(a)(1)  No proceeding based upon any right of entry for condition broken or possibility of reverter to which a fee simple or fee simple determinable in land is subject, created before May 11, 1953, shall be maintained in any court after December 31, 1987, unless on or before December 31, 1987:

(i)  The condition has been broken or the reverter has occurred, and a person or persons having the right of entry or reverter shall have taken possession of the land, or;

(ii)  A person or persons having the right of entry, or who would have it if the condition were broken, or would be entitled to a right of entry if a reverter occurred or one of them if there be more than one, shall by himself or herself, or by his or her attorney, agent, guardian, conservator, or parent have filed in the town or city clerk’s office or recorder of deeds office for the town or city in which the land is situated, a statement in writing, duly sworn to, describing the land, the nature of the right, the deed or other instrument creating it, and where it may be found, and naming the person or persons appearing of record to own the fee subject to the right or possibility.

(2)  This statement shall be received and recorded upon payment of the fee required by law and shall be indexed in the grantor index under the person or persons named.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 34-4-24

  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.
  • Grantor: The person who establishes a trust and places property into it.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • in writing: include printing, engraving, lithographing, and photo-lithographing, and all other representations of words in letters of the usual form. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-16
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
  • town: may be construed to include city; the words "town council" include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9

(b)  This section shall apply to all rights described in subsection (a) whether or not the holder of the rights is under any disability or out of the state, and it shall apply notwithstanding any recitals in any recorded deed or other instrument unless a statement is filed as provided in subsection (a).

(c)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to extend the period of any other applicable statute of limitations, or to authorize the bringing of any proceeding to enforce any right which has been or may be barred by lapse of time or for any other reason.

History of Section.
P.L. 1981, ch. 109, § 1; P.L. 1982, ch. 236, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 524, § 1.