---
title: O.C.G.A. § 44-6-21. Words necessary to create absolute estate; preference for construing as conveyance; maker’s intention controls; parol evidence.
collection: code
id: 44-6-21
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 44-6-21 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/44-6-21
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/44-6-21.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/44-6-21/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t44-ch1-7-(v31)-2010-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=35dd922f_0#page=605
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: PROPERTY / ESTATES / FEE SIMPLE ESTATES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 44-6-21. Words necessary to create absolute estate; preference for construing as conveyance; maker’s intention controls; parol evidence.

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).