Legal and Equitable Interests in Land: Interactive Learning Quizzes

Question 1

Which of the following statements about equitable interests in land is incorrect?

Accepted Answer

They must be transferred by way of a deed.

Answer

They are enforceable against third parties with actual notice.

Answer

They can be created by a contract.

Answer

They are binding on the conscience of the holder of the legal estate.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a defining characteristic of a legal interest in land under English law?

Accepted Answer

Creation through equitable doctrines

Answer

Recognition by common law courts

Answer

Enforceability in rem

Answer

Priority over equitable interests

Question 3

Which of the following statements accurately describes the transfer of legal interests in land?

Accepted Answer

Transferable by deed or by operation of law

Answer

Transferable by assignment or by operation of law

Answer

Transferable by assignment only

Answer

Transferable by operation of law only

Question 4

Which type of trust arises automatically by operation of law?

Accepted Answer

Resulting trust

Answer

Express trust

Answer

Implied trust

Answer

Constructive trust

Question 5

The Land Registration Act 2002 introduced:

Accepted Answer

A system of mandatory registration of title to land

Answer

A system of voluntary registration of title to land

Answer

A system of registration of deeds

Answer

A system of registration of charges

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a legal interest in land?

Accepted Answer

Can be transferred without a deed

Answer

Enforceable against anyone with an interest in the land

Answer

Can be created through a deed

Answer

Binds successor owners of the land

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a potential remedy for breach of a restrictive covenant?

Accepted Answer

Forfeiture

Answer

Injunction

Answer

Damages

Answer

Specific performance

Question 8

When a property is transferred to one person, but the purchase price is paid by another, a resulting trust is presumed to arise. True or False?

Accepted Answer

True

Answer

False

Question 9

Which characteristic does NOT apply to a legal interest in land?

Accepted Answer

Exists only in equity

Answer

Enforceable against all persons

Answer

Created by a deed

Answer

Protected by legal remedies

Question 10

How is a legal leasehold estate typically created?

Accepted Answer

By a deed of conveyance

Answer

By a written agreement

Answer

By adverse possession

Answer

By registration with the Land Registry

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a type of equitable interest in land?

Accepted Answer

Legal leases

Answer

Trusts

Answer

Equitable easements

Answer

Equitable mortgages

Question 12

What is the principle of tacking as it relates to equitable interests?

Accepted Answer

A later equitable interest can gain priority over an earlier equitable interest if acquired in good faith and without notice of the earlier interest

Answer

An equitable interest can be extinguished by the subsequent acquisition of a legal interest

Answer

Equitable interests with the same priority rank equally

Answer

The earlier equitable interest in time always has priority

Question 13

Which of the following statements best describes the doctrine of notice?

Accepted Answer

A person is considered to have notice of something if they are aware of it or should reasonably have been aware of it

Answer

A person can avoid the effects of notice by deliberately choosing to remain ignorant

Answer

Notice must be given in writing to be legally effective

Answer

Actual notice is always more significant than constructive notice

Question 14

Which of the following is **not** a characteristic of a legal interest in land?

Accepted Answer

Can be transferred by a simple contract

Answer

Can be created by a deed

Answer

Enforceable against third parties

Answer

Binding on successors in title

Question 15

What is the doctrine of notice, as it applies to land law in **England and Wales**?

Accepted Answer

Protects purchasers of land without notice of any equitable interests

Answer

Allows equitable interests to bind third parties, even if they have no notice of them

Answer

Prevents legal interests in land from being overridden by equitable interests

Answer

Requires purchasers of land to conduct a full title search

Question 16

Which method is NOT used to transfer equitable interests in land?

Accepted Answer

Registration

Answer

Assignment

Answer

Subrogation

Answer

Equitable mortgage

Question 17

Who has priority over an equitable interest in land if they have purchased the land for value without notice of the equitable interest?

Accepted Answer

The purchaser

Answer

The holder of the equitable interest

Answer

The holder of the legal interest

Answer

Neither the holder of the equitable or legal interest

Question 18

In the case of a trust, who has the legal title to the trust property?

Accepted Answer

The trustee

Answer

The beneficiary

Answer

The settlor

Answer

The court

Question 19

What is the priority rule for equitable interests in land?

Accepted Answer

First in time, first in right

Answer

Last in time, first in right

Question 20

What is the difference between a fee simple and a life estate?

Accepted Answer

A fee simple is an estate of indefinite duration, while a life estate ends upon the death of the life tenant.

Answer

Question 21

Which of the following is NOT a right attached to a freehold estate?

