MBE Rules · Real Property
Doctrine of Worthier Title
The rule
A grantor's inter vivos conveyance that purports to create a remainder in the grantor's own heirs instead gives the grantor a reversion, and no future interest arises in the heirs. Modernly the doctrine is a rebuttable rule of construction turning on the grantor's intent, and many states have abolished it.
In plain English
If O conveys "to A for life, remainder to O's heirs," O keeps a reversion — the heirs get nothing. The theory: taking by descent is "worthier" than taking by purchase. Watch for grantor-to-own-heirs language.
The trap
Confusing it with the Rule in Shelley's Case — Worthier Title is about the GRANTOR's heirs; Shelley's is about the GRANTEE's heirs.
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