1. The ReA,k! Blue Book of Cadlor"nin
ere
zed
bhe
8t-
pl
vil
he
iti
rc-
l!-
an

2. 24 TlLeRealtA Blue Book of Aaklania
I ltles
Bv SENAToR W. THoMPSoN
N.
Ecol1t CaLi|attlitt Titles Oii!i|aL P(te ts l:lesert:etia]l
ol Pxbli( Lui.ls-RLoldilg Let(l Ol)ne:ftlhip The Re!.is-
tratiotl S'lste1n TlLe TLrren, Sltsteln-EarL! Califa) kL
Ploblo s AbstroLts of TiUe Certilicates of Title Titl,e
I1i,s7o'are-M atteft All ecting Title Con(Iititr) s M odif Ui, !
c
OwlLership Ttrsts-State HoI(Ls JlLlisdiatian. Col r nit!
PnDet rt-C. tt( i.itt! of Lan l 1itles N ecess(1 .
FIE history of titles {ulrlishes an acculate index to conmunity
glowth and development. Periods of plosperity and ad]rance-
rneni as well as occnsional r€cessions in activity ar.e clearly
reflected in the rccold. CoDsidered in a broad seDse.the data thus
made available furnishes vaiuable and autheDtic information to the
historian, the sLudeit and the philosopher',and illListlates rn a glrphic
say the steady march along the up$'ard trail $'hich, in a compara-
tively short period of time, has brought Califomia flom th€ status of
an lruknowl western frontier to the commanding position which it
no1l' holds in population, ri'ealth, resoulces and inRuences.
EAELY CALIFOIINIA TIALES
Paramount ownership and control of laDd is essentiall-van nttli-
bute of soveteignty. The attitude of ure governmerltal author'-
ities toward the disposition of la.rd is the."efore practically the deter'-
mining factol ir flxirg the light or pr.ivilege of the citizen to acquile
oqrnelship ir fee. Three dilTerent gover rents have succcssiveiy
ruled over this area. Spair, and late| X{exico, claiming by Iight of
discovery, sought to elfect peacelul conquest b]' colonization. The
principal featules of this plan $'ere the lounding and suppolt of the
missions, establish ent aDd mainteDance of pueblos and dispositior
of much of the arable land through plivate glants. These glants
were fr€queDUy nade in lecogrritior of distirguished serllce to thc
government, although ill other c:rsesthe obiect was to plomote setUe
ment and cultivatioi of the soil. llrdel such circumstances the grant
'was usually conditional upon perfolmance by the grantce oI celtain
lequired coDditions and irstall:rtiorl of such iDprovemeDts as nlight
bd prescribed.
Local administrators at the Missions, acting in an advisory
capacity to the govelDor, o girally exelcised a limited jurisdiction
ovel adjacent public lards. SecliladzatioD of the Missions deprived
these local administrators of much of the authorit. Dreviouslv exel.,

3. The R,"nltt/ I)llte Boak ol Caliial jtiu :?5
.:sed . ! j . , , d, r t i ! r d j , . r . . j , ^ " .f.o r r 1 . , r J, o j _
, r . r d , l , p. I r r s a s j , r . /
L
t r o l l F ., lr , l u - L l t , r l l . , l I i . , r " n . I . " ,' . r .' .: r. r, . l r , r ; , . i n . p r n n ; r , . r o
others.
l u " b l o . r , d " , . ^ r ! ! r ' a r . r n o t , - r , , r , i , r , :| , , t 1 , , . ^ r. .o . . n z p r , J ,
.
u s u aJ . r t f o l ,l 1 , r r J' u r , ' n r r , r ' i . , r - . d " , r . , j I U , j r . r r J i , r r r o o l , - r 1 j r .
