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{{Unreferenced|date=January 2008}}
{{Property law}}
{{Property law}}
An '''estate in land''' is, in the law of England and Wales, an interest in [[real property]] that is or may become [[possessory]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gray |first=Kevin J. This concept does not exist in Scots Law and in most countries not deriving their law from England, where the legal focus is on"real Rights" , that is, rights that can be asserted against the rest of the world, not some individual contracting party. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=toRIsFTaHVkC |title=Land Law |last2=Gray |first2=Susan Francis |date=2007 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-921378-8 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Wonnacott |first=Mark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-tfAYO4dncAC |title=Possession of Land |date=2006-10-26 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |isbn=978-1-139-46107-8 |language=en}}</ref> It is a type of [[personal property]] and encompasses land ownership, rental and other arrangements that give people the right to use land. This is distinct from [[sovereignty]] over the land, which includes the right to government and taxation.
An '''estate in land''' is an interest in [[real property]] that is or may become [[possessory]]{{disambiguation needed|date=July 2012}}.


This should be distinguished from an "[[Estate (land)|estate]]" as used in reference to an area of land, and "[[Immovable property|estate]]" as used to refer to property in general.
In the legal systems of almost every country, the ultimate true "owner" of all land is the [[sovereign]], which for a republic is the whole people of a [[society]] with [[Dominion|domain]] over land, which may be called a "[[Sovereign state|state]]". Private parties own not the underlying land, but claims on parcels of land, which taken together comprise the estate for that parcel. This superior ownership is the basis for taking the land through [[eminent domain]]. However, the claims that comprise the estate are themselves [[personal property]].

This should be distinguished from an "[[Estate (land)|estate]]" as used in reference to an area of land, and "[[Immovable Property|estate]]" as used to refer to property in general.


In property law, the rights and interests associated with an estate in land may be conceptually understood as a "[[bundle of rights]]" because of the potential for different parties having different interests in the same [[real property]].
In property law, the rights and interests associated with an estate in land may be conceptually understood as a "[[bundle of rights]]" because of the potential for different parties having different interests in the same [[real property]].
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# '''[[Freehold estate]]s''': rights of conveyable exclusive possession and use, having ''immobility'' and ''indeterminate duration''
# '''[[Freehold estate]]s''': rights of conveyable exclusive possession and use, having ''immobility'' and ''indeterminate duration''
#* [[fee simple]]
#* [[fee simple]]
#** (fee simple absolute)&mdash;most rights, least limitations, indefeasible
#** fee simple absolute&mdash;most rights, least limitations, indefeasible
#** Fee Simple Determinable
#** Fee Simple Subject to a Condition Subsequent
#** Fee Simple Subject to Executory Limitation
#* [[defeasible estate]]&mdash;voidable possession and use
#* [[defeasible estate]]&mdash;voidable possession and use
#** fee simple determinable
#** fee simple subject to a condition subsequent
#** fee simple subject to executory limitation
#* finite estate&mdash;limited to lifetimes
#* finite estate&mdash;limited to lifetimes
#** [[life estate]]&mdash;fragmented possession and use for duration of someone's life
#** [[life estate]]&mdash;fragmented possession and use for duration of someone's life
#** [[fee tail]]&mdash;inalienable rights of inheritance for duration of family line
#** [[fee tail]]&mdash;inalienable rights of inheritance for duration of family line
# '''Nonfreehold ([[Leasehold estate|Leasehold]]) estates''': rights of ''possession'' and ''use'' but not ''ownership''. The [[lessor]] (owner/[[landlord]]) gives this right to the [[lessee]] ([[leasehold estate|tenant]]). There are four categories of leasehold estates:
# '''[[Leasehold estate]]s''': rights of ''possession'' and ''use'' but not ''ownership''. The [[Lease|lessor]] (owner/[[landlord]]) gives this right to the [[lessee]] ([[leasehold estate|tenant]]). There are four categories of leasehold estates:
## estate for years (tenancy for years)&mdash;lease of any length with specific begin and end date
## estate for years (a term of year absolute or tenancy for years)&mdash;lease of any length with specific begin and end date
## periodic estate (periodic tenancy)&mdash;automatically renewing lease (month to month, week to week)
## periodic estate (periodic tenancy)&mdash;automatically renewing lease (month to month, week to week)
## estate at will ([[tenancy at will]])&mdash;leasehold for no fixed time or period. It lasts as long as both parties desire. Termination is bilateral (either party may terminate at any time) or by operation of law.
## estate at will ([[tenancy at will]])&mdash;leasehold for no fixed time or period. It lasts as long as both parties desire. Termination is bilateral (either party may terminate at any time) or by operation of law.
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#** percentage lease
#** percentage lease
# '''Concurrent estates''': owned or possessed by two or more individuals simultaneously.
# '''Concurrent estates''': owned or possessed by two or more individuals simultaneously.
## [[tenancy by the entirety]]
## Joint Tenancy
## [[Concurrent estate#Joint tenancy|joint tenancy]]
## [[Tenancy by entirety]]
## Tenancy in Common
## [[Concurrent estate#Tenancy in common|tenancy in common]]
## '''[[Statutory estate|Statutory estates]]''': created by law
## '''statutory estates''': created by statute:
##* [[community property]]
##* [[community property]]
##* [[Homestead exemption|homestead]] — protection from claim by creditors
##* [[Homestead exemption|homestead]] — protection from claim by creditors
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#**** ingress
#**** ingress
#**** egress
#**** egress
#** profits
#** [[Profit (real property)|profits]]
#** [[Covenant (law)|real covenants]]
#** covenants running with the land
#*** covenant appurtenant
#*** covenant in gross
#** equitable servitudes
#** equitable servitudes
#** licenses
#** licenses
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#** general
#** general
#** specific
#** specific

