habendum clause (Vermont) · Go Syfert
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habendum clause in Vermont

8 Vermont opinions name it 2 courts 1865–2026 2 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by Vermont courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (6)

CaseFollowedCited
Kipp v. Chips Estategreen
vt · 1999 · cited in 3 Vermont opinions naming this issue, 2006–2026
2 sentences

2026The court’s narrow focus on the habendum clause is incompatible with our precedent, which instructs that in interpreting a deed, “[w]e read the entire written instrument as a whole, giving effect to every part so as to understand the words in the context of the full deed.” Kipp, 169 Vt. at 105 , 732 A.2d at 129 (quotation omitted).

2026The court’s narrow focus on the habendum clause is incompatible with our precedent, which instructs that in interpreting a deed, “[w]e read the entire written instrument as a whole, giving effect to every part so as to understand the words in the context of the full deed.” Kipp, 169 Vt. at 105 , 732 A.2d at 129 (quotation omitted).

33
Aiken v. Clarkgreen
vt · 1952 · cited in 2 Vermont opinions naming this issue, 2025–2026
2 sentences

2026That is, we “read[] not simply a single clause of the instrument, but the entire context.” Aiken v. Clark, 117 Vt. 391, 393 , 92 A.2d 620, 621 (1952).

2026That is, we “read[] not simply a single clause of the instrument, but the entire context.” Aiken v. Clark, 117 Vt. 391, 393 , 92 A.2d 620, 621 (1952).

22
Therrien v. Therriengreen
· 1946 · cited in 1 Vermont opinions naming this issue, 2026–2026
1 sentence

2026Compare Gagnon, 71 A.2d at 748-49 (declining to find joint tenancy where survivorship language only appeared in granting clause), with Palmer, 161 A.2d at 838 (holding joint tenancy between two then-married individuals was created where “granting and habendum clauses . . . both” contained phrase “ ‘as joint tenants, and not as tenants in common, to them and their assigns and to the survivor, and the heirs and assigns of the survivor forever’ ” (emphasis added)), and Therrien v. Therrien, 46 A.2d 538, 538 (N.H. 1946) (concluding valid joint tenancy was conveyed where granting clause read “ ‘in

11
Palmer v. Flintgreen
me · 1960 · cited in 1 Vermont opinions naming this issue, 2026–2026
1 sentence

2026Compare Gagnon, 71 A.2d at 748-49 (declining to find joint tenancy where survivorship language only appeared in granting clause), with Palmer, 161 A.2d at 838 (holding joint tenancy between two then-married individuals was created where “granting and habendum clauses . . . both” contained phrase “ ‘as joint tenants, and not as tenants in common, to them and their assigns and to the survivor, and the heirs and assigns of the survivor forever’ ” (emphasis added)), and Therrien v. Therrien, 46 A.2d 538, 538 (N.H. 1946) (concluding valid joint tenancy was conveyed where granting clause read “ ‘in

11
Johnson v. Bardengreen
vt · 1912 · cited in 1 Vermont opinions naming this issue, 1999–1999
2 sentences

1999See, e.g., In re Estate of Fleck, 154 N.W.2d 865, 867 (Iowa 1967); see also Johnson v. Barden, 86 Vt. 19, 24 , 83 A. 721, 723 (1912) (it is proper office of habendum to define quantity of estate granted). 2 Defendant argued that plaintiff’s evidence was also inadmissible under 12 KS.A. § 1603 because that statute prohibits a party, in a case against the executor of an estate, from testifying in his or her favor with respect to a contract with a person who is not living or competent to testify.

1999See, e.g., In re Estate of Fleck, 154 N.W.2d 865, 867 (Iowa 1967); see also Johnson v. Barden, 86 Vt. 19, 24 , 83 A. 721, 723 (1912) (it is proper office of habendum to define quantity of estate granted). 2 Defendant argued that plaintiff’s evidence was also inadmissible under 12 KS.A. § 1603 because that statute prohibits a party, in a case against the executor of an estate, from testifying in his or her favor with respect to a contract with a person who is not living or competent to testify.

11
In Re Estate of Fleckgreen
iowa · 1967 · cited in 1 Vermont opinions naming this issue, 1999–1999
1 sentence

1999See, e.g., In re Estate of Fleck, 154 N.W.2d 865, 867 (Iowa 1967); see also Johnson v. Barden, 86 Vt. 19, 24 , 83 A. 721, 723 (1912) (it is proper office of habendum to define quantity of estate granted). 2 Defendant argued that plaintiff’s evidence was also inadmissible under 12 KS.A. § 1603 because that statute prohibits a party, in a case against the executor of an estate, from testifying in his or her favor with respect to a contract with a person who is not living or competent to testify.