r r
amountsrlt Dnprovenents. Altel sccuhr,;zalioll pucbio officers exer
c r l e dl a r ' : ' " t o . . s o ' r . - , r d : , ' L ( , r ' i l o , J . T . . . j r " , u $ F l l
o e a r o o r ' r r j r r u r i ^ r ' , t r rr | r n t . r r . l r r ^ r,i i I | . , ^ . , r . r i , | . r . r . r . -
there, in these_v:u.ious gr':r"nts, that certairi).of itcscription oi: touirA
ary noll cot:sidcr.edcssential. Such l.e|c ltre p|evliling colditioris
w ' r p . .u r , d . , . , r , . ' T r l , . i , , . , ; , , , t . t . , , di,'!.,;r; i i,,-.i Si.,"..
n d ' , r ' d , l o r r o ' . " I - 1 : : r , u u r r s i r r r .. . -
, 1.'.
10r.41' f r . " . .r I S r j r l pu r '
,
ORICINAL PA'IEN'I'S
Pur..i.r o i.i, -,,I u a^ ,pr'..- ,. L. I.a r-,,r..n:". or. .:r"
.
^ p t o r n r n . r , | | . r u r ' r t .', t . . . u ,, ^ . . , , . ii l r l o l j r . i L I d .
S":.rr
! J l l r e l o r ' n J f i o ' . J n p r . ' . . C I a ir r r
"
btr',or'llt " | . " " r , r , rjtrr p j .J l , p l r ; ! . i a r . ,
j 1 lo . d L r F I o n , , . s s . u ro r
d
. apfjrl L,irhc
r e o . r | , , u" ,i . i r{q r 1 , . r i
1 - , r .J : . . , d , t , , , - j i p , 5 . j . 1 .L . , i , r e r r r r _
ented. Thc renaiuirs pubtic i:rnds rvcle irr ctuc course
q t a ' "t r l ' i , . e , r . d ^ , 1 . u f
: r . . , , i . . I o , . f ";.r";;;.'th;; ; , : .
"bl',.";,,
rot.I j r g , . , t , l | - I - . . ,"t , 9 , . j r , t j r l : |I,jII u..r'ov,d ljrld-. ti!
,]a jth,a
vrtrun o
.rs ,npror:"rli u q . . j 1 ' . . i d F : , r . r l s! i r h i r r i t "
0 o r d . r s . s r t L , r Fl , n r d i i r i f ; t ! 'o rr.. c..t,a,.ror
r:St I of ,.on.rr.,.,., Jrd
RESDRVATION OI' PUBLIC LANDS
Both stale and leder'rl gorcr llcl)ts plovided by tegiFlative enact
melts l'alious nethods by qfiich citizens could acquile ti e to pubtic
lands. claDts by Colgr.ess in aid of tr.arscollti elltat rnitrcads;";r
r r r l t o u c i , d 5 _ o:t, r r s . F e d " , r l n r ' u r i " i o n o r . f u L i i . u " p ss u . a s
i
o r , a lp a f i ! , l o t a 5 i i c 5 p r r s i t ^ . ^ t r h t i o r . s o I r v ; r r p r . t r d p o r r . . r
n
-ra
ocver^ptcnl ,Id o f t , f l E , r 1 t u . j J s t , r . r s ^ . L r t . . . i r l . 9 " n t . p 2 s ,a s u b
:
srr.1t l purlior, of $l i.r, ,ill nrob.t,i | .p. I,a". i,,ro pri,ar,
a
. T h e A I F , . . r n D l a , ,o i ! - u n , m . r . t c o . t s r I. r t A t p : t r i r t , . a c l ,. r ^ 1 .
s h a t t h ^ v e p t A . . ' r ' I i . o , i r o l o . r r h a j r . t i s t r : o r . o $ , r , I . r l ^ ; 1 ,i,n . L . . r -
b m r c p . ' r : I n f a r , . d J . , . . . i . ^ n L t . , . o r r I . r : i.i r l r i ic bo.Lrar.. Lb_ s
J e c lo r l ) l o l h . p r , , s i o r , s o i a n ! . , " i r , - t , . e : l r rn o i x t . 2 s t h p s ; p r o -
v r so n s r ' 3 y f l n t r) . 11,ri).islr..rrt,ir']a aw nlrh" la||d,,,J;.nn_
s r q u 6 . r ' r r J t i . r . - . 1. . l l I . m
s r,t,r^5iji^... Or).iI 'i" i drr..,
1 l ? ) ' n l a ) r o . t g f p n sr ' l $ t l ' a s n " , t i o , h F . n r r j I t e r . . . T l . : s
L,rir,c.r,le
0 f g o ! e | n . r r e r ,il r l a r r r : l . o d L t l , I r r i t p dS . . .
