3. Code I: Property Flashcards
Classification of Property
common / public / private
immovable / movable
Public Things
- territorial sea + arms of the sea
- waters and bottoms of natural navigable water bodies
- roads
Navigable Waters
= susceptible to commercial use
no right to trespass on private property to access the public water body
Distinguishing Between River/ Lake
- size and shape
- depth
- historical designation
- current
Transfer or encumbrance of a thing always includes its ________ _______.
Transfer or encumbrance of a thing always includes its component parts.
Immovables Regardless of Unity of Ownership
- land
- buildings
- standing timber
- integral parts
- attachments under art. 466
Buildings Classification
- unity = immovable component part
- no unity = “separate immovables”
NOT OCPAs
Building Factors
PHAC Services v. Seaways:
- cost
- purpose
- durability
- prevailing notions
Unless otherwise provided by law, ownership of a TRACT of LAND carries with it the ownership of ______________________________________.
Unless otherwise provided by law, ownership of a TRACT of LAND carries with it the ownership of everything that is directly above or under it.
Standing Timber Classification
- unity = immovable component part
- no unity = “separate immovables”
Integral Parts Test
merger with another thing AND loss of separate identity
Effect of Integral Part Classification
A thing that is incorporated into a tract of land, building, or other construction
In such a way so as to become an integral part of the thing to which it is incorporated
is a component part of that thing, and thus is classified as an immovable.
Other Constructions Permanently Attached to the Ground
= manmade constructions that are not buildings
movables when there is NO unity of ownership (opposite for buildings/ standing timber)
OCPA attached to the ground by a different owner with the consent of the owner of the ground
= owned by the party who attached them
Attachments under art. 466
- component parts (permanent attachments) of buildings
- component parts (permanent attachments) of other constructions not a building
- component parts so attached, removal would cause damage
Permanent Attachments of Buildings
always immovable
things that are attached to a building, and, according to prevailing usages, serve to complete a building of the same general type, without regard to its specific use
i.e. doors, shutters, gutters, cabinetry, and systems such as plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical
Permanent Attachments of Constructions other than Buildings
things that are attached to it and serve its principal use
Substantial Damage Permanent Attachments
attached EITHER to a building or other construction to such a degree that they cannot be removed without substantial damage to themselves or to the building or other construction
Immovables with Unity of Ownership
- OCPA
- unharvested crops and ungathered fruits
Immovables by Declaration of the Owner Test
An owner has some limited ability to declare machinery, appliances, or equipment immovable under Louisiana law.
(1) there must be unity of ownership between the appliances and the immovable
(2) the immovable may not be a private residence
(3) the item must be actually placed on the immovable and used for its service and improvement
(4) a declaration of immovability must be filed in the parish where the immovable is located
De-Immobilization
a thing that has become a component part may nonetheless become movable again
- by damage or deterioration
- by detachment or removal (exception = no detach/removal if 3P has a right in the thing, unless GF)
Movables
anything not classified as an immovable under LA law
Accession
rights and duties related to things that are produced by another thing or united with that other thing
Fruits
Things produced by or derived from another thing WITHOUT diminution of its substance.
- A person who has a right to fruits owns all natural fruits GATHERED during the existence of his right.
- Civil fruits accrue BY DAY.
Good Faith Possessor for Accession
one who possession by virtue of an act translative of ownership and is not aware of any defect in his ownership
- entitled to any fruits gathered AND for reimbursement for expenses related to any fruits that remain ungathered
Bad Faith Possessor for Accession
A bad faith possessor is aware of a defect in his ownership and ignores it.
- only gets reimbursement of expenses for gathered fruits and NOTHING for ungathered fruits
Products
diminish the substance of the thing from which they were taken
Neither good faith or bad faith possessors OWN products. GF can get reimbursement for expenses
Transfer of Immovables
require a WRITING
not effective against 3P unless FILED in public records of parish where immovable is situated
Transfer of Movables
NO writing required
affects 3P upon ACTUAL DELIVERY
Bona-Fide Purchaser Doctrine
applies when 3P purchases in GF from MERCHANT who customarily sells such things
Accession to Immovables: Appropriation and Reimbursement
When the owner of the improvements no longer has the right to keep them on the land of another, the improver may remove things, so long as he restores the land to its original condition.
If he fails to remove them after written demand, the owner of the immovable may assert ownership upon sending a second written notice dated 90 days after the first. If the owner asserts ownership in this manner, he OWES NOTHING for improvements.
Accession to Immovables: Rights/ Remedies to Component Parts
Things that are integral to the building or component part belong to the owner of the immovable, regardless of consent.
But the maker may de-immobilize by detachment or removal in the absence of third party rights.
If he fails to do so and a demand for removal is made, the owner of the immovable can compel removal at the maker’s expense, or keep the thing and either pay the current value of the materials and workmanship or the enhanced value of the thing.
Accession to Immovables: Constructions/ Improvements by Good Faith Possessors
The owner CANNOT compel a good faith possessor to remove improvements made by GF possessors.
