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24 TlLeRealtA Blue Book of Aaklania

I ltles
Bv SENAToRN. W. THoMPSoN

Ecol1t CaLi|attlitt Titles Oii!\i|aL P(te ts l:lesert:etia]l

ol Pxbli( Lui.ls-RLoldilg Let(l Ol)ne:ftlhip The Re!.is-
tratiotl S'lste1n TlLe TL\rren,\ Sltsteln-EarL! Califa) kL
Ploblo s AbstroLts of TiUe Certilicates of Title Titl,e
I1i,s7o'arce-M atteft All ecting Title Con(Iititr) s M odif Ui, !
OwlLership Ttrsts-State HoI(Ls JlLlisdiatian. Col r nit!
PnDet rt-C. tt( i.itt! of Lan l 1\itles N ecess(1 .

FIE history of titles {ulrlishes an acculate index to conmunity

glowth and development. Periods of plosperity and ad]rance-
rneni as well as occnsional r€cessions in activity ar.e clearly
reflected in the rccold. CoDsidered in a broad seDse.the data thus
made available furnishes vaiuable and autheDtic information to the
historian, the sLudeit and the philosopher',and illListlates rn a glrphic
say the steady march along the up$'ard trail $'hich, in a compara-
tively short period of time, has brought Califomia flom th€ status of
an lruknowl western frontier to the commanding position which it
no1l' holds in population, ri'ealth, resoulces and inRuences.

EAELY CALIFOIINIA TIALES

Paramount ownership and control of laDd is essentiall-van nttli-

bute of soveteignty. The attitude of ure governmerltal author'-
ities toward the disposition of la.rd is the."efore practically the deter'-
mining factol ir flxirg the light or pr.ivilege of the citizen to acquile
oqrnelship ir fee. Three dilTerent gover rents have succcssiveiy
ruled over this area. Spair, and late| X{exico, claiming by Iight of
discovery, sought to elfect peacelul conquest b]' colonization. The
principal featules of this plan $'ere the lounding and suppolt of the
missions, establish ent aDd mainteDance of pueblos and dispositior
of much of the arable land through plivate glants. These glants
were fr€queDUy nade in lecogrritior of distirguished serllce to thc
government, although ill other c:rsesthe obiect was to plomote setUe
ment and cultivatioi of the soil. llrdel such circumstances the grant
'was usually conditional upon perfolmance by the grantce oI celtain
lequired coDditions and irstall:rtiorl of such iDprovemeDts as nlight
bd prescribed.
Local administrators at the Missions, acting in an advisory
capacity to the govelDor, o girally exelcised a limited jurisdiction
ovel adjacent public lards. SecliladzatioD of the Missions deprived
these local administrators of much of the authorit\. Dreviouslv exel.,
 The R,"nltt/ I)llte Boak ol Caliial jtiu :?5

.:sed . ! j . , , d, r t i ! r d j , . r . . j , ^ " .f.o r r 1 . , r J, o j _

, r . r d ,L l , p. I r r s a s j , r . /
t r o l l F ., lr , l u - L l t , r l l . , l I i . , r " n . I . " ,' . r .' .: r. r, . l r , \ r ; , . i n . p r n n ; r , . r o
others.
l u " b l o . r , d " ,\ . ^ r ! ! r ' a r . r n ot \ , - r , , r , i , r , :| , , t 1 , , . ^ r. .o. . . n z p r , J ,
u s u aJ . r t f o l ,l 1 , r r Jr ' u r , ' n r r , r ' i . , rr - . d " , r . , j I U , j \ r . r r J i , r r r o o l , - r 1 j r .
amountsrlt Dnprovenents. Altel sccuhr,;zalioll pucbio officers exer
c r l e dl a r ' : ' " t o \ . . s o \ ' r . - , r d : , ' L ( , r ' i l o , J . T . . . \ \ j r " , u $ F l l
o e a r o o r ' r r j r r u r i ^ r ' , t r rr | r n t . r r . l r r ^ r,i i I | . , ^ . , r . r i , | . r . r . r \ . -
there, in these_v:u.iousgr':r"nts,that certairi).of itcscription oi: touirA
ary noll cot:sidcr.edcssential. Such l\.e|c ltre p|evliling colditioris
w ' r p . .u r , d . , . , r , . ' T r l , . i , , . , ; , , , t . t . , , di,'!.,;r; i i,,-.i Si.,"..
n d ' , r ' d , l o r r o ' . " I - 1 : : r , u u, r r s i r r r .. . -
10r.41' 1.'. f r . " . .r, I S r j r l pu r '