' n I e . p n r L l n . ; s i o , r sl h ^ l d r s t p A t , . A , . . "" SLl,.am"r-oud
RECONDING
LAND OWNERSIIIP
The inpo'-taDce of indirldual or'Iership of JaDalas an ircerrtive to
l h e p o r 1 1 e n . n lu p b u r l d i | | gr r d i r . n | o v ^ . r r a r ,o , t h "
r $e., i,tr
r F r o g r T p d . I o p f o v r d ^ n t r e r n . i r , r p n rp u b l i . r p , o " d o f u u c r . y w n p r s h p
" o sn r t u

4. t-
Tht Ileall.! Bhc Boolr of CIlilrlnl L
ihc rerording system $;as first established and at a lalel' datc the r.eg'
istlation plaD irtroduced irl somejulisdictions.
'l'he r.ecolding st.stcm, established pliol to the forlr:riio! oi ihe
Union, may fajrll'be telnled the original Anretican systen and is iD
use in evell strtc. Thc basicDrirciple underlying this sIStcm is that
thelc shall be tr'rnsoibed ancl peunanentl! kept as :r public r'ecold in
thc nlarnel' Iequiled br lal' in sone designated public office copics o{
eyery tlansfcr', irlclrmbran(e, lien, judgrncnt ol declce all'ccting title
to propertl'arrd thlt there should also bc plepalecl and kept i such
ollice jDdices o{ everi' surh instlument, aDd. further', that these
records a d irdjces shall bc open to public iDspection at usual business
houls, thus affordirlg oppodunity to any interested Delson to ascel-
tain at anl'time the condition of thc r'ecor'd titlc to ary palticLrlal
propetty. Thc cost of such tlanscliption and indexing is bolnc br
the party lequestiDg the sel''ice, but the dutl of mnking nnd pcr'
nrrncnth pleser'ing such re(otd is a pubti( funclioD. Whcn so tran-
scljbed, the oligirlal Dapers rtc, err(ept in spe.iial cases. retulned to
the par.ties entitle.lthereto rnd the tra scribcd topr, rith theindices.
folms the public rccot'd.
THD RNGIS'TNATION SYSTDI{
Thc resishation sl'sten orisinated ir Ausllalia nnd was iil.st
used irl conti ental lhited States about thirir ]'eals ago. This sys-
tem has beel aptly described ns but anothel ncthod of transferring
title to property, although its advocatesstlenLrouslyn1aintain that its
scope is nuch broader'. It ap}rear'sto be based upon the theorf' thal.
the state owes a continuirg dutv to its citizens to issue,thlough desig
nated local authorities, ne'1{celtificates of title upon an)- tlalsfer of
ownership and likewise to sho,r.by endolsement or menloI.ial upon
any outst:urding cerlificatc the filing of .rny lierl ol incumblance
aflecling the land originall]'r'egisteled. fhdet this plan no Dapers
lelating to registered land are lecorded. They ate simpli' executed
arrd filed $'jth the Registl.ar for. pemarent retention and cannot be
Ie-delivered to the intelested palties as in the case of a lecolded
documert. lll oldel to nuke this systerr effertive the liegistlar's
celtificate with ils endorsementso| menor-ials must be conclusive and
firal upon the ghts of all parties. This is lreelr* conccdedboth by
advocates and opporerts of th€ system. This system has been gen-
el?lly usedirl,.1ndis probablr bettel adapledto, thosecour)tIies lvith-
out A written constitufion.
