land transfers -- the deed Flashcards
what is a deed?
a writing that transfers title to real property from a grantor (the seller) to a grantee (the buyer)
what does a deed need to constitute a valid transfer of a person’s property interest in land
must satisfy the SOF
must manifest the intent of the grantor to transfer title
identify the grantor and the grantee
describe the land with sufficient specificity
signed by the grantor
AND TO BE EFFECTIVE THE DEED MUST BE DELIVERED
does a deed need to be recorded to be valid
no!
is it ok for the grantor to leave the grantee’s name blank in a deed?
yes! it will still be effective; if the grantor delivers the deed to the grantee, the grantee has IMPLIED AUTHORITY to fill in in grantee’s name in the blank
if the grantor delivers the deed to the grantee and the name of the grantee is blank, when does the deed become effective?
on the date that the grantee’s name is filled in.
what is the premise part of the deed
sets for the identity of the parties, the consideration that was paid for the property, and a legal description of the property
what is the legal decritpion of the property needed in the deed
ie what can be found in the count recorder’s office via the plat book
what is needed in terms of description of considertaion for a deed to be recorded in SC
the deed must include the actual consideration; otherwise ‘an affidavit of true consideration must be attached to the deed.
what is the granting clause
states the the intent of the grantor to transfer title ; just need verbiage to show the intent to transfer
‘grantor conveys the property’
what are the parts of the deed
- premises
- granting clause
- habendum clause
4.. warranty clause - restrictions
- derivation clause
- tax map number
- signature and date
- subscribing witnesses
- acknowledgment or probate
- notarization
what is the habendum clause
describes the interest and estate that the grantor is transfering through the deed
‘to have and to hold as a life estate’
what is the warranty clause
sets forth the the sort of warranty that the grantor is providing as to the title that he or she transfers
ie in terms of promise of marketability of title in the contract
what is the restriction part of the deed
any restrictions or encumbrances that the property is subject to (such as covenants or easements)
any restrictions in the property HAVE TO BE LISTED HERE
what is the derivation clause (necssary for recording in SC)
usually follows the legal description, and it provides the recording information for the previous deed – the deed that established the grantor’s ownership
what is the subscribing witness part of the deed
the deed must include the signature of two witnesses (not including the grantor)
what is the acknowglment or probate part of the deed
- the deed must include either
An acknowledgment under oath by the grantor to the notary that the grantor did execute the deed OR
A probate, which provides for one of the two witnessess to confirm to either the other witness or to the notary that he witnessed the grantor execute the deed
which parts of the deed are REQUIRED IN SC in order for the deed to be recorded
- derivation clause
- tax map number
- signature and date
- subscribing witnesses
- acknowledgment or probate
- notarization
can title ever transfer without a deed?
yes via ap, eminent domain, will/intestate sucessession, part performacne or ee
with part performance/ee, there must be an oral intention to INSTANTLY transfer the property
what is a reservation in the deed
A deed may designate that in granting the property to the grantee, the grantor is reserving an interest for herself
what is an exception in a deed
A deed may designate that in granting the property to the grantee, the grantor is excepting an interest for some third party
The grantor must create a separate deed for that interest and deliver it to the third party
Glasgow v glasgow (exceptions and reservations): man conveys life estate to wife but son won’t allow her on
Issue: when the granting clause and the habendum of a deed contradict each other as to what is being conveyed, which one controls?
When the estates given in the granting clause and the habendum of a deed are so repugnant to each other as to not be susceptible of any reasonable reconciliation, the GRANTING CLAUSE WILL CONTROL and the habendum will be rejected as void
Mother should have lost because you cant create a land interest via an exception, but the court decided to be extra lenient with her
what absolutly needs to happen for a deed to be effective
delivery
what does it mean to deliver the deed
the grantor intending the written deed to be effective (and irrevocable) immediately (physical delivery is not necessary, you just need that correct intent)
Ie via the grantor putting the grantee in physical possession of the deed
is conditional delivery possible ?
ie A gives B a deed and says ‘the land is yours once you quit smoking for 30 days’
yes, delivety has occured and the smoking comdtiom is igonred
A gives a deed to B and says ‘the land is yours once I die’ – was there a delivery of deed?
No! Because the condition is death of grantor, the intent is TESTAMENTARY
what happens if the condition is the grantor’s own death in the future (ie testamentary intent?)
courts will do not recognize any transfer of property through a delivery of a deed where the grantor manifests a testamnetary intent
what happens if the condtion that the grantor specifies (without writing it into the deed) is not based on the grantors death
courts will recognize a valid deed delivery and just ignore the condition
in what situation would a condition on a deed (thats not written into the deed) not be ignored
it may be valid if the grantor delivers the deed to an escrow agent under certain conditions:
the escrow agent must be a third party who is not the agent of either party, the grantor must instruct the agent that once the condtion is fuflilled, the escrow shall deliver the deed to the grantee.
when the condition is valid because of delivery of the deed to escrow, what is the delivery date?
it relates back to date that the grantor delivered the deed to the agent if two elements are met
- the grantor must not be able to retreive the deed from the escrow agent
- there must be a k of sale between the grantor and grantee for the property that is the subject of the deed
can a grantor make the posessory interest of the grantee dependent on a future condition
yes! ie via a springing executory interest! the grantor would presently transfer title without transferring physical possession of the land