ORICINAL PA'IEN'I'S

Pur..i.r o i.i, -,,I u a^ ,pr'..- ,. L. I.a r-,,r..n:". or. \.:r"

.
^ p t o r n r n \. r , | | . r u r ' r t .'\, t . . . u ,, ^ . . , , . ii l r l\ o l j r . i L I d
S " : . r r.
! J l l r e l o r ' n" J f i o ' . J n p r . ' . . C I a i r r r | . " " r , r ,d r t r p j .J l , p l r ; ! . i a r . ,
btr',or'llt "
j 1 lo \ \ . d L \ r F I o n , , . s s . u ro. r j r a p f j r l L , i r h c
r e o . r | , , u" ,i .1i r{q- r 1 , . r i , r .J : . . , d , t , , , - j i p , 5 . j . 1 .L . \ , \ i \ , r e r r r r _
ented. Thc renaiuirs pubtic i:rnds rvcle irr ctuc course
q t a ' "t r l ' i , . e , r . d ^ , 1 . u f
: r . . , , i . . I o , . f ";.r";;;.'th;
"bl',.";,,;;,:.
rot.I j r g , . , t , l | - I - . . ,"t , 9 , . j r , t j r l :\ |I,jII u\..r'o\v,d ljrld-. ti!
,]a jth,a
vrtrun o
.rs ,n\pror:"rli u q . . j 1 ' . . i d F : , r . r l s! i r h i r r i t "
0 o r d . r s . s r t L , r Fl , n r d i i r i f ; t ! 'o rr.. c..t,a,.ror
r:St I of ,.on.rr.,.,., Jrd

RESDRVATION OI' PUBLIC LANDS

Both stale and leder'rl gorcr llcl)ts plovided by tegiFlative enact

melts l'alious nethods by qfiich citizens could acquile ti e to pubtic
lands. claDts by Colgr.ess in aid of tr.arscollti elltat rnitrcads;";r
r r r l t \ o u c i , d 5 _ o:t, r r s . F e d " , r l n r ' u r i " i o ni o r . f u L i i . u " p ss u . \ a s
o r , a lp a f i ! , l o t a 5 i i c 5 p r \ r s i t ^ . ^ t r h t i o r . s o I r v ; r r p r .n t r d p o r r . . r
-ra
ocver^p\tcnl ,Id o f t , f l E , r 1 t u . j J s t , r . r s ^ . L r t . .: . i r l . 9 " n t . p 2 s ,a s u b
s r r . 1 ta l p u r l i o r , o f $ l i . r , , \ i l l n r o b . t , i \ | . \ p . I , a " . i , , r o p r i , a r ,

. T h e A I F , . . r n D l a , ,o i ! - u \ n , m . r . t c o . t s r I. r t A t p : t r i r t , . a c l ,. r ^ 1 .
s h a t t h ^ v e p t A . . ' r ' I i . o , i r o l o \ . r r h a j r . t i s t r : o r . o $ , r , I . r l ^ ; 1 ,i,n . L . . r -
b m r c p . ' r : I n f a r , . d J . , . . . i . ^ n L t . , . o r r I . r : i.i r l r i i c b o . L r a r . .s L b _
J e c lo r l ) l o l h . p r , \ , s i o r , s o i a n ! . \ , " i r , - t , . e : l r rn o i x t . 2 s t h p s ; p r o -
v r so n s r ' 3 y f l n t r) . \ 11,ri).islr..rrt,ir']a aw nlrh" la||d,,,J;.nn_
s r q u 6 . r ' r rs J t i . r . - . 1. . l l I . \ m r,t,r^5iji^..\. Or).iI 'i" i drr..,
1 l ? ) ' n l a ) r o . t g f p n sr ' l $ t l ' a s n " , t i o , h F . n r r j I t e r . . . T l . : s
L,rir,c.r,le
0 f g o ! e | n . r r e r ,il\ r l a r r r \ : l . o d L t l , I r r i t p dS . . . SLl,.am"r-oud
' n I e . p n r L l n . ; s i o , r sl h ^ l d r s t \ p A t , . A , . . " "