'I'I1I] 1ORRDNS SYSTDII
In 1897 the CaliforDi.! Legislaturc passed n 1a'of thjs ch:u actel
commonly called thc 'for.rers ]a.ti",which Nas IerI littlc used. The
present la$'is an nritiative meAsure xdopted by the electors in 1914.
Beins ar initiative measure it cannot be amended bl the legislatule.
The only method by which ary ch:uge or anlendment crn be effecied
is by adoption at ar election ol anothel initiatile nreasLtre. The Cali-
folnia Iaw provides that property sh:1llfimt be blc,ught Lrnderthe sys-
tem by an action in court, the detree in such :ctjon bei g the basis for
ffrst r€gistration.

5. ' l ' ) t I R r r I t . | | i 1 | B r , , l ; o i ( : L t L i f oj)t u t 27
IITONL]IIIS
I,.RI,' CAI,IFORNIA
FoI n co|sidc|ablel)er od lollo$irlf the ch:usc ot' ltrLg th{ro $N
much conlusionrnd urlrert.iiDt! fespe(iirg.'lilies. lfler' .r peljod
of militrrt. idministt:ltion nlrdel fcdcrxl corlrol. thf sfrt1] gotef'i
meDt$as olgnnizc.l rlnd inrnrodiatclradorrtc.lllre conrn)unil]'i)r'otl
€r1ysysteDr, then fir'mil est.rblished |)ns ustls! ur.t1)r'thelbnref
Lr
goyelnlnents.n{:1riIclninlsto priv.rtc land srnrts lvcrt fcjfctcd. Thr'
activityincideniio the discovelr'ol told Lr)|lshl DLlllrclo'-rs Ilolrlems.
quite nrLturallhat LLnder
It {",1s t[esc fi|runrstrnccs doul)ls nrcsc ns
to the sour.Lress tLr.l stabilltl'of titlcs to L!r.l rLrd nl :1r o.ult'drlc
abstlactols and eItnrir€r'sol titlc besnlrto iryeslisrLte 'lrrd jJ.lssupor)
thesufficiencl'ol thfsc. Folmolcth.u fiflt )caIS, irLconre(tioDNitlr
placlicall:' cver','tr:r.ns:1ct:orir],olvnlE cith€r' a salc ol incLLmbrtlnco
ol land i Calilolni.r, ihc Iccor'd title to thc plop{I i' inol'e.l h:Ls
beencarc{ullr-cx.Drnrcd. Pclhrps in no othc) st.rtehrs therc brerl
maintaiDed romplcte.l roror.t ol the litlc to 1r'rl Dr'o]]r.r't:
so .
,tssTE,{.(i'|S fl1Lil
01,
ID.1l1r'e.rlcsl.rteir,]lrsr(ti(r)s. rtrcthel ino1'injt purchnse of
loaDsupon the sccurit-v of lard, it h.1s bcen rcccss.u,-to s^tisfv thr
prospectivcpulchasel or nniestof ihnl the tiU. to thc plopeltx -as
good. In enrl) d.ils this 1,rsr conrt):urlt:!clt'sinrlr1e ploceediDg, as
examinationof but {cn-p:rpcls 1.asIcqui}cd and thelc was flequently
genelal colnnlunit]' knolvlcdge :rs to ownership of ln ds, thc popuh-
'l'he
tion then beirg mo]'e strble thnD rt t)r'eseDt. iDcl.e;rse in thr)
volume of r'ccor.ds lcndeled necess:lr'] sone conle|ierll for'rr {or l)re
sentingthe statlrsol lhe rerotd litle. This led to the ptepar':rtiolof
abstlacts. , plopell)- t)repar'edrbstlict of lille lrr'esentsan cpitonre
of all thc.sscntirl clenrents each o{ lhe secul recolded irlstlu
of
mentsrficcting the title io lL r)r1r'ticula!tr'r(ll ol l:r d, so th:rt un:rttot
ney can leadill' detomine by exrmiDirlior whethcl the lAlious con-
vey^nces and ircu lbunccs hrve been cor'r'ectly executed. whcther'
any colrIt plocccdings sho1'nh:u'e Leerrr'egular'l) Lrliel, 1.lretherany
liens disclosedhare been properl] srtisfi€d rnd ffo such €)iamin:t-
tion prepalc a opinion respectjDgthe cordition of the title. The r'ap-
idly ircrcasiDg lolrDDe ol rccords i.erds to render' lhe abstlact nore
exp€nsivc, both in DIep lrrior and horr ihe st dpoirrtof the attor-
nefs fec for' in opjnion rDor the l.itle.
