Robinson v. King

WHICHARD, Judge.

I. Applicable Law

The rights of the parties depend upon whether the quitclaim deed to Maggie Robinson conveyed a life estate or a fee simple. The deed is ambiguous. The granting clause gives all right, title, and interest to Maggie Robinson, while the habendum clause gives her the land “for and during the term of her natural life.”

Ambiguous deeds traditionally have been construed by the courts according to rules of construction, rather than by having juries determine factual questions of intent. The current governing rule is as follows:

In construing a conveyance executed after…