Property Flashcards
Three types of classification (Property)
Common, public, and private
Two sub-classifications (Property)
moveable v. immovable
corporial v. incorporial
Common things
things that cannot be owned by anyone
Examples of common things
air, high seas
Public things
things owned by LA or public subdivisions in its public capacity
Examples of public things
beds of natural, navigable water bodies
Private things
things owned by private persons; things owned by the state or a political subdivision in a private capacity
Things that are always immovable
land and buildings
Seaways test
Test for “prevailing notions”
4 factors: (1) cost, (2) materials, (3) supplies, and (4) function.
Component parts of immovables are always
immovables
Test for component parts of immovables test
something is a component part of a building (which must be classified as a building under Seaway) if according to prevailing usages it serves to complete a building of this same general type
Examples of component parts of immovables
doors, cabinets, plumbing
Something is a component part of a building or an other construction if
its removable would cause substantial damage to the building/other construction or to the thing being removed
_____ will always be classified as immovable property
standing timber
things that are immovable if there is unity of ownership between the thing and the land
other constructions permanently attached
unharvested crops
ungathered fruits
Movables definition
anything not classified as immovable is classified as movable
Corporal property is
tangible property
Examples of corporal property
land, cash
Incorporal property is
intangible property
Incorporal property examples
intellectual property, legal rights
Other constructions permanently attached test, and when it applies
size (is it big?), is there a high degree of permanence?, is the thing integrated with the land?
test applies when the thing is owned by the same person who owns the land; if it meets the test for a construction permanently attached, then it is classified as an immovable
Possession is
the detention or enjoyment of a thing by a person or a possessor on his behalf
To acquire possession you need
corpus and animus
Corpus definition
some physical act on the property
Animus definition
an intent to possess the property as owner
Precarious possessor example
a renter
Precarious possessor definition
someone who possesses on behalf of someone else
Why are precarious possessors not in possession?
because they don’t have the requisite animus (lack intent to be owner)
How to protect possession
a possessory action
Elements of a possessory action
(1) possession at the time of disturbance
(2) quiet possession at the time of the disturbance, UNLESS evicted by fraud or force
(3) a disturbance in law or fact
(4) the possessory action is instituted within one year of the disturbance
Quiet possession definition
uninterrupted possession (there’s no question of possession). BUT there is an exception for fraud and force for public policy reasons
A disturbance in fact is
an eviction or any other physical act which prevents the possessor of immovable property or of a real right therein from enjoying his possession quietly, or which throws any obstacle in the way of that enjoyment
A disturbance in law is
the execution, recordation, registry, or continuing existence of record of any instrument which asserts or implies a right of ownership or to the possession of immovable property or of a real right therein, or any claim or pretension of ownership or right to the possession thereof except in an action or proceeding, adversely to the possessor of such property or right
Ownership refers to
the exclusive right to use, enjoy, and dispose of a thing
Ways to acquire ownership
acquisitive prescription
acquisition of ownership via accession
Acquisitive prescription of immovables; “10 year acquisitive prescription” requirements
10 year possession
of a thing susceptible to acquisitive prescription (a private thing)
good faith
just title
Good faith (Property-acquisitive prescription)
a reasonable belief, in light of objective considerations, that you are the owner
Just title defined
an act intended to cause legal consequences (juridical act)
must be real title-the title must be certain
translative title - if title were correct, it would be sufficient to transfer ownership
nearly valid title - it looks good on its face
it must be written
must be recorded
Acquisitive prescription of immovables; “30 year acquisitive prescription” requirements
30 years possession
susceptible to acquisitive prescription
Movables; 3 year acquisitive prescription
3 year possession
thing susceptible of acquisitive prescription (private property)
act translative of title (just title, minus written a recorded rules)
good faith
Movables; 10 year acquisitive prescription
10 year possession
susceptible to acquisitive prescription
Tacking, definition
the idea that you can add an ancestor’s time in possession to yours
Ancestors for the purposes of tacking
universal successor (people to take everything), particular successors (people who take limited things)
Universal successor
heirs, universal legatees (people who receive everything under a will or a percentage of everything), general legatees (people who receive the residue under the will or a percentage of the residue). Residue in a will: “any property omitted goes to ___.”
Particular successor
people who take limited things: buyers, transferees, donees, legatees of particular things
Universal successors must tack with
the ancestors defects
Accession defined
when one person owns a piece of immovable property, someone else comes along and adds something to that added property, who owns the added thing?
The questions for accession
who owns the added thing, if the person who added the thing is not the owner, can the person who added it be reimbursed for it, and who can demand removal of the thing
Accession, possessor rules (good faith)
a good faith possessor owns the fruits he has gathered, a good faith possessor does not own any products of the immovable, a good faith possessor does not own any improvement he makes to the immovable; the owner of the immovable owns the improvements made
Fruits (Property)
property produced by other property without causing diminution of the substance
Products (Property)
property produced by other property that cause diminution of the substance
Good faith possessor, removal of things
the owner of the immovable cannot demand removal of any improvement made to his immovable
Good faith possessor, reimbursement
the owner of the immovable is bound to keep the improvement and pay, at his option, the good faith possessor either: (1) the cost of the materials and workmanship, (2) the current value of the materials and workmanship, or (3) the enhanced value of the immovable property.
BUT if the enhanced value of the immovable is $0, the owner doesn’t have to pay the good faith possessor anything
Bad faith possessor, ownership
a bad faith possessor does not own the fruits he has gathered, any fruits gathered by a bad faith possessor must be returned to the owner of the immovable; a bad faith possessor does not own any products of the immovable; a bad faith possessor does not own any improvement he makes to the immovable; the owner of the immovable owns the improvements made
Bad faith possessor, removal
the owner of the immovable may demand demolition of the improvement at the expense of the bad faith possessor; the owner of the immovable may also receive any damages he has sustained from the improvement
Bad faith possessor, reimbursement
if the owner of the immovable does not demand demolition and removal of the improvement, he must pay the bad faith possessor either: (1) the current value of the materials and workmanship, or (2) the enhanced value of the immovable. Reimbursement is owed only if the improvement is a separate improvement (it can be separated from the immovable). If the owner of the immovable does demand removal and the bad faith possessor does not remove the improvement, no reimbursement if owed.
Bath faith possessor if the owner of the immovable does not demand demolition and removal of the improvement, he must pay the bad faith possessor either
(1) the current value of the materials and workmanship, or (2) the enhanced value of the immovable.
Bad faith possessor if the improvement is a separate improvement (it can be separated from the immovable).
reimbursement is owed
Bath faith possessor if the owner of the immovable does demand removal and the bad faith possessor does not remove the improvement
no reimbursement is owed
If a lessee puts an attachment onto leased property, who owns it?
the lessee owns the attachment.
If a lessee puts an attachment onto leased property, what can the owner of the property do?
Lessor can demand removal of the thing or lessor can take ownership of the thing without demanding removal.