2. Co-ownership & Trusts Flashcards
What is co-ownership?
Joint ownership of land by two or more people at the same time
What is the general rule regarding legal and equitable estates?
Legal estate cannot be held in an undivided share, equitable estate is held on trust.
What is a trust of land?
Concurrent sharing of land that creates a trust.
What is an express trust?
A trust created through a written declaration by the settlor.
What is an implied trust?
A trust created through a person’s conduct without formalities.
Why should a client sign a declaration of trust?
It serves as evidence of their intentions.
Who are the trustees in a trust of land?
The legal owners with no beneficial entitlement.
Who are the beneficiaries in a trust of land?
The equitable owners with beneficial entitlement.
What types of estates can a co-owner hold?
Joint tenancy or tenants in common.
What are the requirements for holding legal title?
Must be aged 18 or over, maximum of four trustees.
What powers do legal title holders have?
All powers of an absolute owner, limited by duty to consult beneficiaries.
What is overreaching in co-ownership?
Appointment of a second legal trustee to overreach equitable interests.
What happens to the equitable interest when a co-owner dies?
It passes under their will/intestacy to another party.
Who retains legal title when a co-owner dies?
The surviving party retains legal title.
What is equitable title?
The right to enjoy and benefit from the property.
Who can hold equitable title?
Anyone can hold it.
Are there any limits on the number of people who can hold equitable title?
No limits.
Is severance allowed for equitable title?
Yes, severance is allowed.
What are the two forms of co-ownership?
Joint tenancy and tenants in common.
What is joint tenancy?
Property owned by two or more people jointly.
What is right of survivorship?
On the death of a joint tenant, their interest passes automatically and immediately to the survivor.
What is undifferentiated ownership?
Jointly entitled to the whole of the property without having a clear division of share.
What is severance?
Can only sever in equity and convert beneficial interests into a tenancy in common - no severance of legal estate.
What is tenancy in common?
Property owned by two or more people jointly.
What is the difference between joint tenancy and tenancy in common?
No right of survivorship in tenancy in common, and undivided shares with a clear division of share.
What is an express declaration?
Must make an express declaration to hold the property as tenants in common, unless there is fraud/mistake as to declaration.
Give an example of when an express declaration is necessary.
Unequal contributions to the purchase price of the property.
What are the four unities used to determine joint tenancy or tenancy in common?
Possession, interest, title, and time (PITT).
What is the possession unity?
No co-owner is excluded from any part of the land.
What is the interest unity?
All co-owners hold the same type of interest for the same amount of time.
What is the title unity?
All co-owners obtain title from the same transfer deed or lease.
What is the time unity?
The interest of all co-owners took effect at the same time.
What does possession unity indicate?
It may indicate a tenancy in common.
If all four unities are present, what can the equitable interest be held as?
Either a joint tenancy or a tenancy in common.
What is the second test to determine joint tenancy?
Does the deed transferring the land contain an express declaration that they are beneficial joint tenants?
What is the third test to determine joint tenancy?
Does the deed transferring the land to the co-owners contain words of severance?
What is joint tenancy in equity?
A form of joint tenancy that can be severed in equity.
What is presumption in joint tenancy?
Equitable interest held as joint tenants.
What is the exception to equal shares in joint tenancy?
Unequal shares allowed if co-owner provides greater share of finance.
What happens to the interest when a joint tenant dies?
Interest immediately goes to surviving joint tenants.
How can joint tenancy be converted to tenancy in common?
Severance of joint tenancy.
What is the effect of severance of joint tenancies?
Converts joint tenancy into tenancy in common.
What happens when severance occurs with 2 joint tenants?
Equal shares in tenancy in common.