Bill No.: HB0157                  Drafter:  LNS

LSO No.:  11LSO-0461              Effective Date:  7/1/2011

Enrolled Act No.:  HEA0029

Chapter No.:       77

Prime Sponsor:     Representative Brown

Catch Title:       Abolition of worthier title doctrine.

Subject:  The elimination of a common law doctrine relating to conveyances of real property to a persons' heirs.

Summary/Major Elements:

· The act clarifies that a common law rule, called the doctrine of worthier title, is eliminated. 

· The doctrine provided that when a person made a transfer of  real estate followed by a future estate to his heirs, the property reverted to the conveyor so that the heirs would obtain the property by descent. 

· The purpose of the doctrine was to allow heirs to obtain title through descent, rather than by the conveyance.  A title obtained through descent was considered superior (or worthier) than a title obtained through a conveyance.