Pearl Hilley v. Garland Hilley

Summary

The Texas Supreme Court affirmed the Court of Civil Appeals, holding that corporate stock purchased with community funds and issued to husband and wife as joint tenants with right of survivorship remains community property, not the wife's separate estate, upon the husband's death. The Court overruled the prior Ricks decision and rejected the view that a survivorship agreement can convert community property to separate property. Justice Norvell dissented, arguing that Ricks should be upheld and the stock should be the wife's separate property.