Official Code of Georgia Annotated
Title 44. PROPERTY · Chapter 6. ESTATES · Article 2. FEE SIMPLE ESTATES
44-6-21. Words necessary to create absolute estate; preference for construing as conveyance; maker’s intention controls; parol evidence.
Current through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
The word ‘‘heirs’’ or its equivalent is not necessary to create an absolute estate. Every properly executed conveyance shall be construed to convey the fee unless a lesser estate is mentioned and limited in that conveyance. If a lesser estate is expressly limited, the courts shall not, by construction, increase such estate into a fee but, disregarding all technical rules, shall give effect to the intention of the maker of the instrument, as far as the same is lawful, if the intention can be gathered from the contents of the instrument. If the court cannot gather the intention of the maker from the contents of the instrument, it may hear parol evidence to prove the maker’s intention.
History
Laws 1821, Cobb’s 1851 Digest, p. 169; Code 1863, § 2228; Code 1868, § 2222; Code 1873, § 2248; Code 1882, § 2248; Civil Code 1895, § 3083; Civil Code 1910, § 3659; Code 1933, § 85-503.
Law reviews
For comment on Grant v. Haymes, 164 Ga. 371, 138 S.E. 892 (1927), see 1 Ga. L. Rev. 45 (1927). For comment on Bienvenu v. First Nat’l Bank, 193 Ga. 101, 17 S.E.2d 257 (1941), see 4 Ga. B.J. 45 (1942).
Read the official page (the state's PDF, opened at the page this text was read from).
Current through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
Text read from t44-ch1-7-(v31)-2010-pdf.pdf, Volume V31, 2010 edition, page 605; merge action: annotated; file SHA-256 490191d3dc54.