PROPERTY LAW - MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS +
ANSWERS
A man owned two tracts of land, Lot 1 and Lot 2, which he purchased fifteen years ago. The lots were
immediately adjacent to each other with Lot 1 on the west and Lot 2 on the east.
Eight years ago, a woman went into possession of all of Lot 1 under a deed from the man that described
all of Lot 1. Her deed was promptly and properly recorded and thus has become part of the land records.
Seven years ago, a farmer went into possession of Lot 2 under an invalid (but colorable) deed from the
man describing all of Lot 2 and a strip of Lot 1 some 40' wide running along the entire lot line from north
to south. The farmer, however, never actually occupied any portion of this 40' strip but occupied only Lot
2. The deed to the farmer was never recorded.
The woman has sued the farmer to establish her title to the 40' disputed strip.
Who will prevail?
A. The farmer, because the farmer can show that the man owned the disputed - ✅✅✅CORRECT -C.
The woman, because she has possession of the disputed strip.
A man took his watch to a jeweler to be repaired. While the watch was with the jeweler, it was stolen by
a thief who, in turn, took the watch to a second jeweler, who was a watch dealer to get a new
watchband.
The second jeweler wrongfully placed the watch in a display case and it was purchased by a woman at its
fair market value, less 10%. When the thief discovered these facts, he brought an action against the
woman to recover the watch.
Is the thief entitled to recover the watch from the woman?
,A. No, because of statutory estoppel.
B. No, because the watch belongs to the man.
C. Yes, because as between the thief and the woman, the thief is the prior possessor.
D. Yes, because statutory estoppel is inapplicable. - ✅✅✅CORRECT -A. No, because of statutory
estoppel.
Landlord leased Blackacre to Tenant for a term of five years at a monthly rental of $500. In the 20th
month of the term, Tenant wrongfully vacated Blackacre and told Landlord that she (Tenant) would no
longer pay Landlord rent. At the time Tenant vacated Blackacre, unpaid rent for the balance of the term
equals $20,000.
Three months later, Landlord sues Tenant for unpaid rent. At the time of the suit, Tenant has not paid the
prior three months' rent.
The maximum amount Landlord can recover from Tenant in this suit is:
A. $0
B. $500
C. $1,500
D. $20,000 - ✅✅✅CORRECT -C. $1,500
Five years ago, a man conveyed Blackacre to "Betty in fee simple absolute." Four years ago, Betty devised
the property to "her husband for his life, remainder to their children and their heirs." Betty and her
husband had three children.
Three years ago, one of the three children died bequeathing her entire estate to a friend.
Last year the husband died survived by the two children, the friend to whom the deceased child had
bequeathed his estate, and the man who had five years ago conveyed Blackacre to Betty. All parties die
in State A.
Who owns Blackacre?
, A. The man, because Betty died four years ago.
B. The two children, because their vested remainder became possessory at the man's death and the
deceased child had no devisable interest.
C. The two children and the friend, because the vested remainder became possessory at the husband's
death and the deceased child had a devisable interest.
D. State A because the - ✅✅✅CORRECT -A. The man, because Betty died four years ago.
Twenty-five years ago, a married man purchased Blackacre, vacant land, in fee simple absolute. Blackacre
is located in a jurisdiction that at all times has common-law dower.
Unbeknownst to the man, twenty years ago a possessor entered Blackacre. The possessor has from then
until today been in hostile, open and notorious, actual, exclusive, and continuous possession of
Blackacre.
The married man died last week survived by his wife of 35 years and his daughter.
The governing law also provides that after setting aside any dower share, the balance of a decedent's
estate passes in equal shares to his surviving issue.
Title to Blackacre is in:
A. The possessor, because she acquired a title to Blackacre by adverse possession.
B. The possessor, because she acquired a title to Blackacre by adverse possession, but subject to the
wife's dower share.
C. The wife, because her cause of action to recover the possession of Blac - ✅✅✅CORRECT -B. The
possessor, because she acquired a title to Blackacre by adverse possession, but subject to the wife's
dower share.
Three weeks ago, a woman was shopping in a clothing store. While trying on a dress in the store, she
inadvertently left her purse in the "dressing" room. In her purse was her wallet with $300 in cash.
