Concurrent Interests
Harms v. Sprague
A joint tenancy is not severed when one joint tenant executes a mortgage on his interest in the property since the unity of title has been preserved
O conveys Blackacre, "to A, B, and C as joint tenants." Subsequently, A conveys his interest to D. Then B dies intestate, leaving H as his heir. What is the state of title? What if B had died leaving a will devising his interest to H?
B and C still JTs after that, right of survivorship; In the end: D- 1/3 C- 2/3 (from B's death/ROS)
Creditors and JTs?
Creditors can't act after a tenants death because their interest in the property is extinguished; can attach property inter vivos and sever the joint tenancy though
A and B are planning to be married. Two weeks before the ceremony, they buy a house and take title "in A and B as tenants by the entirety." Several years after the marriage, A moves out of the house and conveys his interest in the house to his brother, C. C brings an action to partition the property. What's the result?
House was purchased 2 weeks before the wedding—not TBE even though they used the words, weren't married at the time; best guess—JT, some states may say default to TIC since didn't use the language of conveying a JT
Difference between unity of interest and possession?
How much you get if the property is sold (interest) v access to the whole property (possession)
Which type of concurrent ownership avoids probate?
JT-- no interest passes to beneficiaries; avoids costs of probate court/lawyers and the time spent in probate courts
per my et per tout
JT; by the share or moiety and by the whole
Riddle v Harmon
One JT successfully severed a JT by conveying her interest to herself; would just use a strawman otherwise so why not let her do so
Presumption today
TIC
When are actions of partition allowed?
TIC or JT, but not TBE
Modern trend?
away from all 4 requirements of JT
English common law presumption
joint tenancy
per tout et non per my
no moieties; both seized of the entirety
When to order a partition by sale
only when a partition in kind is impracticable or
Habendum Clause
the part that seeks to describe the title granted