Page images
PDF
EPUB

fifteen, shall be good and effectual to bar all claim on her part to dower in the lands described therein, situated in the District, although she shall not have executed the same.]

Sec. 518. POWER OF ATTORNEY BY MARRIED WOMAN.-When the power of attorney mentioned in section five hundred and fifteen [is] was executed by a married woman, the same shall be effectual and sufficient if there is such an acknowledgment of the same as would be sufficient, under the provisions of [this chapter] section five hundred and sixteen, to pass her estate and interest therein were she a party executing the deed of conveyance.

Sec. 519. RECORD OF DEEDS AS EVIDENCE. The record or a copy thereof of any deed recorded, as mentioned in sections five hundred and fifteen and five hundred and sixteen, shall be evidence thereof, in the same manner and shall have the same effect as if such deed had been originally executed, acknowledged, and recorded according to law. Act of June 30, 1902.

[Sec. 519. RECORD OF DEED AS EVIDENCE.-The record and copy thereof of any deed recorded, as mentioned in section five hundred and fifteen, shall be evidence thereof, in the same manner and shall have the same effect as if such deed had been originally executed, acknowledged, and recorded according to law.]

Sec. 520. [The] In all cases of deeds executed and acknowledged prior to the adoption of this code, the acts of Congress approved May thirtyfirst, eighteen hundred and thirty-two, and April twentieth, eighteen hundred and thirty-eight, in reference to the acknowledgment and recording of deeds of lands situated in the District, shall be taken and construed as cumulative with the acts of Maryland on the same subject in force in the District at the passage thereof, and an acknowledgment made and certified in compliance with any one of said acts, and before any officer authorized by either of said acts to take an acknowledgment, whether in or out of the District, shall be good and effectual.

Subchapter II. MORTGAGES AND DEEDS OF TRUST OF REAL

PROPERTY.

Sec. 521. TO BE RECORDED. Mortgages and deeds of trust to secure debts, conveying any estate in land, shall be executed and may be acknowledged and recorded in the same manner as absolute deeds; and they shall take effect both as between the parties thereto and as to others, bona fide purchasers and mortgagees and creditors, in the same manner and under the same conditions as absolute deeds.-Act of June 30, 1902.

[Sec. 521. TO BE RECORDED.—Mortgages and deeds of trust to secure debts, conveying any estate in land, in order to be effectual, shall be executed and recorded in the same manner as absolute deeds; and they shall take effect and pass title to the property conveyed, both as between the parties thereto and as to others, bona fide purchasers and mortgagees and creditors, in the same manner and under the same conditions as absolute deeds.]

Sec. 522. ESTATE OF TRUSTEE.-The legal estate conveyed to a mortgagee, his heirs and assigns, or to a trustee to secure a debt, his heirs and assigns, shall be construed and held to be a qualified fee simple, determinable upon the release of the mortgage or deed of trust, as hereinafter provided, or the appointment of a new trustee by judicial decree for the causes hereinafter mentioned: Provided, That nothing in this section contained shall prevent the passing of an absolute and unqualified estate in fee-simple under a deed made by the

mortgagee or trustee in pursuance of the powers conferred by the mortgage or deed of trust.

Sec. 523. HOW TO BE RECORDED. -It shall be the duty of the recorder of deeds to record all such mortgages and deeds of trust in the same manner as absolute deeds.-Act of June 30, 1902.

[Sec. 523. How TO BE RECORDED.-It shall be the duty of the recorder of deeds to record all such mortgages and deeds of trust in the same manner as absolute deeds, and, after each mortgage, to leave a blank space wherein may be recorded any assignment or release of said mortgage.]

[Sec. 524. ASSIGNEES.-The assignee or indorsee of any note, bond, or other instrument binding to the payment of money, secured by any mortgage or deed of trust, shall have the same benefit of said mortgage or deed of trust, and shall be entitled to the same remedies for enforcing or foreclosing the same that the original creditor named therein would have in the absence of any indorsement or assignment of the instrument secured.]