RECONDING
LAND OWNERSIIIP
The inpo'-taDce of indirldual or'Iership of JaDalas an ircerrtive to
l h e p o r 1 1 e n . n lu p b u r l d i | | gr r d i r . n | o v ^ . r r a r ,or , t h " $e., i,tr
r F r o g r T p d . I o p f o v r d ^ n t r e r n . i r , r p n rp u b l i . r p , o " d o" fo us u
n cr rt . yu w n p r s h p
t-
Tht Ileall.! Bhc Boolr of CIlilrlnl L

ihc rerording system $;as first established and at a lalel' datc the r.eg'
istlation plaD irtroduced irl somejulisdictions.
'l'he r.ecolding st.stcm, established pliol to the forlr:riio! oi ihe
Union, may fajrll'be telnled the original Anretican systen and is iD
use in evell strtc. Thc basicDrirciple underlying this sIStcm is that
thelc shall be tr'rnsoibed ancl peunanentl! kept as :r public r'ecold in
thc nlarnel' Iequiled br la\l' in sone designated public office copics o{
eyery tlansfcr', irlclrmbran(e, lien, judgrncnt ol declce all'ccting title
to propertl'arrd thlt there should also bc plepalecl and kept i such
ollice jDdices o{ everi' surh instlument, aDd. further', that these
records a d irdjces shall bc open to public iDspection at usual business
houls, thus affordirlg oppodunity to any interested Delson to ascel-
tain at anl'time the condition of thc r'ecor'd titlc to ary palticLrlal
propetty. Thc cost of such tlanscliption and indexing is bolnc br
the party lequestiDg the sel'\'ice, but the dutl of mnking nnd pcr'
nrrncnth pleser\'ing such re(otd is a pubti( funclioD. Whcn so tran-
scljbed, the oligirlal Dapers rtc, err(ept in spe.iial cases. retulned to
the par.tiesentitle.lthereto rnd the tra scribcd topr, \rith theindices.
folms the public rccot'd.
THD RNGIS'TNATION SYSTDI{

Thc resishation sl'sten orisinated ir Ausllalia nnd was iil.st

used irl conti ental lhited States about thirir ]'eals ago. This sys-
tem has beel aptly described ns but anothel ncthod of transferring
title to property, although its advocatesstlenLrouslyn1aintain that its
scope is nuch broader'. It ap}rear'sto be based upon the theorf' thal.
the state owes a continuirg dutv to its citizens to issue,thlough desig
nated local authorities, ne'1{celtificates of title upon an)- tlalsfer of
ownership and likewise to sho\,r.by endolsement or menloI.ial upon
any outst:urding cerlificatc the filing of .rny lierl ol incumblance
aflecling the land originall]'r'egisteled. fhdet this plan no Dapers
lelating to registered land are lecorded. They ate simpli' executed
arrd filed $'jth the Registl.ar for. pemarent retention and cannot be
Ie-delivered to the intelested palties as in the case of a lecolded
documert. lll oldel to nuke this systerr effertive the liegistlar's
celtificate with ils endorsementso| menor-ials must be conclusive and
firal upon the ghts of all parties. This is lreelr* conccdedboth by
advocates and opporerts of th€ system. This system has been gen-
el?lly usedirl,.1ndis probablr bettel adapledto, thosecour)tIieslvith-
out A written constitufion.
'I'I1I] 1ORRDNS SYSTDII

