Merger Doctrine
Under the Merger Doctrine, if two or more consecutive estates vest in the same person, they merge into the greater estate and the lesser one is destroyed.
Doctrine of Worthier Title
Under the Doctrine of Worthier Title, an inter vivos gift of a remainder to the heirs of the grantor is void because a remainder does not go to the heirs until the owner’s death.
Rule of Shelly’s Case
Under the RULE OF SHELLEY’S CASE, the grantee of a life estate obtains a fee simple estate if the same document grants remainders for the same estate to the heirs of the grantee of the life estate.