[Sec. 525. ASSIGNMENT.-Whenever the note or notes, bond or bonds, or other instruments for the payment of money, secured by mortgage, shall be indorsed or assigned by the original creditor holding the same, the said mortgage may also be assigned by such creditor to any person holding the notes or other instruments secured thereby, and any such assignee of said mortgage may, in like manner, assign to others.]

[Sec. 526. The said assignment may be written on the said mortgage in the following or equivalent form:

I hereby assign the within (or above) mortgage to as security for the (here describe the instruments) therein mentioned, which is (or are) indorsed (or assigned) to him. Witness my hand and seal this.... day of Witness:

[Seal.]]

[Sec. 527. Every such assignment provided for in section five hundred and twentysix aforesaid may be recorded at or near the foot of the said mortgage, in the blank space directed to be reserved therefor, as aforesaid, and such record shall have the same effect as notice to all persons dealing with the property embraced in said mortgage which is allowed by law to the record of the mortgage.]

[Sec. 528. RELEASE. -A release of a mortgage may be made by the original creditor who is the holder of the note or notes or other instruments secured thereby, or by any assignee of said notes or other instruments to whom said mortgage may also have been assigned, in the following or an equivalent form:

I hereby release the above (or within) mortgage.
Witness my hand and seal this.... day of

Witness:

[Seal.]

And said release may be acknowledged before any officer authorized to take the acknowledgment of deeds in the following or equivalent form namely: Acknowledged before me this day of

C D, Notary Public.]

[Sec. 529. Said release may be written on the original mortgage, and upon said mortgage, with the release thereon written, being filed in the office of the recorder of deeds, he shall record said release in the blank space to be reserved as aforesaid, or in the margin of said record, and index the same, and said mortgage shall be retained in his office and not be allowed to be again withdrawn therefrom.]

[Sec. 530. Every person whose property is subject to a mortgage given to secure a note or notes, bond or bonds, or other instruments binding to the payment of money, shall be entitled, on payment or tender of the full amount of the debt, at or after its maturity, to the creditor entitled to the same, if he is the original creditor, or is the assignee of said mortgage, to have said mortgage surrendered to him, unless the same shall have been lost or destroyed, and to have said mortgage released by the creditor holding the same, in the manner above mentioned.]

[Sec. 531. If the debt secured by mortgage shall be assigned, but the mortgage shall not be assigned to the holder of said debt, or if the original mortgage having been assigned shall be lost or destroyed, the owner of the incumbered property, on payment of the debt, shall be entitled to a deed of release from the mortgagee; and in no other case where the mortgage has been assigned by the original creditor secured thereby shall the original mortgagee be authorized to execute a deed of release.]

[Sec. 532. A release made as provided in the foregoing sections by the original creditor holding a mortgage for the security of a debt, or by any indorsee or assignee

[ocr errors]

of said debt who shall also hold an assignment of said mortgage, shall be as effectual to extinguish said mortgage as if the mortgagee had executed a deed of release of the incumbered property; but if the original creditor secured by mortgage has not assigned either his debt or his mortgage, the owner of the incumbered property may, at his election, on payment of the debt, require a deed of release from the mortgagee.]

Sec. 533. SURVIVAL OF TITLE. Whenever a mortgage or deed of trust to secure a debt is executed to two or more mortgagees or trustees in fee simple, upon the death of any one or more of them the legal title and the trust attached to it shall be held to survive to the survivor or survivors and the heirs of the last survivor, subject to the provisions aforesaid.