Accepted Answer

The right to use the land for any purpose

Answer

The right to possess the land

Answer

The right to transfer the land

Question 22

What is the effect of a restrictive covenant on land?

Accepted Answer

It creates a negative obligation on the landowner not to do something on their land.

Answer

Question 23

What is the doctrine of merger in relation to legal interests in land?

Accepted Answer

When two or more estates in land are held by the same person, the lesser estate merges into the greater estate.

Answer

Question 24

Which of the following is the most comprehensive bundle of rights and privileges in land?

Accepted Answer

Estate in fee simple

Answer

Life estate

Answer

Leasehold interest

Answer

Equitable interest

Question 25

What is the primary method of transferring a legal interest in land?

Accepted Answer

Deed

Answer

Will

Answer

Prescription

Answer

Operation of law

Question 26

What is the doctrine of overreaching?

Accepted Answer

Allows a purchaser to acquire a legal estate free from equitable interests

Answer

Protects bona fide purchasers of land from equitable interests

Answer

Prevents the creation of equitable interests in registered land

Answer

Applies to all purchases of land, regardless of whether the land is registered

Question 27

What is the primary purpose of an easement in land law?

Accepted Answer

Grant specific rights to use or access neighboring land.

Answer

Transfer ownership of land permanently.

Answer

Restrict or prohibit activities on a specific land parcel.

Answer

Ensure equitable distribution of land resources.

Question 28

An equitable lease is typically created by:

Accepted Answer

A contract for a lease.

Answer

Registration at the Land Registry.

Answer

A deed.

Answer

Prescription.

Question 29

How can an equitable interest be protected against a bona fide purchaser for value without notice?

Accepted Answer

Registration as a land charge.

Answer

Giving notice to the purchaser.

Answer

A restrictive covenant.

Answer

Possession of the land.

Question 30

Which of the following is the most accurate definition of an easement?

Accepted Answer

A right to use or enjoy another person's land for a specific purpose.

Answer

A right to possess and occupy another person's land.

Answer

A right to transfer or sell another person's land.

Question 31

The primary purpose of a restrictive covenant is to:

Accepted Answer

Limit the use or development of land.

Answer

Create a right to use or enjoy another person's land.

Answer

Transfer the ownership of land from one person to another.

Answer

Grant a right to exclude all others from another person's land.

Question 32

Which landmark case established that a restrictive covenant can bind successors in title of the covenantor?

Accepted Answer

Tulk v Moxhay

Answer

Williams v Allen

Answer

Stocker v Wedderburn

Question 33

Which of the following is an example of a freehold estate?

Accepted Answer

Fee simple absolute.

Answer

Equitable life interest.

Answer

Tenancy in common.

Answer

Leasehold estate for years.

Question 34

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a legal interest in land?

Accepted Answer

It cannot be enforced against a bona fide purchaser for value without notice.

Answer

It is recognized by both common law and equity.

Answer

It can be transferred by deed.

Question 35

Which of the following methods can create an equitable interest in land?

Accepted Answer

An express trust

Answer

A registered conveyance

Answer

A statutory grant

Answer

A lease for a term of more than three years

Question 36

What is the effect of the doctrine of notice on the priority of interests in land?

Accepted Answer

A bona fide purchaser for value without notice takes priority over a prior equitable interest.

Answer

A legal interest always takes priority over an equitable interest.

Answer

An equitable interest always takes priority over a legal interest.

Question 37

What is the purpose of the Land Registration Act 2002?

Accepted Answer

To create a register of legal interests in land in England and Wales.

Answer

To abolish the distinction between legal and equitable interests.

Answer

To provide a system of compulsory registration of all interests in land.

Question 38

Which of the following is a type of implied trust?

Accepted Answer

Resulting trust

Answer

Express trust

Answer

Unit trust

Answer

Charitable trust

Question 39

What is the difference between a fee simple and a fee tail?

Accepted Answer

A fee simple is an absolute interest in land, while a fee tail is an interest that is limited to a particular line of descendants.

Answer

A fee simple can only be held by individuals, while a fee tail can be held by both individuals and corporations.

Question 40

What is the effect of a trust of land on the legal estate?

Accepted Answer

The legal estate is held by the trustees on trust for the beneficiaries.

Answer

The legal estate is extinguished.

Answer

The legal estate is transferred to the beneficiaries.

Question 41

Which of the following is NOT a type of easement?

Accepted Answer

Easement in gross

Answer

Easement by prescription

Answer

Easement appurtenant

Answer

Easement by necessity