There are three questions for this exercise. When answering the questions, please use references to legal cases, legal concepts and/or
statutes.
(1) Peter orally promised Ernie that if Ernie quit his job to care for Peter, who was elderly and ill, Ernie would receive Peter’s real estate
at Peter’s death. Ernie quit his job and cared for Peter until Peter died two years later. No will or deed was found. Assuming that Ernie lived
on the property before Peter’s death, is Ernie entitled to Peter’s real estate?
(2) Hilda, a widow, lives on a 500 acre farm worth $500,000. She has one son, Jim. To avoid probate, Hilda has decided to deed the farm “to
Hilda and Jim as joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common.” What potential problems might arise from this
arrangement? Why
(3) The Farringtons entered into a signed agreement to sell their real estate to the Tucsons. The price was stated in their agreement as
follows: “Sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). Approximately one-third down, the balance to be paid over a period of 10 years at 7%
interest. This option to expire in 30 days. One hundred dollars ($100) to be paid at time of agreement with said amount to be applied on
purchase price.” Is this an enforceable agreement? Why or why not
