内容简介
本书的内容分为三个部分。第一部分是关于美国财产法所承认的不动产权益。美国的财产法认为，不动产权所有人所拥有的并不是土地本身，而是对于土地的产权（estate）。这些土地产权主要包括非限定继承不动产（fee simple）、限嗣继承不动产（fee tail）、终身产权（life estate）、未来权益（future interests）、定期租赁（tenancy for years）、定期续租（periodic tenancy）、不定期租赁（tenancy at will）等等；还包括不动产的几种共同所有形式以及地役权（easements）、随土地转移的约定（covenants running with land）和基于衡平法的地役权（equitable servitudes）。
第二部分是关于不动产的转让。由于土地的特殊性以及土地产权的复杂性，它的转让也是由和动产的转让不同的规则来约束的。这里主要涉及土地权益买卖双方的权益问题、土地权益的登记制度以及不动产抵押贷款。
第三部分是关于财产法的一些其他题目，主要是两大块。第一块是涉及一些传统的普通法原则，如土地产权所有人对空间、水源的权利和相邻土地的支撑权，关于不动产上的固定附着物（fixture）的问题，妨害（nuisance）问题等等。另一块是政府对于土地使用管理。
如前所述，本书的作者为我们勾画了一幅关于美国财产法的清晰图画。但是，对于我们而言，更重要的事情不是仅仅理解这些规则，而是理解这些规则背后的道理。具体的规则常常是不能移植的，但是规则背后的道理却可以有启发和借鉴的作用。
第二部分是关于不动产的转让。由于土地的特殊性以及土地产权的复杂性，它的转让也是由和动产的转让不同的规则来约束的。这里主要涉及土地权益买卖双方的权益问题、土地权益的登记制度以及不动产抵押贷款。
第三部分是关于财产法的一些其他题目，主要是两大块。第一块是涉及一些传统的普通法原则，如土地产权所有人对空间、水源的权利和相邻土地的支撑权，关于不动产上的固定附着物（fixture）的问题，妨害（nuisance）问题等等。另一块是政府对于土地使用管理。
如前所述，本书的作者为我们勾画了一幅关于美国财产法的清晰图画。但是，对于我们而言，更重要的事情不是仅仅理解这些规则，而是理解这些规则背后的道理。具体的规则常常是不能移植的，但是规则背后的道理却可以有启发和借鉴的作用。
编辑推荐
本书是法律出版社“美国法精要·影印本”系列图书之一，由美国富有教学经验的法学院教授执笔，在短短的篇幅内介绍了美国财产法方面不动产的基本情况，相关主要法规和重点案例。通过阅读本书可以了解和掌握美国法律的精义。本书在美国深受欢迎，中国读者可以从本书中获得有关美国法律的大量知识，并提高法律英语水平。
媒体推荐
总 序
总 序
许传玺
在美国法律教育界与律师实务界，这套“美国法精要”(Nutshell Series)是颇具特色的一套小书。这套书最突出的特点当推它们的简捷明快、深入浅出。每种书均由富有教学经验的法学院教授执笔，在三、四百页的篇幅内集中介绍某一法律部门的基本原理、主要法规和重点案例。
由于这些特点，这套丛书受到了无数美国读者的欢迎和喜爱。众多法学院的学生将这套书作为课外的辅助教材，由此掌握美国各主要部门法的精义。执业律师也经常借助这套书，以迅速了解自己尚未熟习的某些部门法，或者温习过去曾经学过的某些课程。
相信这套书也能赢得国内读者的欢迎。无论是法律专业的本科生、研究生，还是执业律师或其他人士，都能从这套丛书中获得有关美国法律的大量知识，对自己的学习和工作有所助益。此外，通过阅读原汁原味的英文来学习美国法律也应能提高读者的法律英语水平，促进与美国同行的对话和交流。
应原出版者的要求，这套丛书的国内版增加了中文前言，以介绍美国部门法的概况、每种书的内容及原书作者。这些前言作者都是在美国受过专业教育或从事专门研究的中国法律学者甚或专家。相信他们的介绍会对读者有所帮助。
Happy reading!
