ESTATES IN LAND Flashcards
Fee Simple Absolute (2)
- potentially infinite DURATION
2. MUST be fully ALIENABLE (no direct restraints)
Right of 1st refusal (FSA EXCEPTION)
option to buy by 3rd p before it can be sold to anyone else
FSA creation
CL: “To A and her heirs”
MAJORITY CHANGE: presumed unless clear intent otherwise
Fee Tail
@ CL a device to lock the property into grantee’s family
- “to A and the heirs of his/her body” OR
- “to A and his/her bodily heirs”
*this language presumed unless asked to apply CL
Life Estate
- created express or implied
- grantees life is measuring life
LE pur Autre vie
(life estate measure by the life of another)
“to tarzan for the life of jane”
CL: if tarzan dies but jane is still alive, SEISIN VACANT– ANYBODY TAKES
MAJ: goes to tartans estate, LE continues in place until jane measuring life dies
Life Estate (restraint on alienation)
MODERN RULE allows to terminate IF life estate tenant attempts to convey away LE
Voluntary Waste
affirmative action beyond right of maintenance that causes harm to premises
(may be liable to holder of FUTURE INTEREST)
“Open Mines Doctrine”
depletion of natural resources is wasted UNLESS the consumption constitutes “normal use” of the land
ex. life estate in a coal mine or granite quarry
* sale of havestable crops does not involve waste
Permissive Waste (3 MUSTS to avoid liability)
- MUST make ordinary repairs
- MUST pay ALL taxes on prop
- MUST pay INTEREST on any mortgage indebtedness
Ameliorative Waste
alters property substantially but activity increases value of land
(if changed conds have made prop relatively worthless, can alter without incurring liability)
Seisin
holder of seisin is taxpayer
Future Int retained by GRANTOR (3)
- reversion
- possibility of reverter
- right of entry
Future Int retained by GRANTEE (2)
- remainder
2. executory int
Reversion in g’or
whenever the g’or conveys away less than the durational estate g’or had
ex. To A for life