(--Dlt1'lll(lAlll OI, TITLII
To n1eel this siluatio]l instrunrentscxliod cerUficrtes title 'erc
ol
ptepaled b]"Title ColnDanies. Th€sc rvere based upon exami ation b)
the Tille Conrpanl.of thc l.ecolrlspeltnining to the particular tlaci
and an oDirliorl bi'its attorncy or experienred €xalnilrer's as lo th€
effectof thes. r'ecoldsand $,ere,in Ixcl, suLstarrliallycquiv:rlenlto
the opinio of an attor|ey upon :rn abstHcL of litle. l'hese ccltificntes
ie]'e bliel ir lb|rn :Lnd €asiiy undelstood b]- the land orvner or
inveslor- Necessarily the]' dealt i'ith lhe fecord litle onlr rnd theil
lrt
value as a Dlotectionwas rneasured th,: finirrcial sirl)iliii of ihe

6. 2A TlLeRedtu Blue Boah aJ Cdifor'ttilt
TirLE rNSlrnANCE
Title insulance has bcen intlodrced $.ithin the pzrst fi{t.. yeals
and is now fir'mly establjshed. The fir'st companl' ras olganized at
Philadelphi.L Use of title iDsurarrce policies lras occasionedby the
growiDg valne of real eslAte, particul.4r'l) iD the largel conrmunities,
the necessit}'of plovidiDg adequate p|otectiol 1or pulchasels and
ienders !,!'hele the consider':rlion !:ls large and the comDlcxitics of
moden transrctions such as long time lenses, bond issues, tlusts,
buitdirg restlictiors, et(. The civil code ol Clli{or'nin plovides that
"Any wr'itten contlact oI irstlument pul.por.tjng to show
the title to reli Dlopelty. or ful ish infolmntion Ielative
thercto, {hich sh.rll in express telnls putport to insurc or
gualanteesuch tiUe or the cor'r:e(:lness such inlotmaiion,
of
shall be deemeda polict-of title irsulancc."
This leg:rl delinition of a polici' has beel uDheld Ly dccision oi
the SuDreme Coult-
A policy of title insur'ance is lhe Lnoadeslfolm of title plotectron
lhat can be {ur'nished. Companies tlnrsacting title insulance busi-
ness in Califolrria nle not onl)- undel supclvision oI the hrsLrr':rce
Commissioner ar)d lequiled io conduct their' business in stlict accoltl_
I ancc with the provisiorrs of lrw, but nust likel'isc Dlaintain .r gLtar-
anty filnd on depositriih the Si:rteTIcasuIel and nLlst rrlsotlccurnu
late a sur?lus furd equal to 25 per cent of theil capital. lssuancc of
any single policy ivith a liability irl cxcess of thc conlpany's adnlitted
assets tt'ohibitccibt lulins oi ihe lnsLruDCe
is Cornrrissioner'.