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Real property law]]
[[Category:Real property law]]


{{Law-term-stub}}

Latest revision as of 19:58, 29 April 2024

An estate in land is, in the law of England and Wales, an interest in real property that is or may become possessory.[1][2] It is a type of personal property and encompasses land ownership, rental and other arrangements that give people the right to use land. This is distinct from sovereignty over the land, which includes the right to government and taxation.

This should be distinguished from an "estate" as used in reference to an area of land, and "estate" as used to refer to property in general.

In property law, the rights and interests associated with an estate in land may be conceptually understood as a "bundle of rights" because of the potential for different parties having different interests in the same real property.

Categories of estates

[edit]

Estates in land can be divided into four basic categories:

  1. Freehold estates: rights of conveyable exclusive possession and use, having immobility and indeterminate duration
    • fee simple
      • fee simple absolute—most rights, least limitations, indefeasible
    • defeasible estate—voidable possession and use
      • fee simple determinable
      • fee simple subject to a condition subsequent
      • fee simple subject to executory limitation
    • finite estate—limited to lifetimes
      • life estate—fragmented possession and use for duration of someone's life
      • fee tail—inalienable rights of inheritance for duration of family line
  2. Leasehold estates: rights of possession and use but not ownership. The lessor (owner/landlord) gives this right to the lessee (tenant). There are four categories of leasehold estates:
    1. estate for years (a term of year absolute or tenancy for years)—lease of any length with specific begin and end date
    2. periodic estate (periodic tenancy)—automatically renewing lease (month to month, week to week)
    3. estate at will (tenancy at will)—leasehold for no fixed time or period. It lasts as long as both parties desire. Termination is bilateral (either party may terminate at any time) or by operation of law.
    4. tenancy at sufferance—created when tenant remains after lease expires and becomes a holdover tenant, converts to holdover tenancy upon landlord acceptance.
  3. Concurrent estates: owned or possessed by two or more individuals simultaneously.
    1. tenancy by the entirety
    2. joint tenancy
    3. tenancy in common
    4. statutory estates: created by statute:
  4. Equitable estates: neither ownership nor possession
    • Future interests — interests in real or personal property, a gift or trust, or other things in which the privilege of possession or of enjoyment is in the future and not the present
      • reversions
      • possibilities of reverter
      • powers of termination, also known as rights of reentry for condition broken
      • remainders
      • executory interests
    • Incorporeal interests — those that cannot be possessed physically, since they consist of rights of a particular user, or the right to enforce an agreement concerning use
      • easement
        • easement in gross
        • easement appurtenant
          • ingress
          • egress
      • profits
      • real covenants
        • covenant appurtenant
        • covenant in gross
      • equitable servitudes
      • licenses
    • Lien
      • general
      • specific

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Gray, Kevin J. This concept does not exist in Scots Law and in most countries not deriving their law from England, where the legal focus is on"real Rights" , that is, rights that can be asserted against the rest of the world, not some individual contracting party.; Gray, Susan Francis (2007). Land Law. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-921378-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Wonnacott, Mark (2006-10-26). Possession of Land. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-139-46107-8.