estates. An agreement or coincidence of certain qualities in the title of a joint estate or an estate in common. 2. In a joint estate there must exist four unities; that of interest, for a joint-tenant cannot be entitled to one period of duration or quantity of interest in lands, and the other to a different; one cannot be tenant for life, and the other for years: that of title, and therefore their estate must be created by one and, the same act; that of time, for their estates must be vested at one and the same period, as well as by one and the same title; and lastly, the unity of possession: hence joint-tenants are seised per my et per tout, or by the half or moiety and by all: that is, each of them has an entire possession, as well of every parcel as of the whole. 3. Coparceners must have the unities of interest, title, and possession. 4. In tenancies in common, the unity of possession is alone required.
Law Dictionary – Alternative Legal Definition
In the law of estates. The peculiar characteristic of an estate held by several in joint tenancy, and which is fourfold, viz., unity of interest, unity of title, unity of time, and unity of possession. In other words, joint tenants have one and the same interest accruing by one and the same conveyance, commencing at one and the same time, and held by one and the same undivided’possession. 2 Bl. Comm. 180. Unity of interest. This term is applied to joint tenants, to signify that no one of them can have a greater interest in the property than each of the others, while, in the case of tenants in common, one of them may have a larger Share than any of the others. Williams, Real Prop. 134, 139. Unity of possession. Joint possession of two rights by several titles. As if I take a lease of land from a person at a certain rent, and afterwards I buy the fee simple of such land, by this I acquire unity of possession, by which the lease is extinguished. Cowell; Brown. It is also one of the essential properties of a joint estate, each of the tenants having the entire possession as well of every parcel as of the whole. 2 Bl. Comm. 182. Unity of seisin is where a person seised of land which is subject to an easement, profit & prender, or similar right, also becomes seised of the land to which the easement or other right is annexed. Sweet. Unity of time. One of the essential properties of a joint estate; the estates of the tenants being vested at one and the same period. 2 Bl. Comm. 181. Unity of title is applied to joint tenants, to signify that they hold their property by one and the same title, While tenants in common may take property by several titles. Williams, Real Prop. 134. Unins omnino testis responslo non an diatnr. The answer of one witness shall not be heard at all; the testimony of a single witness shall not be admitted under any circumstances. A maxim of the civil and canon law. Cod. 4, 20, 9; 3 Bl. Comm. 370; Best, Ev. p. 426,