Limits on Inheritance: Void conditions Flashcards

1
Q

Malum Prohibitum

A

That which is prohibited by law, regardless to if we think it harmless or bad, it doesn’t matter. Only applies to personal property, or mixed personal and real property

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2
Q

Malum in Se

A

That which is in its very nature, prohibited. Something that is inherently bad. Only applies to personal property, or mixed personal and real property

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3
Q

What happens if you can find malum prohibitum vs malum in se

A

Some condition precedents can be saved

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4
Q

Rules for gifts consisting of only real property

A
  • If condition precedent and condition void for any reason at all whole gift fails
  • If condition subsequent condition is void for any reason at all then condition void and gift valid
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5
Q

Rules for gifts consisting of personal property or mixed (both real and personal)

A
  • Condition precedent= void condition means void gift (3 exceptions)
  • Condition precedent= condition void, gift valid
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6
Q

3 exceptions for mixed/personal property condition precedent

A

(1) If the condition precedent is void for illegality, it will render the gift void, if it is malum in se. BUT if you can prove it is illegal and malum prohibitum, you can save the gift.
(2) if the condition precedent is deemed to be in terrorem
(3) if condition is void for reasons of impossibility

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7
Q

In terrorem

A

A condition that is a mere threat to induce the beneficiary to comply w/ the condition, also known as an “idle threat.” The court generally ignores it.

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8
Q

3 conditions that need to be met for finding of interrorem

A
  1. Legacy must be composed of personal property, or both personal and real property.
  2. Legacy must include a restraint on marriage, or prevents the beneficiary from disputing the will in court.
  3. It must not be merely idle, i.e. there must be a gift over. – infers that a condition unaccompanied by a gift over reveals that the condition is a mere idle threat, that is not in reality a “condition” properly so-called.
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9
Q

Re Kent

A

Facts: “if any person brings forward an action against my estate other than for clarification they lose their gift and it goes to residue”

Ratio: in terrorem because gift over provided, still void for public policy (stop people from executing statutory right). Condition subsequent so does not fail whole gift.

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10
Q

Public policy

A

Allows court to either stop or void an otherwise lawful operation of the common law

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11
Q

Restraints on marriage

A
  • Main public policy issue

- Right to get married is constitutional, messing with marriage in will triggers public policy

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12
Q

Re Muirhead

A

Clauses that prohibit a never married person from ever marrying are against public policy

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13
Q

Re Hurshman

A

Facts: the will said “my property and estate to daughter provided she is not at that time the wife of a jew”. She was already married to a jew.

Ratio: clauses that attempt to break up a marriage are void

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14
Q

Re McBride

A

Clauses that attempt to break up a marriage are void

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15
Q

Re Hurshman and Re McBride condition precedent

A

But the court lamely gets around it by saying malum prohibitum even though not really

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16
Q

Clauses on re-marriage

A

These are iffy, depends on if just trying to provide for them in widowhood

17
Q

Re Goodwin

A

Facts: gift to testators daughter in law provided she did not remarry but if she did gift to testators grandson

Ratio: This is okay because intention was to provide for her in her widowhood not to prevent her from remarrying

18
Q

MacDonald v Brown

A

Facts: devise to nephews but nieces share held in trust until she was widowed or divorced from present husband

Ratio: intention not malice to break up marriage because its a trust fund, you get income from it, another provision that said if this does not happen it goes to her children.