Sec. 534. DEATH OF MORTGAGEE OR TRUSTEE. In case of the death of a sole mortgagee or trustee, or the last survivor of several, if the debt secured by the mortgage or deed of trust shall not have been paid, the party entitled thereto may file a petition in the supreme court of said District, setting forth under oath the execution of the mortgage or deed of trust, the death of the mortgagee or trustee, and the fact that the debt secured by the said mortgage or deed of trust remains unpaid, and such other fact as may be necessary to entitle the petitioner to the relief prayed, and praying for the appointment of a trustee to execute the trusts of the said mortgage or deed of trust. It shall not be necessary to make the heirs at law or devisees of the deceased mortgagee or trustee parties to such proceeding. The court may thereupon lay a rule upon the debtor or parties whose property is bound by said mortgage or deed of trust, unless they shall voluntarily appear and admit the allegations of the petition, to show cause, under oath, on or before the tenth day, exclusive of Sundays and legal holidays, after the service of such rule, why the prayer of said petition should not be granted. If said party or parties can not be found in said District, service of said rule shall be by publication, according to the practice in equity in said court. If no cause be shown, notwithstanding the service of said rule, against the prayer of said petition, the court may determine in a summary way whether said debt remains unpaid, and if satisfied thereof the said court may, by decree, appoint a new trustee in the place of the deceased mortgagee or trustee, and vest in him all the title at law and in equity, and all the powers that had been conveyed to and vested in the deceased mortgagee or trustee.

Sec. 535. DEFENSES AGAINST FORECLOSURE. If matter of defense against the foreclosure of said mortgage or the enforcement of said deed of trust be set up in answer to said rule, the further proceedings shall be according to the practice in equity after answer filed.

Sec. 536. In case of the death of any trustee appointed as aforesaid without having executed the trusts of the mortgage or deed of trust, a like proceeding to the above may be had to appoint a successor to him in the said trusts.

Sec. 537. RELEASE AFTER DEATH OF MORTGAGEE, AND SO FORTH. In case of the death of a sole mortgagee or trustee or the last survivor of several, as aforesaid, if the debt secured by the mortgage or deed of trust shall have been paid, and it is desired by the party paying the same to obtain a deed of release, the said party may file a petition in said supreme court of the District, setting forth, under oath, the execution of said mortgage or deed of trust, the death of the mort

gagee or trustee, the payment of the debt, and any other fact necessary to entitle the petitioner to the relief prayed, and praying for the appointment of a trustee in the place of the deceased mortgagee or trustee to execute a deed of release of said mortgage or deed of trust. It shall not be necessary to make the heirs or devisees of the deceased mortgagee or trustee a party to such proceeding. The court may thereupon lay a rule upon the creditor secured by said mortgage or deed of trust, unless he shall voluntarily appear and admit the allegations of the petition, to show cause, under oath, on or before the tenth day, exclusive of Sundays and legal holidays, after the service of said rule, why the prayer of the petition should not be granted. If said party can not be found in said District, service of said rule shall be by publication according to the practice in equity in said court. If no cause be shown, nothwithstanding the service of said rule, against the prayer of the petition, the court may determine in a summary way whether said debt has been paid, and if satisfied thereof may, by decree, appoint a trustee in the place of the deceased mortgagee or trustee and invest in him the title, in law and in equity, that was in the deceased mortgagee or trustee, for the purpose of executing a deed of release as aforesaid. If matter of defense against the prayer for a release of said mortgage or deed of trust be set up in answer to said rule, the further proceedings shall be according to the practice in equity after answer filed.

of

Sec. 538. APPOINTMENT OF NEW TRUSTEE.-In case of the refusal any trustee named in a deed of trust to secure a debt to accept the trusts thereby created, or of his resignation of said trust after accepting the same, which is hereby allowed, or of his removal from the District of Columbia, or of his inability to act, or for any other good cause shown, [said trust being executed,] it shall be lawful for any party interested in the execution of such trusts to apply to said court by petition, setting forth the appropriate facts and asking for the appointment of a new trustee in his place, and a like proceeding shall be had for the appointment of such trustee as in the case of the death of a trustee, as directed in sections five hundred and thirty-four and five hundred and thirty-seven aforesaid: Provided, That any rule to show cause issued in such case shall be served upon the existing trustee, as [well as upon the parties interested in the trust, if he and they can be found within the said District] provided in said sections.

