Estates Flashcards
testator
a person who leaves a will
vest
Having become a completed, consummated right for present or future enjoyment; not contingent; unconditional; absolute <a>.</a>
restraint on alienation
a provision in a deed or will that prohibits or limits a future transfer of P. If the provision expressly future transfer of a fee simple, it is void against public policy. (White cs)
holographic will
a will written entirely in the handwriting of the decedent and signed (no symbols)by her. Legal in CA. No witness.
freedom of alienation
transferability is necessary to ensure the productive use of land
equitable life estate
The essence of the trust is the separation of legal and equitable title.
A trustee holds legal title to the trust property and manages the assets as a fiduciary for the benefit of the trust beneficiaries, who hold the equitable title.
The interests of the beneficiaries are usually split into present and future interests.
The equitable life estate is the most frequent type of present interest.
remainder interest
capable of becoming possessory immediately upon expiration of the prior estate AND doesn’t divest (cut short) any interest in the prior transferee
remainder interest
The property that passes to a beneficiary after the expiration of an intervening income interest. • For example, if a grantor places real estate in trust with income to A for life and remainder to B upon A’s death, then B has a remainder interest.
Waste
an abuse or destructive use o property by one in rightful possession
Fee Tail
When you keep estate in the family to preserve wealth.
Indicated by “and the heirs of his body”
- not devisable
- Sentence preceded by “to B”
- Duration determined by lives of descendants
Fee Tail Special
O conveys “to G and the heirs of her body by R.” Adds a limitation. created when the transferor wants to restrict the fee tail only to the descendants of the transferee who are parented by a particular person. Goal: Keeping P in immediate bloodline.
fee simple determinable
a fee simple estate that automatically ends when a certain event or condition occurs, giving the right of possession to the transferor.
“until,” which connotes duration; freely alienable, devisable, and descendible
fee simple subject to a condition subsequent
may be terminated at the election of the transferor when a certain condition or event occurs. If condition happens, estate does not terminate automatically. Transferor terminates by taking action.
fee simple determinable
“until,” which connotes duration; freely alienable, devisable, and descendible
fee simple subject to a condition subsequent
If the condition happens, this estate does not end auto-
matically; rather, the transferor has the power to terminate the estate by taking action. This is a cause of action.
Quiet Title Action
A suit to establish P’s title to land
Equitable Title
Tes
Words of Purchase
“to G” - our first FSA transferee
Words of Limitation
“and heirs” - not legal title
Possibility of Reverter
Future interest of FSD (always). Can only be retained by transferor (and heirs). Automatically possessory upon happening of stated condition.
Executory Interest
Test
Intestacy
Person who dies w/o a will
Reversion
Future interest that becomes possessory upon the end of someone’s LE
Equitable Defense
A defense that provides an exception to a rule in the name of fairness
Shifting Executory Interest
*We will discuss later
Heir
A relative of a DECEDENT; ppl who receive P under intestate succession laws
Heirs Apparent
Relatives of a LIVING person
Possibility of Revertor
If a condition is not met, it’s possible that property will get returned to orig. grantor. (CLARIFY)
Right of Re-entry
TEST