Chapter 9 - Titles, Deeds, and Ownership Restrictions Flashcards
What is a private grant?
A voluntary transfer of title from one private party to another private party
What is a public grant?
A transfer of title from any level of government to a private party
What is alienation?
The act of transferring ownership, title, or an interest in real property from one person to another
What are the two types of alienation?
Voluntary and involuntary
What are the two types of voluntary alienation?
Deed and will
What is a deed?
A written instrument used to convey an interest in real property; conveys legal title
What are the types of involuntary alienation?
Descent
Escheat to the state
Adverse possession
Eminent domain
What is descent in terms of alienation?
When a person dies without leaving a will (intestate), all the property he owned at the time of death passes (descends) to the legal descendants
What is escheat to the state in terms of alienation?
Provides for a government, normally state, to take the property of an owner who dies intestate and without any known heirs entitled to receive the property
What is adverse possession in terms of alienation?
Arises when the true owner of record fails to maintain possession and the property is seized by another
What is eminent domain in terms of alienation?
Gives government the right to take land from an owner through a legal process referred to as condemnation, as long as the taking is for a public purpose
What are the two types of notice?
Actual notice
Constructive notice
What is actual notice?
Direct knowledge (see or hear) acquired in the course of a transaction
What is constructive notice?
Accomplished by recording the information in the public records
What is acknowledgment?
The formal declaration before a notary public by the grantor that his signing is a free act
What is the chain of title?
The complete successive record of a property’s ownership
What is a title search?
An examination of all of the public records to determine whether any defects exist in the chain of title
What is an abstract of title?
A summary report of what the title search found in the public record
What is opinion of title?
Executed by an attorney after he has studied the abstract of title; will list any defects or clouds on the title, such as liens, easements, or other encumbrances, and it will include the attorney’s opinion of whether the seller has a marketable title
What is title insurance?
A contract that protects the policyholder from losses arising from defects in the title; a unique type of insurance because it protects a policyholder against loss from an occurrence that has happened in the past, such as a forged deed somewhere in the chain of title
What are the two types of title insurance?
Owner’s policy
Lender’s policy
What is owner’s policy?
Issued for the total purchase price of the property; helps to protect the new owner (or the owner’s heirs) against unexpected risks such as forged deed signatures and damages for any defect in the title
What is lender’s policy?
Issued for the unpaid mortgage amount; protects the lender against title defects
What are the formal covenants or clauses in a deed?
The premises
The habendum clause
The covenant of seisin
The covenant against encumbrances
What are the premises in reference to the clauses in a deed?
Names the parties to the deed and the date of the deed
What is the granting clause?
Part of the premises; contains necessary words used to convey the property (grants, bargains, and sells, or similar words)
What is the habendum clause?
Limits the estate or tenancy being conveyed; starts with the words “to have and to hold”; then, usually, the word “forever” follows if the estate is fee simple or the words “for the life of the grantee” if it is a life estate
What is the covenant of seisin?
A promise that the grantor owns the property and has the right to convey the title
What is the covenant against encumbrances?
States that the property is free from liens or other encumbrances except as noted in the deed; gives the grantee notice of all encumbrances associated with the property
What are the four types of statutory deeds?
Quitclaim deed
Bargain and sale deed
Special warranty deed
General warranty deed
What is a quitclaim deed?
A deed by which the grantor quitclaims unto the grantee all of his or her rights, title, and interest to the property
What is the bargain and sale deed?
Normally consists of the granting clause, habendum clause, and covenant of seisin; however, the grantor does not covenant or warrant to defend the title against any future claims or attacks on the title
What is the special warranty deed?
A deed in which the grantor does not warrant the title (assume any responsibility for the title) in any way or manner except against acts by the grantor or the grantor’s representative (the grantor guarantees that nothing has been done to encumber or cloud the title during his ownership)
What is general warranty deed?
Contains all the covenants and warranties available to give the grantee every possible future guarantee to title protection
If a sale contract does not specify the type of deed to be given by the seller, Florida law requires that:
The property be conveyed by a general warranty deed
What are the three subcategories of public or governmental limitations on ownership of real property?
Police power
Eminent domain
Right of taxation
What is police power?
Represents the broadest power of the government to limit or regulate the rights of property owners
What is eminent domain?
Referred to as a taking for just compensation; the power to take private property for public use
What is right of property taxation?
Limited to the various states by the U.S. Constitution; citizens pay for the benefits and protection provided by the various levels of government