Real Property: Future Interests: Contingent remainders and The Rule in Shelly’s Case

The Rule in Shelly’s Case – At CL, the rule would apply only:

• O conveys “To A for life, then, on A’s death, to A’s heirs.” A is alive.

• CL: the present and future interests would merge giving A, a fee simple absolute

• TODAY: abolished, so

• A has = life estate

• A’s as yet unknown heirs = contingent rema.

• O = reversion (A could die w/o heirs)