In 1897 the CaliforDi.! Legislaturc passed n 1a\\'of thjs ch:u actel

commonly called thc 'for.rers ]a.ti",which Nas IerI littlc used. The
present la$'is an nritiative meAsure xdopted by the electors in 1914.
Beins ar initiative measure it cannot be amended bl the legislatule.
The only method by which ary ch:uge or anlendment crn be effecied
is by adoption at ar election ol anothel initiatile nreasLtre. The Cali-
folnia Iaw provides that property sh:1llfimt be blc,ught Lrnderthe sys-
tem by an action in court, the detree in such :ctjon bei g the basis for
ffrst r€gistration.
 ' l ' ) t I R r r I t . | | i 1 | B r , , l ; o i ( : L t L i f oj)t u t 27

IITONL]IIIS
I,.\RI,' CAI,IFORNIA
FoI n co|sidc|ablel)er od lollo$irlf the ch:usc ot' ltrLgth{ro $N
much conlusionrnd urlrert.iiDt! fespe(iirg.'lilies. lfler' .r peljod
of militrrt. idministt:ltion nlrdel fcdcrxl corlrol. thf sfrt1] gotef'i
meDt$as olgnnizc.l rlnd inrnrodiatclradorrtc.lllre conrn)unil]'i)r'otl
€r1ysysteDr, then fir'mil est.rblished Lr |)ns ustls! ur.t1)r'thelbnref
goyelnlnents.n{:1riIclninlsto priv.rtc land srnrts lvcrt fcjfctcd. Thr'
activityincideniio the discovelr'ol told Lr)|lshl DLlllrclo'-rs Ilolrlems.
It {",1squite nrLturallhat LLndert[esc fi|runrstrnccs doul)ls nrcsc ns
to the sour.LresstLr.l stabilltl'of titlcs to L!r.l rLrd nl :1r o.ult'drlc
abstlactolsand e\Itnrir€r'sol titlc besnlrto iryeslisrLte'lrrd jJ.lssupor)
thesufficiencl'olthfsc. Folmolcth.u fiflt )caIS, irLconre(tioDNitlr
placlicall:' cver',\'tr:r.ns:1ct:orir]\,olvnlE cith€r' a salc ol incLLmbrtlnco
ol land i Calilolni.r, ihc Iccor'd title to thc plop{I i\' in\ol\'e.l h:Ls
beencarc{ullr-cx.Drnrcd. Pclhrps in no othc) st.rtehrs therc brerl
maintaiDed so romplcte.l roror.t ol the litlc to 1r'rl Dr'o]]r.r't:
.

,\tssTE,{.(i'|S
01, fl1Lil
ID.1l1r'e.rlcsl.rteir,]lrsr(ti(r)s. \rtrcthel in\o1\'injt purchnse of
loaDsupon the sccurit-v of lard, it h.1s bcen rcccss.u,\-to s^tisfv thr
prospectivcpulchasel or nniestof ihnl the tiU. to thc plopeltx \-as
good. In enrl) d.ils this \1,rsr conrt):urlt:!clt'sinrlr1e ploceediDg,as
examinationof but {cn-p:rpcls \1.asIcqui}cd and thelc was flequently
genelal colnnlunit]' knolvlcdge :rs to ownership of ln ds, thc popuh-
'l'he
tion then beirg mo]'e strble thnD rt t)r'eseDt. iDcl.e;rse in thr)
volume of r'ccor.dslcndeled necess:lr'] sone conle|ierll for'rr {or l)re
sentingthe statlrsol lhe rerotd litle. This led to the ptepar':rtiolof
abstlacts. ,\ plopell)- t)repar'edrbstlict of lille lrr'esentsan cpitonre
of all thc.sscntirl clenrentsof each o{ lhe se\cul recolded irlstlu
mentsrficcting the title io lL r)r1r'ticula!tr'r(ll ol l:r d, so th:rt un:rttot
ney can leadill' detomine by exrmiDirlior whethcl the lAlious con-
vey^nces and ircu lbunccs hrve been cor'r'ectly executed. whcther'
any colrIt plocccdings sho\1'nh:u'e Leerrr'egular'l) Lrliel, \1.lretherany
liens disclosedhare been properl] srtisfi€d rnd ffo such €)iamin:t-
tion prepalc a opinion respectjDgthe cordition of the title. The r'ap-
idly ircrcasiDg lolrDDe ol rccords i.erds to render' lhe abstlact nore
exp€nsivc, both in DIep lrrior and horr ihe st \dpoirrtof the attor-
nefs fec for' in opjnion rDor the l.itle.

