Property Flashcards
Topics? (4)
(Ownership)
- Present Possessory Interests (Freeholds)
- Future Interests
- The Rule Against Perpetuities (RAP)
- Concurrent Estates
Types? (4)
(Ownership: Present Possessory Interests (Freeholds))
- Fee Simple Absolute
- Fee Tail
- Defeasible Fees
- Life Estates
Structure?
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(Ownership: Present Possessory Interests (Freeholds): Fee Simple Absolute)
- Language = “To A & Her Heirs” or “To A’
- Characteristics
- Absolute Ownership
- Potentially Infinite Duration
- Freely Devisable
- Freely Descendible
- Freely Alienable
- Future Interest = No
Structure?
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(Ownership: Present Possessory Interests (Freeholds): Fee Tail)
- Language = “To A & the Heirs of Her Body”
- Characteristics
- Abolished
- Upon Death (Historically) = Passes to Lineal Blood Descendants
- Future Interest = Yes
- Reversion = Grantor
- Remainder = 3rd Party
Structure?
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(Ownership: Present Possessory Interests (Freeholds): Defeasible Fees)
- Fee Simple Determinable
- Language
- “To A So Long As”
- “To A UntiI”
- “To A During”
- “To A Provided That”
- Effect of Violation = Automatic Reversion to Grantor
- Characteristics
- Devisable Subject to Condition
- Descendible Subject to Condition
- Alienable Subject to Condition
- Future Interest = Possibility of Reverter
- Language
- Fee Simple Subject to Condition Subsequent
- Language
- ‘To A But If … Grantor Shall Have a Right of Entry”
- “To A Upon the Condition That… Grantor Shall Have a Right of Entry”
- Effect of Violation = No Automatic Termination
- Characteristics
- Devisable Subject to Condition Subsequent
- Descendible Subject to Condition Subsequent
- Alienable Subject to Condition Subsequent
- Future Interest = Right of Entry (Power of Termination)
- Language
- Fee Simple Subject to Executory Limitation
- Language
- “To A But If X Occurs … Then to B”
- Effect of Violation = Automatically Passes to 3rd Party
- Characteristics
- Devisable Subject to Condition Subsequent
- Descendible Subject to Condition Subsequent
- Alienable Subject to Condition Subsequent
- Future Interest = Shifting Executory Interest
- Language
- Interpretation of Defeasible Fees by Court
- Generally Disfavored
- Discourage Restraints on Alienation
- Presumption Against Forfeitures
- Clear DurationaI Language Required
- “To A for the Purpose?”
- “To A with the Hope?”
- “To A with the Expectation”
- Absolute Restraints on Alienation = Void & Unenforceable
- Generally Disfavored
Structure?
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(Ownership: Present Possessory Interests (Freeholds): Life Estate)
- Language
- “To A for Life” = Simple Life Estate
- “To A for B’s Life” = Pur Autre Vie
- Rights of Life Tenant = Ordinary Uses & Profits
- Duty Not to Commit Waste
- Affirmative Waste (Voluntary Waste)
- Natural Resources
- Prior Use
- Open Mines Doctrine
- Reasonable Repairs & Maintenance
- Expressly Authorized by Grantor, OR
- Normal Use of the Land
- Prior Use
- Natural Resources
- Permissive Waste
- Obligation to Repair
- Obligation to Pay Interest on Encumbrances
- Obligation to Pay Taxes
- No Obligation to Insure the Premises
- Ameliorative Waste
- Exception: Unanimous Consent by Future Interest Holders
- Affirmative Waste (Voluntary Waste)
- Future Interest = Reversion or Remainder
- Reversion = Grantor
- Remainder = 3rd Party
Two types?
(Ownership: Future Interests: Interests Retained by Grantee)
- Remainder
- Executory Interest
Structure?
