Present Possessory Estates Flashcards
What is a present Possessory interest?
An interest that gives the holder the right to present possession.
What are the types of PPI?
1) Fee simple absolute
2) Defeasible fee (3 types)
3) Life estate
What must you know in reference to PPI’s for the exam?
1) What language will create what estate?
2) What are the estate at issue’s distinguishing characteristics? Devisable/Descendible/alienable?
3) What future interests is the estate capable of?
What does devisable mean?
An estate can pass by will
What does Descendible mean?
Will an estate pass by intestacy?
What does alienable mean?
Is it transferable during a holder’s life time?
What is presume today absent express contrary intent?
A fee simple absolute
What is a Defeasible fees?
Fee simple estates that can be terminated upon the happening of a stated event.
What is the structure of a Defeasible fee?
1) To A
2) With a condition attached
3) Condition renders risk of estate forfeiture
How do statements of motive/purpose create a Defeasible fee?
They don’t.
What type of words create a fee simple determinable?
Words that limit the duration of the estate
Is a fee simple determinable devisable?
Yes, but it’s condition of forfeiture is still present
Devisable means transferable by will
Is a fee simple determinable Descendible?
Yes, but it’s condition of forfeiture is still present
Descendible means transferred through intestacy.
Is a fee simple determinable alienable?
Yes, but it’s condition of forfeiture is still present
If a grantor conveys a fee simple determinable, what characteristics does their possibility of reverter have?
The POR is transferrible, devisable by will, descendible by intestacy
What does a grantor reserve in a fee simple subject to condition subsequent?
The right to terminate the estate
2) upon happening of a stated event.
What is different about a grantor’s reversion in a fee simple subject to condition subsequent and a fee simple determinable?
In a fee simple subject to condition subsequent, the reversion interest called a right of entry – which by it name implies the grantor must actively excercise their reentry to take back the interest.
In a fee simple determinable, the grantor’s reversion interest is called a possibility of reverter. By it’s name, it indicates that the possibility exists the interest will automaitacally revert back to Grantor.
in a fee simple subject condition subsequent, what must the grantor do if a condition occurs that was explicit in the granting?
Nothing, they have a right of entry and may choose to reenter if they so wish.
What is true about a possibility of reverter compared to a right of entry?
1)A right of entry must be expressly reserved
2) doesn’t automatically arise.
3)Most states also hold
4)the right of entry is not alienable.
5) but is devisable and descendible.
What type of estate does policy generally disfavor?
Possibilty of reverter.
If a conveyance has both durational language and a power of termination, what will it create?
A fee simple subject to condition subsequent.
What is a fee simple subject to an executory interest?
A fee simple that is constrained by a condition, but reverts to a third party and not a grantor.
How does a third party get possession of an estate when a triggering condition occurs/is violated?
They automatically get the estate.
What do courts disfavor and how does it effect defeasible fees?
1)Courts disfavor restrictions on land use, 2)so creation of a defeasible fee
3) must use clear duration language.