(--Dlt1'lll(lAlll OI, TITLII

To n1eelthis siluatio]l instrunrentscxliod cerUficrtesol title \\'erc

ptepaled b]"Title ColnDanies. Th€sc rvere based upon exami ation b)
the Tille Conrpanl.of thc l.ecolrlspeltnining to the particular tlaci
and an oDirliorl bi'its attorncy or experienred €xalnilrer's as lo th€
effectof thes. r'ecoldsand $,ere,in Ixcl, suLstarrliallycquiv:rlenlto
the opinio of an attor|ey upon :rn abstHcL of litle. l'hese ccltificntes
\ie]'e bliel ir lb|rn :Lnd €asiiy undelstood b]- the land orvner or
inveslor- Necessarily the]' dealt i'ith lhe fecord litle onlr rnd theil
value as a Dlotectionwas rneasuredlrt th,: finirrcial sirl)iliii of ihe
 2A TlLeRedtu Blue Boah aJ Cdifor'ttilt

TirLE rNSlrnANCE
Title insulance has bcen intlodrced $.ithin the pzrst fi{t.\. yeals
and is now fir'mly establjshed. The fir'st companl' \ras olganized at
Philadelphi.L Use of title iDsurarrce policies lras occasionedby the
growiDg valne of real eslAte, particul.4r'l) iD the largel conrmunities,
the necessit}'of plovidiDg adequate p|otectiol 1or pulchasels and
ienders !,!'hele the consider':rlion \!:ls large and the comDlcxitics of
moden transrctions such as long time lenses, bond issues, tlusts,
buitdirg restlictiors, et(. The civil code ol Clli{or'nin plovides that
"Any wr'itten contlact oI irstlument pul.por.tjng to show
the title to reli Dlopelty. or ful ish infolmntion Ielative
thercto, {hich sh.rll in express telnls putport to insurc or
gualanteesuch tiUe or the cor'r:e(:lnessof such inlotmaiion,
shall be deemeda polict-of title irsulancc."
This leg:rl delinition of a polici' has beel uDheld Ly dccision oi
the SuDreme Coult-
A policy of title insur'ance is lhe Lnoadeslfolm of title plotectron
lhat can be {ur'nished. Companies tlnrsacting title insulance busi-
ness in Califolrria nle not onl)- undel supclvision oI the hrsLrr':rce
Commissioner ar)d lequiled io conduct their' business in stlict accoltl_
I ancc with the provisiorrs of lrw, but nust likel\'isc Dlaintain .r gLtar-
anty filnd on deposit\riih the Si:rteTIcasuIel and nLlst rrlsotlccurnu
late a sur?lus furd equal to 25 per cent of theil capital. lssuancc of
any single policy ivith a liability irl cxcess of thc conlpany's adnlitted
assetsis tt'ohibitccibt lulins oi ihe lnsLruDCeCornrrissioner'.