IIAATDFS AFIECTINC TITLE
Tlansfel of tiuc ol the closirg ot :1 lo:rl seens to urnnt pelsons
melely a routine matter. Foi lhe pl'otection ol the irvestor thele
should be gcner':rl recognition ol ihe firrlr)fial lisks involred unless
adequate precautions Lc obser"r'ed. Ilecor'ds of lhe laecorder''soifjce
wherc deeds,nmltg:rges and other llens.lfe r'ecolded (oi legisteled if
the title be under thc Tor'lens Act) .lnd of the Count]'Clclk's ollice
wheie suits, estates nnd judgrrerts mc lound, must be cxanrincd. If
the propertl'lies Nithir) a nltrnicipalitt- th€ local r'ecordsol that citt'
must:rlso bc examinc.llol assessmerlts, rhangesin stlccts and alleys
and othel rtter peculi.ul) rll1dellhc jlrrjsdi(tior o-l the nLrni(ipal
autholilies. Specinl districts mrT be forrled lor iIIis.Ltior, dlairage
or other puposes ith powel to ic']'nsscssnrenls tarrl'oul the
'fhe
to
purposes o{ theit or'ga ization. lccolds of some of thesc distficis
ar'c kept entilely aDAr{ honl couDty lecolds. Brnln uptcr Dloceedi gs
and lccleral liens llle disciosed bl. lcder'rl cour'l records- Impositio)r
of iDcone a d othel ledcral taxcs has cDolmoush' irclcased the 1'ol
ume ol lhese liers .hich h:l'c the folce and eficct of ,l judsrncnt and
(onstitute n gererrl l;cn upo all propeltt of the iudgmcrt dcblor'.
Properly pAssing LrI' rill or bt' the intestnte l:r$.s ol by an)
instrunent exe(uted in contenplntiol of lle:rtll, if i cxccss of cert:rin
mini um v:rlues, is subject to ar) inhelitan(e iax due ihe statc, which
tax is a lien until prjd. Plopelty sirnilarl:.passing, in cxccss the
i{ of

7. Tltc Rul.l lt Bl1t. Ronl; nl Celilt)r'nia 29
?he of $50,000.00. suliecl, to a Jederai
is estatetax, likewise a licrl
until paid. I?gislatidr no1'pending :li Vashingtor rvould, if en^cted
into lary. substarlti:rll:' irclcase the :1r1ourrt()f this tix. Public uiil-
ities undef lhe julisdirtjon o1 tho R^ilro.lt] Clmnission crLnnotscll
jn
any propelt:'r)ccessar'I pclJir.lnrncc of their' pLLblic duties oI erc
d cuterny notcs,mortglges oI trust dcedsexcept u der :Lr older ol thc
comnlissiorl, Nhich o|ricl' DrLrst c|)lrplic.l 1ith ir dcl.ril. Oiher ror
Lc
lorations olgarizcd fol pr'ofil. r'ith ccrt.lnl rnnror e.reptj.rns, cxrlnot
issue bondsexceptun(ler:rulho|itt_ .r pcr'lnit issLlcd tlll Col'Dolr
ol bt_
tion Connnissioncr,th. tcrnrs oI Nhi(h |clrnil nrust:rlso be lil.cfalb'
complied with.
Thele is Lrn(ler'lho trr'csortslstcnl Do .tir cct statc i:!r Lrpon].eal
pfopertl- Crlihrrjx. Trxes rr. lelicd upo Ie:1]plopcrl bv eaclr
in
city and couut!. Thc slaic levies r dilcct t.i upor publi.l utilities,
balks, i snlrncc rorrlprLnics nnd lhe IraDchise of genl]lil cofpor':rtions
orgaDized plolii, n'hich 1rx is Drl alrle nt Sxc]alirerlo :lriclis, Iikc
1or
locAl taxes,:1lien upor a]] pr-opellI on{]d b]'ihe respe(iile cofpor:l
tioDson the fir'st -uond^t of X'I:D'chi e:rh r'.:r'. Ijl this tax be not
paid the fL'n:rlt]'is dr'rlstic. Pl'ior'1l) 11)17 in|ohcd lorfciture ol
i1
chart.r. In c.rse ihc cor.polrtion '.is a Dublic utilit., i1 co,rlC noi,
nndelthc plovisionsol the corstitLrtioir, r'ostol'ed.Sin.c 1917 thc
be
lenalty is suspcnsion ot collnr'.rte |ower.s, ir addiiion to vhich the
lien still subsistsupor all p]'opelt) ol the cor'trorxtio . , shtc liccnsc
tax is nlso lcrierl LLpon thos. cor'Dolations orlr..:lnized plofit l.hich
lor
do not pa-v dilc(t stale t:Lr. T|is i.lri is lil.icrise lieJrupor all Drop-
i r
erty o$'red Lr]-thc collrcrrtion o]1 lhc lirst f'toDdrv in Junary. Pcn
alt)'ior'lailur'elo pa)-is suspcnsjon cofpolrLto
.f porers.lhe tax Ic-
mainir)g lien. In ilLe .ase o1 eiihc| of these sirLto
a tacs lh€re is no
locNllecofd ol prl']nent untjl scvcul lcolis :lftcl thc ii c Nhcn sus-
pensions h'1'.o.crr'f€d il thf lllri hns not irl lrct been]]:rid.
