On Oct. 13, 2026, the Mississippi Court of Appeals ruled that Ellen Harrison retains sole ownership of Butler Road Farm, a 432‑acre parcel worth roughly $1.2 million, after her ex‑husband, Wiley Harrison, challenged the property’s status in their divorce.
Ellen had bought the farm in 1994, before marrying Wiley in 2004. During their marriage the land was rented out and never turned into a joint residence. When the couple separated, Ellen sought a divorce citing cruelty, and the chancery court declared the farm her non‑marital property.
Wiley argued that the farm’s use as collateral for a refinancing loan that helped finance their Saltillo home and his alleged on‑site labor turned the land into marital property. The court found that merely signing a loan secured by the farm did not convert it into a shared asset, and that the loan proceeds were repaid from rental income, not Wiley’s contribution.
In a related decision, the court upheld the allocation of an extra 2.19 acres from an adjoining parcel to accommodate the home’s septic system. The judge noted that Ellen’s testimony about the system’s reach was unchallenged, and no evidence proved the acreage was misvalued.
The judgment clarifies Mississippi’s doctrine on separate property: a premarital estate remains non‑marital unless commingled or expressly converted. Local farmers, who rely on the farm for employment, will continue operating under Ellen’s stewardship, and the ruling sets a precedent that may deter similar disputes in future divorces.