W & M Rule Statements Flashcards
What is mislaid property?
Property is mislaid when the owner intentionally places it in a particular spot and subsequently forgets it.
What is lost property?
Property is lost when the owner accidentally and unknowingly loses possession of the item.
What is stolen property?
Property a person takes from the rightful owner.
Who has title to stolen property?
The owner only
What kind of title does a thief have in stolen propety?
Void title
Can a thief sell the stolen property to a subsequent individual?
No - the subsequent individuals title will also be void because the thief did not have ownership to pass on.
Inter vivos gift occurs when there is:
(1) present donative intent;
(2) delivery to the donee; and
(3) acceptance by the donee.
Delivery of an inter vivos gift may be…
actual or constructive delivery
When an inter vivos gift is made, when does absolute property to title pass?
Absolute title to property passes to the donee and the gift will no longer be part of the estate.
Can a gift intended to take effect upon the donor’s death be an inter vivos gift?
No, an intent to pass title at death does not establish present intent.
A gift intended to take effect at death can only be accomplished by….
a will, which must be in writing
Gift Causa Mortis
A gift causa mortis is a gift of personal property given by a donor who is dying.
The elements for a gift causa mortis
(1) donor’s mental capacity and present intent,
(2) delivery,
(3) and acceptance), and
(4) must be made under the apprehension of death.
Present donative intent is not the same as…
future donative intent - (i.e., cannot say “I intend to give A the medal”)
Delivery of a causa mortis to the donee
Delivery requires more than a deathbed utterance
When the issue involves whether a certificate given to a 3rd party for the donee, the 3rd party must deliver the certificate to the donee
What is a third party intermediary?
A person who is presumed to the acting for the donee.
Can a third party intermediary accept the gift on behalf of the donee?
If the donee herself does not accept the gift, the issue is whether a third party can accept a gift that the donee is unaware of.
Inter Vivos Trust
An inter vivos trust can be created either by a written instrument or an oral statement.
Inter Vivos Trust requires….
resent transfer of trust property or the intent to create a trust (i.e., testamentary intent)
An oral inter vivos trust must be shown by…
clear and convincing evidence
Who takes ownership of a gift made to the donee that was part of the will?
The donee will be the owner.
What happens to the gift that was identified in the will?
When the testator makes a specific bequest, and the identified property is not part of the testator’s estate at her death, the gift is adeemed and the beneficiary receives nothing.
What is ademption by extinction?
can occur by an intentional act of the testator including when an inter vivos gift of the property is made to another
Where a valid gift is made before the decedent’s death, the bequest is…
adeemed by extinction and the beneficiary in the will is not entitled to the item that was gifted.
The donee has ownership of the gift.
For mislaid property, the true owner….
retains title to the property and has superior claim to the property over a finder.
With regard to mislaid property, an employer will have a superior claim to possession over the…
finder - typically an employee who finds the mislaid property
If an employee finds an item in the course of employment, the employer has the right to….
possess the item until the true owner comes forward
Can a buyer acquire title from a seller who did not have title in the first place?
Generally, a buyer cannot ordinarily acquire better title than his seller’s.
Active conversion
occurs when someone who does not have good title transfers it to another.