Sec. 539. TERMS OF SALE. If the length of notice and terms of sale are not prescribed by the mortgage or deed of trust, or be not left therein to the judgment or discretion of the mortgagee or trustee, any person interested in such sale may apply to the court, before such sale is advertised, to fix the terms of sale and determine what notice of sale shall be given [, which terms shall be such as to secure to the creditor the payment of his debt in cash as nearly as may be consistent with justice; and the determination of the court in the premises shall be binding on all parties in interest].

[Sec. 540. INJUNCTION AGAINST SALE. If any party interested and duly notified of an intended sale under any mortgage or deed of trust, as directed in section five hundred and thirty-nine aforesaid, shall fail to make application to the court to prevent such sale within the time covered by such notice, such party shall not be entitled afterwards to be relieved against such sale except upon the conditions that a satisfactory excuse be shown for the delay in making application therefor, and all expenses incurred in and about such sale or attempted sale be first paid by him and a valid defense against the foreclosure of said mortgage or deed of trust be shown.]

[Sec. 541. No sale under a mortgage or deed of trust shall be enjoined on the ground that the amount claimed by the creditor secured thereby is in excess of the true amount due him, unless the party seeking such relief shall set forth and show what amount is justly due and shall offer to pay the amount so admitted to be due.]

[Sec. 542. DEBTOR NOT TO BID.-At any sale made under a mortgage or deed of trust the debtor or other person owning the property and for whose default the sale is made shall not be allowed to bid: Provided, That this shall not be construed to prohibit a part owner from bidding at such sale in order to acquire title to the entire property sold.]

[Sec. 543. MORTGAGEE BUYING.-At any sale under a mortgage, fairly made by the mortgagee, at public auction, the mortgagee himself may buy in the property on account of the mortgage debt.]

Sec. 544. CREDITOR BUYING.-If a creditor, for the payment of whose debt property shall be sold under a deed of trust, shall become the purchaser at such sale, he shall be entitled to credit the amount of the purchase money against the debt, and shall be only required to pay to the trustee the excess of the purchase money over his debt, together with such additional amount as may be necessary to defray the expenses of the sale.

Sec. 545. EXPENSES AND COMMISSIONS.-Among the lawful expenses of a sale under a mortgage or deed of trust is to be allowed a commission on the proceeds of sale to the mortgagee or trustee. Where the mortgage or deed of trust does not fix the rate of commission the mortgagee or trustee shall be allowed a commission of five per centum on the first five hundred dollars and three per centum on the balance of the purchase money actually paid by the purchaser at any sale, and one and one-half per centum on the amount of the purchase money not paid into the hands of the mortgagee or trustee, but credited on the debt, when the creditor becomes a purchaser.

When the property is lawfully advertised for sale under a mortgage or deed of trust, and the sale is prevented by payment of the debt or is suspended or postponed by arrangement between the parties interested, the trustee shall be entitled to a commission of one per centum on the amount of the debt secured in addition to the expenses incurred by him, and he shall be entitled to such allowance as often as such advertisement shall be made necessary by the default of the debtor: Provided, That if a sale shall actually take place under any such advertisement, he shall not be entitled to more than one such allowance in addition to his commission on the proceeds of an actual sale.

Subchapter III.-DEEDS OF CHATTELS.

Sec. 546. RECORDING.-No bill of sale or mortgage or deed of trust to secure a debt of any personal chattels whereof the vendor, mortgagor, or donor shall remain in possession, shall be valid and effectual to pass the title therein, except as between the parties to such instrument and as to other persons having actual notice of it, unless the same be executed, acknowledged, and within ten days from the date of such acknowledgment recorded in the same manner as deeds of real estate, as herein directed, and as to third persons not having notice of it, as aforesaid, such instrument shall be operative only from the time within said ten days when it is delivered to the recorder of deeds to be recorded.

« PreviousContinue »