He MUST keep then pay the cost of materials and workmanship, their current value, or the enhanced value of the land.
Accession to Immovables: Constructions/ Improvements by Bad Faith Possessors
the owner of the immovable CAN demand demolition and removal at the possessor’s expense
OR keep the thing and pay current value of the materials and workmanship or the enhanced value of the thing.
Co-Ownership
AKA ownership in indivision
full form of ownership, and thus co-owners collectively hold EQUAL/ UNDIVIDED rights of usus, fructus, and abusus in a co-owned thing
Division of Fruits in Co-Ownership
Fruits are divided among co-owners in accordance with their share in the co-owned thing.
If one co-owner performs work that generates the fruits, he is entitled to deduct his expenses, EXCLUDING the value of his labor, from the fruits he pays to other co-owners.
Rights of Use in Co-Ownership
- co-extensive rights of use, regardless of their percentage of shares
- must use the thing in a way that does not deny the others the right to use
- cannot use the thing inconsistent with its destination
Expenses in Co-Ownership
- shared in proportion to co-owned shares
- necessary expenses for ordinary maintenance and repairs are shared by co owners
- entitled to reimbursement but can be offset by co-owners’ exclusive use of a thing
Abusus
- sell
- destroy
- make major alterations
Co-Owners’ Rights to Abusus/ Alienation
- co-owner can alienate, encumber, or lease his undivided interest.
- CANNOT do so to the ENTIRE thing without consent of all the co-owners
Who can demand partition?
ANY co-owner can demand partition at any time
naked owner CANNOT obtain partition against one who holds an undivided interest
Substantial Alterations and Improvements
considered act of abuse and technically cannot be done without consent of co-owners but may be entitled to reimbursement depending on the circumstances
Reimbursement in Co-Ownership
Necessary expenses and expenses for ordinary maintenance/repairs are shared
- one who pays for it is entitled for reimbursement from the others in proportion to their shares
Reimbursement for Substantial Alterations Consistent with the Use of Property
co-owners CANNOT demand demolition (maker treated like GF possessor)
- owe either the cost of materials and workmanship, their current value of the materials and workmanship, or the enhanced value of thing
Reimbursement for Substantial Alterations Inconsistent with the Use of Property OR Over Express Objection
co-owners CAN demand demolition and removal at the maker’s expense AND claim damages (maker treated like BF possessor)
- OR can keep and pay the value of the materials and workmanship or pay for the enhanced value of the immovable
Excluding Partition
- by co owner by K for up to 15 years
- by donor for 5 years from date of donation
Partition
- voluntary OR judicial
- in kind OR by licitation
Partition in Kind
preferred by court
Court REQUIRED to order when:
1. co-owned thing can be divided into as many lots of nearly equal value as there are co-owners AND
2. the total value of all the co-owned lots is not significantly lower than the value of the co-owned thing in indivision
Partition by Licitation
Generally occurs by public sale by sheriff’s office
Court can order a private sale with assistance of real estate agent
NEW 2021 LAW: if a co-owner is absentee or does not consent to partition by private sale, court REQUIRED to order private sale and give co-owners FIRST PRIORITY of that sale
Predial Servitude
charge of a servient estate for the benefit of a dominant estate
The estate on which a predial servitude is established must be a distinct corporeal immovable (land/buildings/standing timber)
- MUST have separate ownership and can only be created when the servient estate and the dominant estate are owned by different persons
- affirmative or negative
- natural, legal, or conventional
Types of Predial Servitudes
- Natural
- Legal
- Conventional
IF NO FACTS INDICATING ADJACENT ESTATES/ DOM ESTATES THEN NOOOOT A PREDIAL SERVITUDE
Legal Servitude
created as a matter of law, even absent any contractual agreement among the owners of the affected estates
Enclosed Estates
Legal servitude will be created as a matter of law for public necessity
duty = neighboring estate must furnish landlocked owner closest distance to public road
- not free
- traffic or utility
- shortest distance AND also least injurious
Relocation of Legal Servitude
- owner of dominant estate CANNOT move it
- owner of servant estate can demand location change to move to more convenient place AT HIS EXPENSE
Gratuitous Passage
law provides this type of legal servitude when:
- partition of co-owned property created enclosed estate OR
- when landowner sells landlocked portion to another
DOES NOT APPLY TO SELLER WHO ENCLOSES HIMSELF
Seller who encloses himself
IS NOT ENTITLED TO A ASSERT A LEGAL SERVITUDE OF ANY FORM
Legal Servitude for Encroaching Building
(1) builder in good faith when constructing encroaching building
AND
(2) owner of land DID NOT COMPLAIN within reasonable time or else failed to complain before substantial completion of the building
still in the discretion of the court and will have to COMPENSATE owner of land encroached upon
Conventional Servitude
voluntary contractural understanding of the parties
Manner of Creation of Conventional Servitudes
- by title
- by destination of owner
- by acquisitive prescription
Conventional Servitude by Title
- writing required + recorded to effect 3P
- scope / extent of rights determined by title