Big Topics Flashcards
Fee simple determinable?
- estate that terminates upon the happening of a stated event and AUTOMATICALLY REVERTS to the grantor (possibility of reverter)
- language: “for so long as,” “while,” “during,” or “until”
fee simple subject to condition subsequent?
- estate in which the grantor RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TERMINATE the estate upon the happening of a stated event; i.e., grantor must take some action.
- “upon condition that”, “provided that,” “but if,” “if it happens that”
- right of reentry
fee simple subject to an executory interest
estate that terminated upon the happening of a stated event and then passes to a 3d party rather than reverting to the grantor
a future interest includes:
reversionary interests, remainders, and executory interests
reversions?
possibilities of reverter and rights of entry – all of these interests are vested and thus not subject ot the RAP
what is a remainder?
a future interest in a 3d person that can become possessory on the natural expiration of the prior estate; ex: O conveys “to A for life, then to B and his heirs”
indefeasibly vested remainder?
one created in an existing and ascertained person, and N subject to a condition precedent – i.e. the remainderman has a right to immediate possession upon normal termination of th epreceding estate
vested remainder subject to open
a vested remainder in an open class of persons, subjec tto diminution -- birth of addt'l persons who will share in the remainder as a class. O conveys "to A for life, then to children of B." A and B are living and B has one child, C. C has a vested remainder subject to open.
vested remainder subject to total divestment
vested remainder that is subject to a condition subsequent. O conveys “to A for life, then to B and his heirs; but if B dies unmarried, then to C and his heirs.” B has a vested remainder subject to complete divestment by C’s executory interest.
contingent remainder
remainders created in unborn or unascertained persons, or subject to a condition precedent. condition precedent must be satisfied before remainderman can take.
“O conveys to A for life, then to B and his heirs IF B marries C.” B’s remainder is contingnet.
executory interests
divest a transferee’s preceeding estate (shifting) or cut short a grantor’s estate (springing interest)
- “O grants to A and his his heirs when A marries B” – A has a springing executory interest
- “O grants to A for life, then to B and his heirs; but if B predeceases A, then to C and his heirs.” – C has a shifting executory interest
COME BACK TO THE RULE AGAINST PERPETUITIES
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4 types of tenancies
- tenancies for years
- periodic tenancies
- tenancies at will
- tenancies at sufferance
tenancies for years?
fixed period of time, usu. created by written leases, ends automatically at termination date
periodic tenancy
tenancy for successive periods, i.e. month to month, until terminated by proper notice by either party
ways to create a periodic tenancy?
- express agreement
- implication (L leases to T at a rent of $1,000 payable monthly)
- operation of law (T remains in possession after the lease expires, and L treats it as a periodic tenancy)
proper notice ot terminate a periodic tenancy?
one full period in advance; for a year to year lease, one month notice is the modern trend
tenancy at will
terminable at the will of either the landlord or the tenant
creation of tenancy at will:
generally, must be created by an express agreement that the lease can be terminated at any time. absent such agreement, periodic rent payments will cause a court to treat it as a periodic tenancy.
termination of a tenancy at will?
proper notice or operation of law (death, waste, etc.)
tenancies at sufferance?
arises when a tenant wrongfully remains in possession after the expiration of a lawful tenancy. lasts only until L takes steps to evict the tenant, no notice req’d.
assignment?
a complete transfer of the entire remaining lease term
sublease
if T retains any part of the remaining leaseterm
consequences of assignment?
assignee is in privily of estate with land lord, and liable on all covenants that run with the land. original tenant remains liable on the origianl contract obligations, such as to pay rent b/c she is in privity of contract with the landlord.
when does a covenant run with the land IN A LEASE?
when the original parties to the lease so intend and if the covenant touches and concerns the land, i.e. benefits the LL and burdens the tenant or vice versa with respect to their interests in the property
consequences of sublease
sublessee not in privity with landlord – not liable to the LL for rent or for the performance of any covenants int he main lease unless the sublessee EXPRESSLY ASSUMES the covenants
are covenants against assignment or subleasing enforceable?
they are strictly enforced against the LL, i.e. if the covenant bars assignments then it DN bar subleases and vice versa. the LL waives this provision if the LL was aware of the assignment and DN object, i.e. knowingly accepting rent from the assignee.
what if a tenant makes an assignemnt or sublease in violation of the lease terms?
the transfer is not void. however, the LL usually may terminate or sue for damages.
If a landlord assigns his rights to a new owner, do the covnenats that ouch and concern the land run to the assignee?
Yes, and thus the assignee is liable for the performance of those covenants. THE ORIGINAL LANDLORD ALSO REMAINS LIABLE FOR ALL THE COVENANTS HE MADE IN THE LEASE.
Easements, profits, covenants, and servitudes are ______ interests in land:
nonpossessory; creating a right to use land possessed by someone else
an easement holder has the right to use and enjoy the land for:
a special purpose
easement appurtenant? how does it pass?
two tracts, one dominant, one subservient; it passes with the benefited land automatically, regardless of whether it was mentioned in the conveyance. the burden of the easement also passes automatically with the servient estate unless the new owner is a BFP with no actual or constructive notice of the easement
easement in gross?
benefits the holder rather another parcel; it’s for the holder’s personal pleasure; right to swim in the pond on Blackarcre. Generally not transferable, unless it serves a commercial interest, right to erect billboards for example, then it’s transferable.
ways to create an easement?
- express grant
- express reservation
- implication
creation of easement - express grant?
must be memorialized in writing and signed by the holder of the sevient tenement unless its duration is brief enough (commonly one year or less) to be soutside fo the SOF; must comply with all formalities of a deed