IIAATDFS AFIECTINC TITLE

Tlansfel of tiuc ol the closirg ot :1 lo:rl seens to urnnt pelsons

melely a routine matter. Foi lhe pl'otection ol the irvestor thele
should be gcner':rl recognition ol ihe firrlr)fial lisks involred unless
adequate precautions Lc obser"r'ed. Ilecor'ds of lhe laecorder''soifjce
wherc deeds,nmltg:rges and other llens.lfe r'ecolded (oi legisteled if
the title be under thc Tor'lens Act) .lnd of the Count]'Clclk's ollice
wheie suits, estates nnd judgrrerts mc lound, must be cxanrincd. If
the propertl'lies Nithir) a nltrnicipalitt- th€ local r'ecordsol that citt'
must:rlso bc examinc.llol assessmerlts, rhangesin stlccts and alleys
and othel rtter peculi.ul) rll1dellhc jlrrjsdi(tior o-l the nLrni(ipal
autholilies. Specinl districts mrT be forrled lor iIIis.Ltior, dlairage
or other puposes \\ith powel to ic\']'nsscssnrenlsto tarrl'oul the
'fhe
purposes o{ theit or'ga ization. lccolds of some of thesc distficis
ar'c kept entilely aDAr{ honl couDty lecolds. Brnln uptcr Dloceedi gs
and lccleral liens llle disciosed bl. lcder'rl cour'l records- Impositio)r
of iDcone a d othel ledcral taxcs has cDolmoush' irclcased the 1'ol
ume ol lhese liers \\.hich h:l\'c the folce and eficct of ,l judsrncnt and
(onstitute n gererrl l;cn upo all propeltt of the iudgmcrt dcblor'.
Properly pAssing LrI' \rill or bt' the intestnte l:r$.s ol by an)
instrunent exe(uted in contenplntiol of lle:rtll, if i cxccss of cert:rin
mini um v:rlues, is subject to ar) inhelitan(e iax due ihe statc, which
tax is a lien until prjd. Plopelty sirnilarl:.passing,i{ in cxccssof the
 Tltc Rul.l lt Bl1t. Ronl; nl Celilt)r'nia 29

\?he of $50,000.00. is suliecl, to a Jederaiestatetax, likewise a licrl

until paid. I?gislatidr no1\'pending :li \Vashingtor rvould, if en^cted
into lary. substarlti:rll:' irclcase the :1r1ourrt()f this tix. Public uiil-
ities undef lhe julisdirtjon o1 tho R^ilro.lt] Clmnission crLnnotscll
any propelt:'r)ccessar'I jn pclJir.lnrncc of their' pLLblicduties oI erc
d cuterny notcs,mortglges oI trust dcedsexcept u der :Lr older ol thc
comnlissiorl,Nhich o|ricl' DrLrstLc c|)lrplic.l 1\ith ir dcl.ril. Oiher ror
lorations olgarizcd fol pr'ofil. \r'ith ccrt.lnl rnnror e\.reptj.rns, cxrlnot
issuebondsexceptun(ler:rulho|itt_ol .r pcr'lnit issLlcdbt_tlll Col'Dolr
tion Connnissioncr,th. tcrnrs oI Nhi(h |clrnil nrust:rlso be lil.cfalb'
compliedwith.
Thele is Lrn(ler'lhotrr'csortslstcnl Do .tir cct statc i:!r Lrpon].eal
pfopertl-in Crlihrrjx. Trxes rr. lelicd upo Ie:1]plopcrl\ bv eaclr
city and couut!. Thc slaic levies r dilcct t.i\ upor publi.l utilities,
balks, i snlrncc rorrlprLnicsnnd lhe IraDchise of genl]lil cofpor':rtions
orgaDized 1or plolii, n'hich 1rx is Drl alrle nt Sxc]alirerlo :lriclis, Iikc
locAltaxes,:1lien upor a]] pr-opellI o\n{]d b]'ihe respe(iile cofpor:l
tioDson the fir'st -uond^t of X'I:D'chi e:rh r'.:r'. Ijl this tax be not
paid the fL'n:rlt]'is dr'rlstic. Pl'ior'1l) 11)17i1 in|ohcd lorfciture ol
chart.r. In c.rse ihc cor.polrtion \\'.is a Dublic utilit\., i1 co,rlC noi,
nndelthc plovisionsol the corstitLrtioir,be r'ostol'ed.Sin.c 1917 thc
lenalty is suspcnsion ot collnr'.rte |ower.s, ir addiiion to vhich the
lien still subsistsupor all p]'opelt) ol the cor'trorxtio . ,\ shtc liccnsc
tax is nlso lcrierl LLponthos. cor'Dolations orlr..:lnizedlor plofit \l.hich
do not pa-vi dilc(t stale t:Lr. T|is i.lri is lil.ic\riser lieJrupor all Drop-
erty o$'red Lr]-thc collrcrrtion o]1 lhc lirst f'toDdrv in Junary. Pcn
alt)'ior'lailur'elo pa)-is suspcnsjon.f cofpolrLtopo\rers.lhe tax Ic-
mainir)ga lien. In ilLe .ase o1 eiihc| of these sirLtota\cs lh€re is no
locNllecofd ol prl']nent untjl scvcul \lcolis :lftcl thc ii c Nhcn sus-
pensions h'1\'.o.crr'f€d il thf lllri hns not irl lrct been]]:rid.

