Unit 6: Estates and Interests

Question 1

construction lien

Answer 1

claim placed against a property by a worker who has not been paid yet

Question 2

convey

Answer 2

to transfer ownership either as a sale or a gift

Question 3

curtesy

Answer 3

a husband’s certain interests, upon his wife’s death, in any real estate she owned during their marriage

Question 4

dominant estate

Answer 4

a property that includes the right to use an easement over another person’s property in its ownership

Question 5

dower

Answer 5

a wife’s interests in any real estate the husband owned during their marriage, upon his death

Question 6

easement

Answer 6

the right to use the land of another for a specific purpose; an incorporeal interest in land

Question 7

easement appurtenant

Answer 7

an easement that goes with the land when conveyed

Question 8

easement by necessity

Answer 8

an easement allowed by law as necessary for full enjoyment of a parcel of real estate

Question 9

easement by prescription

Answer 9

an easement acquired by continuous, uninterrupted use of the property for a period of time prescribed by state law

Question 10

easement in gross

Answer 10

an easement that attaches personally to the easement owner, not created for the benefit of any land owned by the owner

Question 11

encroachment

Answer 11

illegally intruding on the land of another owner

Question 12

encumbrance

Answer 12

any claim (mortgage, tax lien, easement etc.) that may diminish the value of a property

Question 13

estate in land

Answer 13

the amount/kind of interest that someone has in real property

Question 14

fee determinable

Question 15

fee simple

Answer 15

ownership lasting indefinitely

Question 16

freehold estate

Answer 16

an estate in land in which ownership is for an indeterminate length of time

Question 17

general lien

Answer 17

financial claim placed against all property owned by the debtor

Question 18

involuntary lien

Answer 18

a lien imposed against property without the consent of the owners

Question 19

judgment

Answer 19

formal decision of the court regarding the claims of the parties to an action; typically becomes a general lien on the property of a defendant

Question 20

leasehold estate

Answer 20

a tenant’s right to occupy real estate during the term of a lease; generally considered personal property

Question 21

license

Answer 21

a privilege/right granted by a state to operate as a real estate broker/salesperson; revocable permission for the temporary use of land

Question 22

lien

Answer 22

a right given by law to certain creditors to have their debt paid out of the property of a defaulting debtor, usually by means of court sale

Question 23

life estate

Answer 23

an interest in real property that is limited in duration to the lifetime of its owner

Question 24

lis pendens

Answer 24

a recorded legal document giving constructive notice that court action affecting a particular property is pending

Question 25

mortgage lien

Answer 25

lender's claim against specific parcel of real estate pledged as security for a debt

Question 26

party wall

Answer 26

a building wall that is located on/at a boundary line between two adjoining parcels of land and is used by the owners of both properties

Question 27

priority

Answer 27

the order in which liens are paid

Question 28

remainderman

Answer 28

third party who will gain eventual ownership

Question 29

reversionary interest

Answer 29

future interest of an owner

Question 30

servient estate

Answer 30

the tract over which an easement runs

Question 31

specific lien

Answer 31

claim against one parcel of real estate

Question 32

tacking

Answer 32

adding successive periods of usage

Question 33

voluntary lien

Answer 33

mortgage or equity loan, for example