ao_Illl IONS MODlrl INC 0 -llnsHlP
Eshbtishrrerlt o{ zorins rcstli.rtio s l1rld s.t back lin.s is engas-
ing thc rtlcrltior o{ nruni(ip:rlrri.hoiiti€s. Acii iiies .tlors lhesc lincs
.ue no-bascdplincit.lllt-upon bload consi.lcr',itioI tub]ic .ellare.
01
hnil:Ltiors thus jnr]rosc.l lrLri u|orr llrc rse ol l)r'olier'lIaIe Druch
lr]'
mole coniprchcnsive rlrd 1'r' r'arfhir! ir elli,ct 1h.rI IoIrr]er'l) when
cxcl'cisc thc policc |o er':rs ljl1r;t.dchifllt. to plorision fo| public
L,f
hcalth rn.1 s:liclr. tj!.nru.1llI ilic .r)rlr,ts n)usi .lcternrinc to 1vh:1t
cxt€ntlhe ir.lilidLul r ighls (,1lh€ lxnd o$ ]lcI rrlc subor(li rle io (orr
munit'irt.r'cst l1n(lgrirclrl $elfrre.
liesllicliolrs.rordiiions ard (oeItrrrts imlosed in dcc(ls llrree
or
mentsto conlct' {. trr irrlporlrnt f:rctol iD.lcnlirlg !ith ].cal csilte.
These rrit' grerllt ir lireir st'ot)e.For'lur:rtel'thc lrighcr four'ls hrve
render'ed nunrlrcr'olhollrhrlde(isions(oristluing nlnnI oI l.hcse
a pr'(L
visioDs 11.hich oJ gr'.:Llrssisl.:tnre ,:lclcrDinirlg
?1r'c in tlcir'f1lect LLpon
l,ille:rrl(tLrDoll use or crr.io)
lhe nrert o1 lu d. Tlre irstrLrnrertirrr|os
iDg theselirDitaiionsir.{tLLeftlr Iix€-.t peliorl fol thcil tcl'nlirlation.
Coult decisiors:uc ir substancc thc rlrect that il r serclal pl:ln fo]'
to
nnprorenlent the i'rtilc sul)di!isi(,)r .l.loli€d, it .unnol be altercd
of is
ol nodified .ithout th( corscnt oJ thc on'ncrs of:1ll pr'oleltt'in the

8. ?,0 Thc Re(Ltt Rllte riook al Ctll;i.thirL
subrtivisidr. If, however',the l.ecold docs rrot shoy adoptjo| ol such :r
plar, then r1lodificatiorlsrrar bc nadc bv the plopelt-olvner and the
ox.ner'of thc lcvelsionaly light and the lesh:cti.rrs ol cc)|ditions
alTe(:lingr D:1r'ticular'lot rnay be charged, oI e.en abrogaled. !'ilhout
consert oll olher owrLels i11the sarne tr:Lct.
