Life Estates Flashcards
Walker v. Ireton
A court notwithstanding the SOFs, may enforce an oral contract for the sale of Real Property if the one seeking its enforcement has partially or fully performed & has relied on the oral agreement such that the application of the SOFs would be unjust
What is the NY General Obligations Law?
AN ACT to reconsolidate laws relating to the creation, definition, enforcement, transfer, modification, discharge and revival
What is the California Civil Code (2015)?
As estate in Real Property, other than an estate & will or for a term not exceeding one year, can be transf only by operation of law or by operation in writing, subscribed by the party disposing of the same or by his agent thereunto authorized by writing.
What is the Uniformed Land Transaction Act (ULTRA)?
ULTRA was designed to simply clarify modernize & make uniform nationwide the real estate sales & sales financing. A law like the UCC has done in the transaction in goods.
Requirements to satisfy a Mortgage are:
1st, you must have a contract
2nd, the contract must be signed
unless your are dead or the K ceases to exist
What is the Strong Arm Clause?
A Bonafide purchaser is one who purchases property for the Value, Consideration & is without notice of prior claims.
Under the Bankruptcy Law:
The Bankruptsy Trustee has the status of a Bona Fide Purchaser of the debtors real property, therefore having Priority Rights over any Creditor who has interest in the same Real Property
Bowling v. Kleifer (1969):
A Contract for the sale of the property must contain a description of the property such that the Property can be ID. The property must be Identifiable & locatable for the transf to be valid.
What satisfies the SOFs?
A written instrument satisfies the SOFs as long as the substance of the Instrument makes clear the grantor’s intent to convey to the grantee the title to a sufficiently describe the property & is signed by the grantor.
What is Subject to Specific Performance in ALA?
In order for an oral K to be valid it is subject to Specific Performance in ALA.
What is a Latent Defect A?
A defect not visible to the Naked-eye. Anything that the
Homeowner knows is a defect in the house:
Mold, Previous Fires, issues with a foundation or any knowledge of leaks. These are prime examples of latent defects.
Who must disclose all material latent defects?
Seller,
Estate Professionals, &
Real Estate Professional
In Gulden v. Sloan
Part performance of an oral agreement for the sale of real property may exempt the agreement from the statute of frauds if the part performance clearly and unequivocally demonstrates the existence and terms of the agreement.
Non-delivery of a Deed:
A deed does not have to be physically delivered to the grantee to be effective. But there is a Rebuttable Presumption of Non-delivery if it is unrecorded & in the grantor’s possession.
In Williams (Clemons) v. Cole
Clemons died leaving his estate to be admin by the Probate Court. The Rebuttable Presumption of the Non-delivery was that the Deed was unrecorded & in Clemon’s possession. It is known that Clemons told Cole on several occasions where the Deed was kept & to get it recorded now is not enough to overcome the presumption.
In Lenhart v. Desmond
If there is no actual delivery of the Deed, the grantor’s intent may Constitute delivery.
Rosengrant v. Rosengrant
A property transfer is only Valid if the transferor intends for the transfer to take effect, immed upon delviery of the Deed.
A Present Estate is also known as?:
A Present Possessory Estate, an interest in land that affords its holder the present right to possess
What are Freehold Estates?
The present estates that confer possession of the property for an Indefinite Period of Time.
-Fee Simple Estate
-Life Estate
-FeeTail Estate
An estate that is perpetual, transferable, and inheritable. The most common kind of estate. The highest & most complete form of ownership?
Fee-Simple Estate
An estate that is property, usually a residence, that an individual owns and may use for the duration of their lifetime. This person, called the life tenant, shares ownership of the property with another person. This person is called the remainderman, and automatically receives the title to the property upon the life tenant’s death.
Life Estate
A form of trust, established by deed or settlement, that restricts the sale or inheritance of an estate in real property and prevents that property from being sold, devised by will, or otherwise alienated by the tenant-in-possession, and instead causes it to pass automatically, by operation of law, to an heir determined by the settlement deed.
Fee Tail Estate (Contrast to Fee-Simple Estate)
This type of Estate is a Common Law Interest in Land
Are Fee Tail Estates Abolished in Most States? If so, why?
Yes, most states have abolished Fee Tail Estates.
