Reniere v. Gerlach

OPINION

GOLDBERG, Justice.

The gravamen of this appeal turns on the interpretation of a single clause contained within a quitclaim deed from a gravely ill father to his daughter. On January 8, 1991, Vernon H. Fiske (Fiske) executed a quitclaim deed that conveyed his home at 11 Ausdale Road, Cranston, Rhode Island, to himself and to his daughter, Helen Reniere (Helen) as joint tenants. The deed, which was properly recorded at the Cranston city clerk’s office the next day, included a clause providing that:

“Subject to and reserving a life tenancy to BARBARA GERLACH conditioned upon the payment of…