A mаn аnd а wоman lived tоgether fоr many years, but never married. The state in which they lived did not recognize common law marriages. One day, the man went with the woman to his bank and showed her a deed to a hotel he owned. The deed was properly executed and named the woman as grantee. The man handed the deed back to the banker, stating, “When I die you are to give the deed to her.” The banker accepted the deed, and assured the woman that he would handle everything. A few months later, the man and the woman had a violent quarrel. The man prevailed on the banker to return the deed. In a suit by the woman against the man to establish her claim to an interest in the hotel, what is the likely result?
Steve аnd Alfоnsо hаd been best friends fоr over forty yeаrs. Alfonso turned fifty and Steve wanted to give his best friend a surprise birthday present. Alfonso had always loved Steve’s residence by the sea (Seabreeze) and often jokingly pleaded for Steve to sell it to him. Steve signed a deed conveying Seabreeze to Alfonso, however when he went to Alfonso’s apartment to hand it to him, he learned that Alfonso had taken a two-week vacation to South America. Steve pushed the deed under Alfonso’s door and left. Several days later, Alfonso returned. He picked up the deed, chuckled a bit, and then called Steve on the phone, saying, “My friend, thanks so much for thinking of me! It’s a wonderful present, but unfortunately, I can’t even afford the taxes on the property, let alone the maintenance costs. Sorry, I can’t take it, Seabreeze is still yours.” Which of the following statements is correct?