11

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

CaseNegativeCited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in Vermont. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (6)

CaseCitedYears
Bradley v. . Crane green
ny · 1911
2 sentences

1956The defendants rely upon the case of Bradley v. Crane, 201 NY 14 , 94 NE 359, 363 , which held that a deed of land to a city conveyed only an easement.

1956The defendants rely upon the case of Bradley v. Crane, 201 NY 14 , 94 NE 359, 363 , which held that a deed of land to a city conveyed only an easement.

11956–1956
State v. Woodward neutral
· 1850
1 sentence

1956In State v. Woodward, 23 Vt. 92 , this Court was called upon to construe a deed.

11956–1956
Stark v. Mansfield green
mass · 1901
2 sentences

1932The words are ‘to have and to hold the said privileges unto the said John Blake; his heirs and assigns shall hold and enjoy the said premises without the let or eviction of him the said Jeremiah Leeds,’ etc. All the words following the name John Blake belong to the covenants rather than to the habendum clause.” See Stark v. Mansfield, 178 Mass. 76, 81 , 59 N. E. 643 .

1932The words are ‘to have and to hold the said privileges unto the said John Blake; his heirs and assigns shall hold and enjoy the said premises without the let or eviction of him the said Jeremiah Leeds,’ etc. All the words following the name John Blake belong to the covenants rather than to the habendum clause.” See Stark v. Mansfield, 178 Mass. 76, 81 , 59 N. E. 643 .

11932–1932
Chamberlin v. Estate of Chamberlin neutral
vt · 1844
1 sentence

1914In Chamberlain v. Chamberlain’s Est., 16 Vt. 532 , the propriety of the commissioners looking to the will to locate the land they were required to set out is recognized; but that is quite another thing from construing the will with reference to the kind of an estate acquired by the allotee, where the will specifies the location of the land the commissioners very properly look to it for their guide in determining its location, and, to that extent, they may be said to have authority to construe the will; but having no concern with the kind of an estate in the land they were called upon to divide

11914–1914
Bush v. Whitney neutral
vt · 1821
1 sentence

1865If the real character of these instruments was that of conveyances in fee, they were undoubtedly void, as was held in Bush v. Whitney, 1 D.

11865–1865
Lampson v. Town of New-Haven green
· 1829
1 sentence

1865In Lampson et al. v. Town of New Haven, 2 Vt. 14 , it is said (p. 16) that “the conveyance from the selectmen to Lampson may operate as a license fár Lampson to occupy, so as not to leave him a trespasser upon the town, but as a conveyance of the land, for which it was intended, it is void both upon principal and authority.” The plaintiff also claims that, as the habendum clause of both leases was “ to have and to hold as long as grass grows and water runs,” the leases were equivalent to conveyances in fee, and that an authority given to the selectmen of Belvidere and the Trustees of The Lamoi

11865–1865

Where else courts name it

TX 125 (1893–2026) OK 52 (1919–2023) OH 36 (1921–2024) CA 31 (1860–2021) AL 31 (1883–2018) PA 28 (1915–2025) NY 27 (1852–2015) GA 23 (1899–2015) KY 23 (1895–2023) KS 23 (1899–2021) NC 21 (1908–2010) IL 19 (1899–1987) TN 19 (1921–2024) MD 17 (1910–2009) MO 16 (1883–2024) IN 15 (1893–2023) AR 13 (1915–1975) WV 11 (1896–2016) WA 10 (1915–2007) VT 8 (1865–2026) SC 8 (1907–2006) CO 7 (1904–2021) MT 7 (1926–2008) MI 7 (1897–2014) ND 7 (1977–2024) LA 6 (1938–2012) CT 6 (1895–2019) NJ 5 (1845–1989) MA 5 (1935–1992) NE 5 (1958–1993) OR 5 (1905–2021) NM 4 (1931–2026) ME 4 (1960–2012) IA 4 (1877–2003) WI 4 (1902–1945) WY 3 (1981–1994) UT 3 (1999–2012) VA 2 (1913–1969) HI 2 (1910–2018) DE 2 (1949–1982)

Opinions by the citing court's state. A doctrine retained in one state and abandoned in another shows up here as a year span that stalls.

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