway the bankruptcy court must interpret and apply the Florida exemption law in the same manner as a Florida state court. Florida state court decisions establish that as a matter of the public policy of the state, giving a liberal construction as required, a homestead exemption can be established to each of two people who are married but legitimately living apart in separate residences, if they otherwise meet the requirements of the exception, and, by "legitimately" they mean that there is no fraudulent or otherwise egregious act by the beneficiary of the exemption. Law v. Law, 738 So.2d 522 (Fla.App. 4th Dist.1999); In re Englander, 95 F.3d 1028 (11th Cir.1996) (closely analyzing Florida law and using Florida state court cases to determine the applicability of the Florida homestead exemption); Myers v. Lehrer, 671 So.2d 864, 866 (Fla.App. 4th Dist.1996); Public Health Trust of Dade County v. Lopez, 531 So.2d 946, 948 (Fla.1988); Isaacson v. Isaacson, 504 So.2d 1309 (Fla.App. 1st Dist.1987); see also Radin v. Radin, 593 So.2d 1231 (Fla.App.3d Dist.1992).
There is a presumption that the exemption applies. See Snyder v. Davis, 699 So.2d 999, 1002 (Fla.1997). The district court concluded that the living arrangements of the Colwells were not shown to be the subject of fraud and that Royal had not brought forth evidence to overcome the presumption favoring the exception. There was no error.
AFFIRMED.
C.A.11 (Fla.),1999.
In re Colwell
196 F.3d 1225, 13 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. C 158, Bankr. L. Rep. P 78,041
| http://www.floridahomesteadservices.com |
