The R.A.P. Trap

Map Branches

• Rule
  • Interest must vest, if at all, within lives in being + 21 yrs
• Contingent interest?
  • Condition precedent
  • Unborn / unascertainable
  • Ex 1: "T to A for life, B for life, C for life, then D in fee simple
  • "Shall revert back to Roper Estate if used for other than community centre"
• Time created?
  • Testamentary
    • "devise" / "testator"
  • Inter vivos
    • "grant" / "grantor"
• Lives in being?
  • Human
  • Living
    • When created
    • En ventre sa mere
    • Express / implied
  • Group
    • Closed
    • Acertainable
  • Ex 2: "T to grandkids in fee simple" (T had kids X & Y)
  • Ex. 3: "G to in trust all grandkids" (G has kids X & Y)
  • Ex. 6: "T to A for life, B for life, then to descendants living at death of all persons living when I die."
  • Ex. 4/5: "Royal lives" clauses
• Possible violations?
  • Initial certainty rule
  • "Fertile octogenarian"
    • Ex. 7: "T to trust for wife for life, then her kids for lives, then her grandkids who turn 21" (Wife is 80, kids 60 & 55, grandkid 18)
  • "Precocious toddler"
    • Ex. 8: "T to A for life, then A's grandkids, living at T's death/5 years after, who turn 21 (A is 65 with 2 kids and grandkid age 8)
• Statutory reform?
  • Perpetuities Act, RSNWT 1988, c. P.3, (RSO 1990, c. P.9)
  • s.3: RAP applies
  • ss. 4, 5: Presumed valid; wait & see
  • s.8: Biological realities
  • s. 16: possible reverter = right of re-rentry
• Scurry Rainbow 2001, Sask CA
  • Context
    • RAP Issue?
    • Leases
  • Tallis J.A.
    • RAP inapplicable!
    • History & policies

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