ao\_Illl IONS MODlrl INC 0\ -\llnsHlP

Eshbtishrrerlt o{ zorins rcstli.rtio s l1rld s.t back lin.s is engas-

ing thc rtlcrltior o{ nruni(ip:rlrri.hoiiti€s. Acii\ iiies .tlors lhesc lincs
.ue no\-bascdplincit.lllt-upon bload consi.lcr',itioI01 tub]ic \.ellare.
hnil:Ltiors thus jnr]rosc.llr]' lrLri u|orr llrc rse ol l)r'olier'lIaIe Druch
mole coniprchcnsiverlrd 1'r' r'arfhir! ir elli,ct 1h.rI IoIrr]er'l) when
cxcl'cisc L,fthc policc |o\\ er'\:rs ljl1r;t.dchifllt. to plorision fo| public
hcalth rn.1 s:liclr. tj!.nru.1llI ilic .r)rlr,ts n)usi .lcternrinc to 1vh:1t
cxt€ntlhe ir.lilidLul r ighls (,1lh€ lxnd o$ ]lcI rrlc subor(li rle io (orr
munit\'irt.r'cst l1n(lgrirclrl $elfrre.
liesllicliolrs.rordiiions ard (o\eItrrrts imlosed in dcc(lsor llrree
mentsto conlct' {. trr irrlporlrnt f:rctol iD.lcnlirlg \!ith ].cal csilte.
Theserrit' grerllt ir lireir st'ot)e.For'lur:rtel\'thc lrighcr four'ls hrve
render'ed a nunrlrcr'olhollrhrlde(isions(oristluing nlnnI oI l.hcsepr'(L
visioDs11.hich oJ gr'.:Llrssisl.:tnrein ,:lclcrDinirlgtlcir'f1lect LLpon
?1r'c
l,ille:rrl(tLrDolllhe use or crr.io)nrert o1 lu d. Tlre irstrLrnrertirrr|os
iDg theselirDitaiionsir.{tLLeftlr Iix€-\.t peliorl fol thcil tcl'nlirlation.
Coult decisiors:uc ir substanccto thc rlrect that il r serclal pl:ln fo]'
nnprorenlentof the i'rtilc sul)di!isi(,)ris .l.loli€d, it .unnol be altercd
ol nodified \.ithout th( corscnt oJ thc on'ncrs of:1ll pr'oleltt'in the
?,0 Thc Re(Ltt Rllte riook al Ctll;i.thirL

subrtivisidr. If, however',the l.ecold docs rrot sho\y adoptjo| ol such :r

plar, then r1lodificatiorlsrrar bc nadc bv the plopelt\-olvner and the
ox.ner'of thc lcvelsionaly light and the lesh:cti.rrs ol cc)|ditions
alTe(:lingr D:1r'ticular'lot rnay be charged, oI e\.en abrogaled. !\'ilhout
consert oll olher owrLels i11the sarne tr:Lct.
Resirictions, ronditions or coven,rnts inlposcd upo| lnDd br
plivntc deed or.rsleement havc no rclation to ol conrcction with
zoDirs oI set back lirresesirblishedby muricit)rl l€gul:ltiou. fhcsc
trvo methodsoi controlling ol nlodilyirg Lhe use ot Dlopert)-shonkl
not bc conlirsed. In sornecff.'s both:lppl)-;ir othels. ore o| pcih:lps
neither'. ]'hcir lequirenre,rtsale ]1ot necess:r'il)-sjlnil.u oI evell
harmonious,ne\.ertheless, iI making imploveme|ts it is not safe lo
dislesard thc prolisions oi c:ther-