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(Ownership: Future Interests: Interests Retained by Grantee: Remainder)
- General Characteristics
- Created by Express Grant in Same Instrument
- Must Follow Preceding Estate
- Life Estate, OR
- Term of Years
- Possessory = Natural Expiration of Preceding Estate
- Cannot Divest Prior Estates
- Can Never Follow Fee Simple or Defeasible Fees
- Vested Remainder
- Requirements
- Created in an Ascertained Person
- Not Subject to Condition Precedent
- Sub-classification
- Indefeasibly Vested Remainder = “To A for Life, Remainder to B”
- Vested Remainder Subject to Complete Defeasance (aka Vested Remainder Subject to Total Divestment
- Condition Subsequent
- Inherent Limitation
- Vested Remainder Subject to Open
- Class-Closing Rule (Rule of Convenience)
- Exception: Womb Rule
- Class-Closing Rule (Rule of Convenience)
- Requirements
- Contingent Remainder
- Requirements
- Created in an Unascertained Person
- Heirs of Living Person, OR
- Subject to a Condition Precedent
- Failure Condition Precedent = Reversion to Grantor
- Satisfaction of Condition Precedent = Indefeasible Remainder
- Destructibility
- Common Law = Destructibility
- Modern Law = No Destructibility
- The Rule in Shelley’s Case = “To B for Life, Then to B’s Heirs” & B is Alive
- Common Law = Doctrine of Merger
- Modern Law = Rule in Shelley’s Case Abolished
- Doctrine of Worthier Title = “To B for Life, Then to O’s Heirs”
- Effect of Doctrine
- B = Life Estate
- O = Reversion
- Rule of Construction
- Effect of Doctrine
- Created in an Unascertained Person
- Requirements
- Transferability
- Devisable = Yes
- Descendible = Yes
- Alienable = Yes
Structure?
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(Ownership: Future Interests: Interests Retained by Grantee: Executory Interest)
- Shifting Executory Interest
- Springing Executory Interest
Structure?
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(Ownership: The Rule Against Perpetuities (RAP))
- The Rule
- Measuring Life
- Applicable Future Interests
- Contingent Remainders
- Vesting?
- Executory Interests
- Vesting?
- Vested Remainders Subject to Open
- Vesting?
- All or Nothing Rule
- Contingent Remainders
- What Might Happen?
- The Fertile Octogenarian Rule
- Unborn Widow
- Slothful Executor
- Precocious Toddler
- Charitable Exceptions
- Can Be Perpetual
- Charity to Charity
- Modern RAP
- Wait & See
- Uniform Statutory Rule Against Perpetuities
- Common Law Valid
- 90 Years
- Cy Pres Doctrine (“As Near As”)
Structure?
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(Ownership: Concurrent Estates)
- Joint Tenancy = “To A & B as Joint Tenants with the Right of Survivorship
- Tenancy by the Entirety = “To H & W with the Right of Survivorship”
- Tenancy in Common = “To A & B as Tenants in Common”
- Rights & Duties of Co-Tenants
Structure?
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(Ownership: Concurrent Estates: Joint Tenancy)
- Characteristics
- Right of Survivorship
- Transferability
- Devisable = No
- Descendible = No
- Transferable = Yes
- Creation
- 4 Unities Required
- Time
- Title
- Interest
- Possession
- Express Language of Right of Survivorship
- Straw Man Conveyance
- 4 Unities Required
- Severance
- By Voluntary Agreement
- Court Ordered Division
- Partition in Kind
- Partition by Forced Sale
- Inter Vivos Conveyance
- Buyer = Tenant in Common
- Contract to Sell = Severs Joint Tenancy at Time of Contract
- Equitable Conversion
- Mortgages
- Majority View = Does Not Sever the joint Tenancy
- Minority View = Severs the Joint Tenancy
- Forced Sale
- Judgment Liens
- Foreclosed Mortgages
- Lease by Joint Tenant
- Common Law = Severs the Joint Tenancy
- Modern Law = Does Not Sever the Joint Tenancy
- Murder of One Joint Tenant by Another
Structure?
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(Ownership: Concurrent Estates: Tenancy by the Entirety)
- Creation
- Valid Marriage
- 4 Unities Required
- Time
- Title
- Interest
- Possession
- Right of Survivorship
- Severance
- Divorce
- Mutual Written Agreement Between Husband & Wife
- Unilateral Conveyance = No Severance
- Execution by Joint Creditors
- Unilateral Creditors = No Severance
Structure?