ANSWERS
A man owned two tracts of land, Lot 1 and Lot 2, which he purchased fifteen years ago. The lots were
immediately adjacent to each other with Lot 1 on the west and Lot 2 on the east.
Eight years ago, a woman went into possession of all of Lot 1 under a deed from the man that described
all of Lot 1. Her deed was promptly and properly recorded and thus has become part of the land records.
Seven years ago, a farmer went into possession of Lot 2 under an invalid (but colorable) deed from the
man describing all of Lot 2 and a strip of Lot 1 some 40' wide running along the entire lot line from north
to south. The farmer, however, never actually occupied any portion of this 40' strip but occupied only Lot
2. The deed to the farmer was never recorded.
The woman has sued the farmer to establish her title to the 40' disputed strip.
Who will prevail?
A. The farmer, because the farmer can show that the man owned the disputed - ✅✅✅CORRECT -C.
The woman, because she has possession of the disputed strip.
A man took his watch to a jeweler to be repaired. While the watch was with the jeweler, it was stolen by
a thief who, in turn, took the watch to a second jeweler, who was a watch dealer to get a new
watchband.
The second jeweler wrongfully placed the watch in a display case and it was purchased by a woman at its
fair market value, less 10%. When the thief discovered these facts, he brought an action against the
woman to recover the watch.
Is the thief entitled to recover the watch from the woman?
,A. No, because of statutory estoppel.
B. No, because the watch belongs to the man.
C. Yes, because as between the thief and the woman, the thief is the prior possessor.
D. Yes, because statutory estoppel is inapplicable. - ✅✅✅CORRECT -A. No, because of statutory
estoppel.
Landlord leased Blackacre to Tenant for a term of five years at a monthly rental of $500. In the 20th
month of the term, Tenant wrongfully vacated Blackacre and told Landlord that she (Tenant) would no
longer pay Landlord rent. At the time Tenant vacated Blackacre, unpaid rent for the balance of the term
equals $20,000.
Three months later, Landlord sues Tenant for unpaid rent. At the time of the suit, Tenant has not paid the
prior three months' rent.
The maximum amount Landlord can recover from Tenant in this suit is:
A. $0
B. $500
C. $1,500
D. $20,000 - ✅✅✅CORRECT -C. $1,500
Five years ago, a man conveyed Blackacre to "Betty in fee simple absolute." Four years ago, Betty devised
the property to "her husband for his life, remainder to their children and their heirs." Betty and her
husband had three children.
Three years ago, one of the three children died bequeathing her entire estate to a friend.
Last year the husband died survived by the two children, the friend to whom the deceased child had
bequeathed his estate, and the man who had five years ago conveyed Blackacre to Betty. All parties die
in State A.
Who owns Blackacre?
, A. The man, because Betty died four years ago.
B. The two children, because their vested remainder became possessory at the man's death and the
deceased child had no devisable interest.
C. The two children and the friend, because the vested remainder became possessory at the husband's
death and the deceased child had a devisable interest.
D. State A because the - ✅✅✅CORRECT -A. The man, because Betty died four years ago.
Twenty-five years ago, a married man purchased Blackacre, vacant land, in fee simple absolute. Blackacre
is located in a jurisdiction that at all times has common-law dower.
Unbeknownst to the man, twenty years ago a possessor entered Blackacre. The possessor has from then
until today been in hostile, open and notorious, actual, exclusive, and continuous possession of
Blackacre.
The married man died last week survived by his wife of 35 years and his daughter.
The governing law also provides that after setting aside any dower share, the balance of a decedent's
estate passes in equal shares to his surviving issue.
Title to Blackacre is in:
A. The possessor, because she acquired a title to Blackacre by adverse possession.
B. The possessor, because she acquired a title to Blackacre by adverse possession, but subject to the
wife's dower share.
C. The wife, because her cause of action to recover the possession of Blac - ✅✅✅CORRECT -B. The
possessor, because she acquired a title to Blackacre by adverse possession, but subject to the wife's
dower share.
Three weeks ago, a woman was shopping in a clothing store. While trying on a dress in the store, she
inadvertently left her purse in the "dressing" room. In her purse was her wallet with $300 in cash.
