Grandparents inherit land from uncle

[alminor]

Jurisdiction

North Carolina

My grandparents have inherited land from my uncle who died. His will stated that he left all of his property both real and personal to his parents, my grandparents, "in equal shares, share and share alike." Does this mean that my grandparents own this property by tenancy by the entirety or by tenancy in common?

 

[army judge]

Does this mean that my grandparents own this property by tenancy by the entirety or by tenancy in common?

Without reading the deed, any response would simply be a guess.

However, as you are NOT one of the property owners, it doesn't affect you one iota.

That said, if you're so curious that you just must know with precision, trudge on down to the recorder's office and take a look for yourself.

These days, you can view that information online in many counties.

 

[zddoodah]

His will stated that he left all of his property both real and personal to his parents, my grandparents, "in equal shares, share and share alike." Does this mean that my grandparents own this property by tenancy by the entirety or by tenancy in common?

For starters, "share and share alike" is a term more commonly used by 10 year olds and surprising to find in a will. I'm guessing that means your uncle prepared the will himself and didn't use an attorney.

That said, whether your grandparents own the property as tenants by the entirety or as tenants in common (or something else) is determined by the language of the deed by which title was transferred to them by the executor of your uncle's estate. Unfortunately, you didn't tell us anything about what the deed says.

If you're asking whether the quoted language in your uncle's will requires or required the executor to specify a particular manner of joint ownership in the deed, the answer is that it does not. The executor was/is free to state whatever manner of joint ownership your grandparents want(ed).

 

[cynthiag]

People use some weird wording when they write their own wills, it seems, like the "share and share alike".

I knew somebody who put in his will that he was "of sound body, mind and soul". I've never figured out how the state of your soul would enter into the equation legally, no matter what you believe happens when you die.