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(Ownership: Concurrent Estates: Tenancy in Common)
- Presumed by Modern Law
- One Unity Required = Possession
- No Right of Survivorship
- Devisable = Yes
- Descendible = Yes
- Alienable = Yes
Structure?
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(Ownership: Concurrent Estates: Rights & Duties of Co-Tenant)
- Possession
- Wrongful Exclusion
- Adverse Possession Requires Ouster
- Rents from Co-Tenant
- Exclusive Possession
- Wrongful Exclusion
- Wrongful Exclusion
- Profits from Non-Tenants
- Carrying Costs & Repairs
- Taxes
- Mortgage
- Repairs
- Improvements
- Partition
- Duty Not to Commit Waste
- Affirmative Waste (Voluntary Waste)
- Permissive Waste
- Ameliorative Waste
- Right to Bring Action for Partition
Structure?
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(Natural Rights)
- Right to Exclude
- Trespass
- Action for Ejectment
- Private Nuisance
- Elements
- Plaintiff Has Interest in Land
- Unreasonable Interference with Use & Enjoyment of Land
- Unreasonableness?
- Harm to Plaintiff > Utility of Defendant’s Conduct, OR
- Harm to Plaintiff Greater Than Required to Bear without Compensation
- Unreasonableness?
- Defendant’s Conduct = Negligent Abnormally Dangerous or Intentional
- Elements
- Trespass
- Lateral & Subjacent Support
- Strict Liability
- Negligence
- Water Rights
- Riparian Rights
- Prior Appropriation
- Percolating Water (Groundwater)
- Surface Water & the Common Enemy Doctrine
Topics? (4)
(Landlord-Tenant)
- Leasehold
- Tenant’s Duties
- Landlord’s Duties
- Assignment v. Sublease
Structure?
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(Landlord-Tenant: Leasehold)
- Tenancy for Years (aka Estate for Years or Term of Years)
- Lease for Fixed Period of Time
- Dates Must be Specified
- Leases > One Year = Writing Required
- No Notice Required for Termination
- Periodic Tenancy
- Creation
- By Express Agreement
- By Implication
- No Mention of Duration but Payment Required at Specific Intervals
- By Operation of Law
- Oral Leases > One Year In Violation of Statute of Frauds
- Holdovers
- Automatic Renewal
- Termination = Valid Notice Required
- Notice Must Be in Writing
- At Least One Period In Advance
- Exception: Leases > One Year = Only Six Months Notice Required
- Lease Must Terminate at the End of Natural Lease Period
- Exceptions = Freedom of Contract
- Creation
- Tenancy at Will
- Creation
- By Express Agreement
- By Implication
- Termination
- Creation
- Tenancy at Sufferance (aka Holdover Tenancy)
- Termination
- Evicts the Tenant, OR
- Elects to Hold Tenant to a New Tenancy
- Termination
Structure?
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(Landlord-Tenant: Tenant’s Duties)
- Duty to Pay Rent
- Breach in Possession
- Landlord May Evict, OR
- Continue Tenancy & Sue for Back Rent, BUT
- Self-Help Prohibited (aka Changing of Locks)
- Breach out of Possession
- Treat Breach as Surrender
- Minority View = Leave Premises Vacant & Sue for Back Rent, OR
- Majority View = Duty to Mitigate
- Breach in Possession
- Duty to Repair
- Lease is Silent
- Affirmative Waste (aka Voluntary Waste) = Intentional Acts of Destruction
- Removal of Fixtures
- Fixture?
- Express Agreement Controls
- Absence of Express Agreement
- Fixture?
- Removal of Fixtures
- Permissive Waste = Neglect
- Ameliorative Waste = Unauthorized Improvements
- Affirmative Waste (aka Voluntary Waste) = Intentional Acts of Destruction
- Express Covenant to Maintain
- Common Law
- Modern Law
- Lease is Silent
- Duty to Invited Third Parties = Must Keep Premises in Reasonably Good Condition
- Indemnification
- Tenant’s Tort Liability