Chapter 4 - Transfer of Title to Real Property Flashcards
Adequacy of Description
The three most acceptable types of property description are metes and bounds, the government rectangular survey system, and description by reference. Latent ambiguity is legally sufficient but not professionally acceptable. Patent ambiguity is neither legally nor professionally acceptable.
Metes and Bounds
A way to describe property primarily used in North Carolina and the other 13 colonies. Metes = distances, Bounds = directions. Must contain a point of beginning (POB) and must end where it started.
Government Rectangular Survey System
Method used in the rest of USA, not the 13 colonies.
Principal lines = North/South called Medians, Base lines = East/West.
Ranges
Area between the Meridians and Base lines.
Township
Squares within Ranges that are 6 miles by 6 miles. Divided into 36 sections. Numbered starting with 1 in the upper right corner and snaking down to 36 in the lower right corner.
Sections
1 square mile area within a Township. can be divided into quarters and subdivided further. Each section contain 640 acres.
Description by reference
Sometimes the only reference in the deed, usually in addition to Metes and Bounds description. Reference is made to a Plat or property map and lot number(Plat book and pg number is the reference itself)
Reference to publicly recorded documents
Reference made to another document that contains a more thorough description.
Informal reference
Only a legal reference if the description identifies the property to the exclusion of all other properties. EG: Street address, tax parcel number or word picture.
Property Survey
Used to determine the boundaries of a specific tract of land, a plat or map is then prepared. Survey also includes locations of buildings, fences, and other structures, and the location of easements and rights-of-way. The way an encroachment is discovered.
Intestate Succession (By Descent)
Laws that govern how property is distributed to heirs By Descent if a person dies without a valid will (intestate)
By Will
A gift of real property By Will is is a Devise and the recipient of the real property is a devisee. A gift of personal property by will is a bequest and the recipient is a beneficiary.
Testate v Intestate
Testate = died with valid will Intestate = died without valid will
Testator or Testatrix
Man or Woman that dies with a valid will
Executor or Executrix
the person appointed to carry out the provisions in the will.
Probate
The judicial determination of the validity of the will by the courts.
By Deed (Voluntary Alienation)
The only way to voluntarily alienate (remove oneself from ownership). Willing transfer of interest in property accomplished by transfer of deed.
Deed
Written instrument that transfers an interest in real property when delivered and accepted. All deeds do two things, convey title and/or convey a warranty.
Involuntary Alienation
Can happen in 1 of 4 ways:
- Lien Foreclosure sale
- Adverse possession
- Condemnation under power of Eminent Domain
- Escheat
Lien Foreclosure Sale
Involuntary alienation. A Sale of property conducted without consent of owner who incurred a debt that resulted in a lien.
Judicial Deed
The way title is conveyed to a buyer from a Lien foreclosure sale, executed by the official authorized by the court to conduct the sale and transfer the title.
Adverse Possession
Involuntary Alienation. Squatters. A method of acquiring title to real property by conforming to statutory requirements:
- Possession must be Open (Notorious)
- Hostile (without permission of owner)
- Exclusive (not shared with true owner)
- Open and Notorious (available to view by the public)
- Continuous for period specified by the state.
Title acquisition Not Automatic - Action to Quiet Title.
Color of Title
This exists when someone has a document that appears to give him or her title but actually does not. the “continuous” period for proof with color of title is 7 years.for private land and 21 years when claiming state land. Contrast with 20 years private and 30 years state without Color of Title.
Suit to Quiet Title
Court action to claim title when all conditions of Adverse Possession are met. Required to make the adverse possession claim part of public record and therefore discoverable in title searches.