This is due to the modern belief that fee tails are overly burdensome and inefficient, most jurisdictions in the United States abolished the fee tail and this language in a deed instead creates a fee simple.
What are Non-Freehold Estates?
Nonfreehold estates are a type of real property that you have a limited right to use or occupy but don’t own. In effect, you lease the property without holding any ownership over it for a definite Amount of time. For example, a nonfreehold estate may include a condo you rent
Examples of Non-Freehold Estates:
Estate for Years (limited in its duration to a period which is fixed or which may be made fixed and certain),
Tenancy @ Will (w/o a predetermined duration),
Periodic Tenancy (can be terminated by owner or tenant at any time) and,
Tenancy @ Sufferance (as long as the Leesor allows the possession to continue)
To Convey a Fee-Simple Absolute:
A Fee simple absolute is the most straightforward type of fee simple ownership; and the term is usually used interchangeably with fee simple.
It is a form of freehold, meaning that the grantee holds ownership over the land with no restrictions (thus being absolute) and may use the land as they desire.
A Fee-Simple Absolute has no specificed end date, it is potentially indefinite.
A Fee-Simple Absolute is:
Of course subject to any Encumberance in favor of anyone other than the holder.
What is a Merger Doctrine?
When one entity obtains both a greater and a lesser interest in land to the same piece of real property, the lesser interest merges into the greater interest and the lesser interest is thereby extinguished.
What are the General Remedies provided if a Life Tenant Commits waste of the property?
Money Damages,
An Injunction against the waste
A Forfeiture of the Life Estate
What happens to the Life Estate if the Forfeiture is the remedy?
The Life estate will terminate immediately & the corresponding future interest will reopen into possession.
What is Permissive Waste?
The duty to take all reasonable steps to maintain the property - so that it does not fall into disrepair.
Under the Supremacy Clause, Fed Law will _____ state law on these matters. For example, the governing of real property : eminent domain, Fed tax matters, etc.
Supersede
what are the Covenants of a Warranty?
Covenant for Seisin
Covenant for the Right to Convey
Covenant Against Encumberances
Covenant for Quiet Enjoyment
Covenant of General Warraty
What is the Covenant for Seissin:
The grantor covenants to the grantee that the grantor has title and possession of the property. Presents Majority Rule.
Does not run w/the land.
What is the Coveant for the Right to Convey?
The promise that the seller has the right to convey the property.
Does not run w/the land.
What is the Covenant against Encumbranes?
The promise that the property is free of any liens or Encumbrances. Does not run w/the land.
What is the Covenant for Quite Enjoyment?
The right to live in a house that meets all the state’s basic health, safety, and building codes, as outlined in the Landlord-Tenant Laws. This is Future-based so it Runs w/the land.
Grantee wil not be evicted (actively or constructively) by someone w/Paramount Title.
What is the Covenant of General Warranty?
A promise to perform any actions in the future that may be necessary to perfect the buyer’s title to the extent that the buyer reasonably requires these actions.
This is Future-based so it Runs w/the land.
The grantor promises to compensate the grantee in the event he is evicted (actively or constructively) by someone w/Paramount Title.
What is the Covenant for Future Assurance?
This Covenant can be specifically enforced, whereas the other Covenants are enforced only by an Award of Damages.
The related promise that the grantor will do whatever is necessary to remove a defect associated with title, such as an encumbrance, if it arises, and if the problem is not fixed, damages will be awarded. The express promise of doing whatever is necessary is a huge promise.
This Covenant can be specifically enforced, whereas the other Covenants are enforced only by an Award of Damages.
What are the Future Covenants?
Run w/the Land & Enforced by Award of Damages.
Covenants of Quiet Enjoyment
Covenants of Warranty &
Covenants of Future Assurances
What are the Present Covenants?
Do not Run w/the Land & are Enforceable only by the Immediate grantee.
Covenant of Seisin
Covenants of Right to Enjoy &
Covenants Against Encumbrances
Which Covenant’s Remedy can be Specifically Enforced?
Covenant of Future Assurances
What is a Quit Claim Deed?
A quit-claim deed is writen on the assumption that the grantor may not have Title or that the title is subject to Encumbrances.
The Grantor conveys whatever interest is to be paid, but does not promise to pay anything.
A quitclaim deed is not legally considered an inheritance. Instead, the property transfer is viewed as a gift in terms of the law because the transferor has not died.