1999年4月
于哈佛法学院
总 序
许传玺
在美国法律教育界与律师实务界，这套“美国法精要”(Nutshell Series)是颇具特色的一套小书。这套书最突出的特点当推它们的简捷明快、深入浅出。每种书均由富有教学经验的法学院教授执笔，在三、四百页的篇幅内集中介绍某一法律部门的基本原理、主要法规和重点案例。
由于这些特点，这套丛书受到了无数美国读者的欢迎和喜爱。众多法学院的学生将这套书作为课外的辅助教材，由此掌握美国各主要部门法的精义。执业律师也经常借助这套书，以迅速了解自己尚未熟习的某些部门法，或者温习过去曾经学过的某些课程。
相信这套书也能赢得国内读者的欢迎。无论是法律专业的本科生、研究生，还是执业律师或其他人士，都能从这套丛书中获得有关美国法律的大量知识，对自己的学习和工作有所助益。此外，通过阅读原汁原味的英文来学习美国法律也应能提高读者的法律英语水平，促进与美国同行的对话和交流。
应原出版者的要求，这套丛书的国内版增加了中文前言，以介绍美国部门法的概况、每种书的内容及原书作者。这些前言作者都是在美国受过专业教育或从事专门研究的中国法律学者甚或专家。相信他们的介绍会对读者有所帮助。
Happy reading!
1999年4月
于哈佛法学院
作者简介
作者：（美国）罗杰·H·伯恩哈特 （美国）安·M·伯克哈特
罗杰·H·伯恩哈特 毕业于芝加哥大学法学院，现任教于金门大学法学院，主要研究兴趣是不动产开发以及公司法和商业法。作为加州不动产法律方面的专家，伯恩哈特教授在不动产抵押贷款以及不动产融资方面多有著述。安·M·伯克哈特 早年从普渡大学获理学士和理学硕士学位，并从伊利诺依法学院获得法博士学位曾任法官助手和律师，于1982年加入明尼苏达大学法学院，并于1989-1991年期间担任该院副院长。她教授的课程有财产法，不动产融资与开发，土地使用规划和比较财产法。
罗杰·H·伯恩哈特 毕业于芝加哥大学法学院，现任教于金门大学法学院，主要研究兴趣是不动产开发以及公司法和商业法。作为加州不动产法律方面的专家，伯恩哈特教授在不动产抵押贷款以及不动产融资方面多有著述。安·M·伯克哈特 早年从普渡大学获理学士和理学硕士学位，并从伊利诺依法学院获得法博士学位曾任法官助手和律师，于1982年加入明尼苏达大学法学院，并于1989-1991年期间担任该院副院长。她教授的课程有财产法，不动产融资与开发，土地使用规划和比较财产法。
目录
OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION^……………………………………Ⅲ
TABLE OF CASE………………………………………XLIX
PART ONE. INTERESTS IN LAND
Chapter One. Possession and Ownership
I. Possession of Unowned and Owned Per-
sonal Property
A. Unowned Personal Property
1. Rights of Possessors
2. Rival PoSsessors
3. What Constitutes Possession
B. Owned Goods
1. Types of Possessors
2. Duty to Return
3. Duty of Care
4. Exculpatory and Limitation of Liability Clauses
5. Possessors' Rights Against Others
6. Landowner's Claims
a. Status of the Finder
b. Status of the Premises
I. Possession of Unowned and Owned Personal Property--Continued
c. Status of the Land BasedClaim
d. Where the Goods are Found
e. How the Goods came to be
There
7. Modern Status
Ⅱ. Gifts 11
A. Inter Vivos Gifts
1. Intent
a. Effect of Conditions on theTransfer
b. Circumstances Surrounding
the Gift 13
c. Effect of Donor's Retention of
Rights 13
2. Delivery 14
a. Types of Delivery 15
(1) Actual Delivery 15
(2) Constructive and Symbolic Delivery 15
b. Delivery to Third Parties
3. Acceptance
……
INTRODUCTION^……………………………………Ⅲ
TABLE OF CASE………………………………………XLIX
PART ONE. INTERESTS IN LAND
Chapter One. Possession and Ownership
I. Possession of Unowned and Owned Per-
sonal Property
A. Unowned Personal Property
1. Rights of Possessors
2. Rival PoSsessors
3. What Constitutes Possession
B. Owned Goods
1. Types of Possessors
2. Duty to Return
3. Duty of Care
4. Exculpatory and Limitation of Liability Clauses
5. Possessors' Rights Against Others
6. Landowner's Claims
a. Status of the Finder
b. Status of the Premises
I. Possession of Unowned and Owned Personal Property--Continued
c. Status of the Land BasedClaim
d. Where the Goods are Found
e. How the Goods came to be
There
7. Modern Status
Ⅱ. Gifts 11
A. Inter Vivos Gifts
1. Intent
a. Effect of Conditions on theTransfer
b. Circumstances Surrounding
the Gift 13
c. Effect of Donor's Retention of
Rights 13
2. Delivery 14
a. Types of Delivery 15
(1) Actual Delivery 15
(2) Constructive and Symbolic Delivery 15
b. Delivery to Third Parties
3. Acceptance
……
文摘
书摘
B. FREEHOLD v. NONFREEHOLD
ESTATES--SEISIN
The fee simple, fee tail, and life estate are called freehold estates; the tenancy for years and the periodic tenancy are nonfreehold estates. The time for termination of freehold estates cannot be precisely determined in advance because death (with or without heirs) is always the terminating event. In contrast,