TRtisls
Tlusts iu le:r] p|opertJ'n1ay lall-full!-bc cr'eit€d in Califorr)i,L
tor onll a limited rlumber of plrlposes. Use ol the wold "trusiee,"
rvithout olher.qu.rlificatiorlin dealirlg with titles to real property,
is ill adfised. Notice rray thus be given of a tlust $'ithout disclos-
ing its scope, ol pulDosc, oI the powels o{ the tluslee. Conrnon la$.
tlusts so-called hrve been olganized irr lece|t treals es a srbstitute
for' colpolations. Much uncer'laiDty has been caused bt'lhe attempt
to tlansnct busincss thlough this nrediun, there beirg no spccific
provision ir the state la$' IoI such a plocedure.

S1'A'II' HOLDS JURISDTCTION

Oalilbrrria does not concede to the courts of anr'' othel statc

the Dowel to deal \rilh lenl Dropelty within her bor'ders or. to dctcr'-
mine conflictiDg lights of litig:rnts to plopelty nr this state. If ihe
orvner'of leal Dlopeltl'in C.lilornia dies, becomesinsane ot incom-
l)etent, or. is :1minor, couit ploceedings for'(lealing with this ploperty
or detelmining the question of jts ownershiD or dist)osition must be
had hel'e.
COI{N'IUNITY PNOPFJR'T'Y

The eomlnurjty ploperty systeu in Califolria I1:1sbeen the

subject o{ rnany legisl:rtive changes:rnd of corsidelablc litigatiol.
Provisiorls of the conmunity pl'oDetty l.r$- relating to ]eal property
dilter substanti:rtly flom those aDplying oDly to per-soral pr.operty.
Decisions of the strte courts have consistently held thal the wile had
Do vested inier'est. ol iDdependentownelship, in cornmunitv plot)elty
duling the conljnuance of the m:lrital r.el:rtion. Fler' intier'csthas been
defined as a nlele expectarcv, sinila]. to that of a plospectivc heir,
but uDon the husb:rDd's death she inmedi.rtely slrcc€cds to the
ovnership oI a half intcresl in the conDruDity pr.oper.tv,subjecl to
administration.
The respective lights oi the spousesir1 conlmunity proDerty, botll
ieal and Delsonal, and the Iesulting po\,!'cl ol control and d:sDositioD
are seldom conclusi\.ely showr by the record, lnr.gely because the
record rarely discloseslrdat is, jn fact, conrmunity plopelty. Cer'tain
presumDtions are dcducible fiom the recol.d :rnd ar'c rlrade conclus'\'e
 Tke RealtaBtue Book of Californin 31

]ra and protection of third pa ies who deal in good faith

Ine ue. There is, naturally, no presumiption between the
0Ils The status of thefu property is a question of fact, presum-
out to both. A vast amount of prope*y standing of record
'In one
of only of the spousesjs, as a matter of fact, com-
by )rty. everysuchcase,joint executionby both spouses
ith afiectingthe title to such ploperty is not only the
rtive way, but also the only 4bsolutely safe method of pro-
uld This
'ere applies to both real artd personal prcpedy and to all
rps the property under considerationis not sho$-nto be the
ren estateof one of the spouses.
to
.
CERTAINTYOF LAND TITLES NECESSARY
:ity of land titles is one of the requisites of civ;lization.
stability and celtainty of ownership real progr.ess and
cannot exist. It has been the pride ol Califomia that her
are home builders and home owners. Climatic and scenic
mmbined with vast national resourceshave been contrib-
)s- factorc toward the marvelousdevelopment.which is both an
on and a challengeto the future.
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