Resirictions, ronditions or coven,rnts inlposcd upo| lnDd br
plivntc deed or.rsleement havc no rclation to ol conrcction with
zoDirs oI set back lirresesirblishedby muricit)rl l€gul:ltiou. fhcsc
trvo methodsoi controlling ol nlodilyirg Lhe use ot Dlopert)-shonkl
not bc conlirsed. In sornecff.'s both:lppl)-;ir othels. ore o| pcih:lps
neither'. ]'hcir lequirenre,rtsale ]1ot necess:r'il)- sjlnil.u oI evell
harmonious,ne.ertheless, making imploveme|ts it is not safe lo
iI
dislesard thc prolisions oi c:ther-
TRtisls
Tlusts iu le:r] p|opertJ'n1ay lall-full!-bc cr'eit€d in Califorr)i,L
tor onll a limited rlumber of plrlposes. Use ol the wold "trusiee,"
rvithout olher.qu.rlificatiorl dealirlg with titles to real property,
in
is ill adfised. Notice rray thus be given of a tlust $'ithout disclos-
ing its scope, ol pulDosc, oI the powels o{ the tluslee. Conrnon la$.
tlusts so-called hrve been olganized irr lece|t treals es a srbstitute
for' colpolations. Much uncer'laiDty has been caused bt'lhe attempt
to tlansnct busincss thlough this nrediun, there beirg no spccific
provision ir the state la$' IoI such a plocedure.
S1'A'II' HOLDS JURISDTCTION
Oalilbrrria does not concede to the courts of anr'' othel statc
the Dowel to deal rilh lenl Dropelty within her bor'ders or. to dctcr'-
mine conflictiDg lights of litig:rnts to plopelty nr this state. If ihe
orvner' leal Dlopeltl'in C.lilornia dies, becomes
of insane ot incom-
l)etent, or. is :1minor, couit ploceedings for'(lealing with this ploperty
or detelmining the question of jts ownershiD or dist)osition must be
had hel'e.
COI{N'IUNITY PNOPFJR'T'Y
The eomlnurjty ploperty systeu in Califolria I1:1sbeen the
subject o{ rnany legisl:rtive changes:rnd of corsidelablc litigatiol.
Provisiorls of the conmunity pl'oDetty l.r$- relating to ]eal property
dilter substanti:rtly flom those aDplying oDly to per-soral pr.operty.
Decisions of the strte courts have consistently held thal the wile had
Do vested inier'est. ol iDdependentownelship, in cornmunitv plot)elty
duling the conljnuance of the m:lrital r.el:rtion. Fler' intier'csthas been
defined as a nlele expectarcv, sinila]. to that of a plospectivc heir,
but uDon the husb:rDd's death she inmedi.rtely slrcc€cds to the
ovnership oI a half intcresl in the conDruDity pr.oper.tv,subjecl to
administration.
The respective lights oi the spousesir1 conlmunity proDerty, botll
ieal and Delsonal, and the Iesulting po,!'cl ol control and d:sDositioD
are seldom conclusi.ely showr by the record, lnr.gely because the
record rarely discloseslrdat is, jn fact, conrmunity plopelty. Cer'tain
presumDtions are dcducible fiom the recol.d :rnd ar'c rlrade conclus''e

9. Tke RealtaBtue Book of Californin 31
]ra and protection of third pa ies who deal in good faith
Ine ue. There is, naturally, no presumiption between the
0Ils The status of thefu property is a question of fact, presum-
out to both. A vast amount of prope*y standing of record
js,
of only one of the spouses as a matter of fact, com-
by 'In everysuchcase, joint execution both spouses
by
)rty.
ith afiectingthe title to such ploperty is not only the
rtive way, but also the only 4bsolutely safe method of pro-
uld 'ere applies to both real artd personal prcpedy and to all
This
rps the property under consideration not sho$-nto be the
is
ren estate of one of the spouses.
to
.
CERTAINTYOF LAND TITLES NECESSARY
:ity of land titles is one of the requisites of civ;lization.
stability and celtainty of ownership real progr.ess and
cannot exist. It has been the pride ol Califomia that her
are home builders and home owners. Climatic and scenic
mmbined with vast national resourceshave been contrib-
)s- factorc toward the marvelousdevelopment. which is both an
on and a challengeto the future.
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