Case Citation
Legal Case Name

Margarite v. Ewald Case Brief

Superior Court of Pennsylvania1977Docket #2177256
381 A.2d 480 252 Pa. Super. 244 1977 Pa. Super. LEXIS 2982 Property Wills, Trusts, & Estates

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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
4 min read

tl;dr: A deed conveying property to a married couple and a third person “as tenants in common with right of survivorship” was held to create a tenancy by the entireties for the couple’s one-half share, which they held as tenants in common with the third person.

Legal Significance: Establishes that a conveyance to an explicitly identified married couple and a third party presumptively creates a tenancy by the entireties for the couple’s one-half share, which they hold as tenants in common with the third party, despite contradictory language in the deed.

Margarite v. Ewald Law School Study Guide

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Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

A deed conveyed real estate to “John Ewald and Mary B. Ewald his wife and Joseph Ewald … as tenants in common with right of survivorship.” Mary B. Ewald died intestate, survived by her husband, John Ewald, and her son from a previous marriage, the appellee Margarite. Subsequently, John Ewald died, leaving his entire estate to his brother. The third grantee, Joseph Ewald, was still living. Margarite filed a petition for a declaratory judgment, arguing that the deed created a tenancy in common among the three grantees, giving his mother a one-third interest that was devisable. If so, he would be entitled to a one-sixth interest in the property as his mother’s heir. The trial court agreed with Margarite. The appellants, representing John Ewald’s estate, contended that the deed created a tenancy by the entireties for John and Mary Ewald’s share, which would pass entirely to John upon Mary’s death, leaving no interest for Margarite to inherit.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: How should a court interpret a deed that conveys property to an explicitly identified married couple and a third person using the contradictory phrase “as tenants in common with right of survivorship”?

The deed created a tenancy by the entireties in a one-half interest Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum

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IRAC Legal Analysis

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Legal Issue

How should a court interpret a deed that conveys property to an explicitly identified married couple and a third person using the contradictory phrase “as tenants in common with right of survivorship”?

Conclusion

This case provides a clear interpretive framework for ambiguous deeds involving married Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exer

Legal Rule

When a conveyance is made to three parties, two of whom are Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in

Legal Analysis

The court confronted the “patently contradictory” language of a deed granting property Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eius

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Flash Summary

  • A deed to “H and W, his wife, and X” presumptively
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Exc

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