Real Property Ownership and Interests in Georgia

Question 1

A law established by court outcome or tradition rather than statute.

Answer 1

Common law

Question 2

An interest in real property where the owner’s possession of the property doesn’t have a fixed duration

Answer 2

Freehold estate

Question 3

An inheritable estate with absolute ownership

Answer 3

Fee simple

Question 4

the current property owner conveys ownership to a new owner as long as some event does or doesn’t occur.

Answer 4

Fee simple determinable

Question 5

the current property owner conveys ownership to a new owner on a specific condition

Answer 5

Fee simple subject to condition subsequent

Question 6

A type of freehold estate in which ownership is limited to someone’s lifetime.

Answer 6

Life estates

Question 7

This is a legal term that means “for another’s life.” The holder of the estate remains in possession with all the rights of a life estate until the death of the person named when the life estate was established.

Answer 7

Pur autre vie

Question 8

At the end of a life estate, this person will hold a fee simple estate.

Answer 8

Remainderman

Question 9

When another person isn’t named as a remainderman in a life estate, the estate reverts to the original owner at the end of the life estate.

Answer 9

Reversion

Question 10

An owner reserves a life estate for themselves when conveying a property.

Answer 10

Reservation

Question 11

Any act by the estate holder that significantly reduces the value of the property at the end of the life estate

Answer 11

Act of waste

Question 12

This defines the legal relationship between the parties who sign the lease. It grants possession, but not title, to the tenant, and is for a limited period of time.

Answer 12

Leasehold estate

Question 13

A lease that ends on a specific date and must be renewed by mutual agreement between the landlord and tenant.

Answer 13

Estate for years

Question 14

A leasehold estate for a specified period of time that automatically renews itself for the same length of time unless one party terminates.

Answer 14

Periodic estate

Question 15

A lease without an established ending that can be terminated by either party.

Answer 15

Estate at will

Question 16

When a tenant continues to occupy a property after lawful authority has expired.

Answer 16

Tenancy at sufferance

Question 17

An estate created by law or court order.

Answer 17

Statutory estate

Question 18

One person owns a property.

Answer 18

Estate in severalty

Question 19

A form of co-ownership in which each co-owner is entitled to possession of the whole.

Answer 19

Tenancy in common

Question 20

A form of co-ownership in which equal ownership requires unity of time, title, interest, and possession.

Answer 20

Joint tenancy

Question 21

The direction and distance of a line forming the property’s boundary

Answer 21

Metes

Question 22

Physical features that define the boundaries of the property.

Answer 22

Bounds

Question 23

This easement type can only be created for the purpose of ingress and egress

Answer 23

Easement by necessity

Question 24

This easement isn’t legal, and is created through the continued, uninterrupted, obvious, exclusive, and adverse use of someone’s property without permission.

Answer 24

Easement by prescription

Question 25

An easement granted to a specific individual or business rather than attached to the property itself

Answer 25

Easement in gross

Question 26

An easement that is attached to a specific parcel of land, transfers (“runs”) with the land, and gives the “dominant tenement” rights to use adjoining property/servient tenement

Answer 26

Easement appurtenant

Question 27

Structures or objects built on another’s land without permission.

Answer 27

Encroachments

Question 28

This means that the titleholder may possess (be on) the property.

Answer 28

Possession

Question 29

The owner controls the use of the property.

Answer 29

Control

Question 30

The owner may decide who may or may not access the property.

Answer 30

Exclusion

Question 31

The owner may use the property in any legal matter.

Answer 31

Enjoyment

Question 32

The owner has the right to sell or convey the property.

Answer 32

Disposition

Question 33

This type of lien affects real and personal property and includes judgment liens, federal and state tax liens, and decedent’s debts.

Answer 33

General liens

Question 34

Process by which water carries rock, sand, and soil and causes land build-up

Answer 34

Accretion

Question 35

New deposits of land that are the result of accretion

Answer 35

Alluvion

Question 36

Gradual loss of land due to a natural force

Answer 36

Erosion

Question 37

A sudden loss of land by a swift, large-scale change in water flow

Answer 37

Avulsion

Question 38

When water gradually recedes and uncovers new land

Answer 38

Reliction