nonfreehold estates terminate on or before an ascertainable date.
The need for distinguishing between freehold and nonfreehold estates derived from the common law concept of seisin. The holder of a freehold estate had
seisin (i.e. was seised of the land), whereas the holder of a nonfreehold estate had possession but not seisin. In England, all land titles came from the monarch,
either directly to the possessor or by way of intermediate lords. The holder of a freehold estate owed certain services to the overlord, somewhat equivalent to mod-
ern rent or property taxes.
C. CREATION OF ESTATES
(CREATING WORDS)
1. Fee Simple---“To Bob and his Heirs”
At common law, the only language that could create a fee simple was a grant to the transferee “and his heirs.” “And his heirs” was the grantor's way of
indicating that the estate was inheritable by the grantee's heirs. However, this language does not directly give anything to the heirs. They do not share the estate with the transferee and have no interest of their own from this conveyance. The words “and his heirs” are “words of limitation,” which designate the
estate as being inheritable, rather than "words of purchase," which designate the taker. Today, the requirement of such special words of limitation to create
fee simple has been abolished in virtually every jurisdiction and has been replaced by a statutory presumption in favor of the fee simple estate.
B. FREEHOLD v. NONFREEHOLD
ESTATES--SEISIN
The fee simple, fee tail, and life estate are called freehold estates; the tenancy for years and the periodic tenancy are nonfreehold estates. The time for termination of freehold estates cannot be precisely determined in advance because death (with or without heirs) is always the terminating event. In contrast,
nonfreehold estates terminate on or before an ascertainable date.
The need for distinguishing between freehold and nonfreehold estates derived from the common law concept of seisin. The holder of a freehold estate had
seisin (i.e. was seised of the land), whereas the holder of a nonfreehold estate had possession but not seisin. In England, all land titles came from the monarch,
either directly to the possessor or by way of intermediate lords. The holder of a freehold estate owed certain services to the overlord, somewhat equivalent to mod-
ern rent or property taxes.
C. CREATION OF ESTATES
(CREATING WORDS)
1. Fee Simple---“To Bob and his Heirs”
At common law, the only language that could create a fee simple was a grant to the transferee “and his heirs.” “And his heirs” was the grantor's way of
indicating that the estate was inheritable by the grantee's heirs. However, this language does not directly give anything to the heirs. They do not share the estate with the transferee and have no interest of their own from this conveyance. The words “and his heirs” are “words of limitation,” which designate the
estate as being inheritable, rather than "words of purchase," which designate the taker. Today, the requirement of such special words of limitation to create
fee simple has been abolished in virtually every jurisdiction and has been replaced by a statutory presumption in favor of the fee simple estate.
