706.02 Annotation
In pleading a contract that is subject to the statute of frauds, it is not necessary to allege facts to establish that the contract complies with the statute or is within its exceptions. Ritterbusch v. Ritterbusch,
50 Wis. 2d 633,
184 N.W.2d 865 (1971).
706.02 Annotation
An option to purchase land must be in writing and cannot be modified orally, but a seller may orally agree to accept payment in full rather than in installments. Kubnick v. Bohne,
56 Wis. 2d 527,
202 N.W.2d 400 (1972).
706.02 Annotation
The test of undue influence to set aside a will is also applicable in order to void an inter vivos transfer due to undue influence. Ward v. Ward,
62 Wis. 2d 543,
215 N.W.2d 3 (1976).
706.02 Annotation
Standing alone, an added provision in a 30-day option agreement to purchase real estate did not comply with the statute of frauds. Edlebeck v. Barnes,
63 Wis. 2d 240,
216 N.W.2d 551 (1974).
706.02 Annotation
An oral contract for the conveyance of an interest in land is void unless there is a memorandum that conforms to the statute of frauds. Trimble v. Wis. Builders, Inc.
72 Wis. 2d 435,
241 N.W.2d 409 (1976).
706.02 Annotation
When a contract for the sale of land with an indefinite description is taken out of the statute of frauds by part performance, extrinsic evidence admissible but for the statute of frauds may be introduced to provide the description. Clay v. Bradley,
74 Wis. 2d 153,
246 N.W.2d 142 (1976).
706.02 Annotation
The question under sub. (1) (b) of whether property boundaries are identified to a reasonable certainty is for the jury to determine with the aid of all competent extrinsic evidence. Zapuchlak v. Hucal,
82 Wis. 2d 184,
262 N.W.2d 514 (1978).
706.02 Annotation
The homestead defense under sub. (1) (f) is not defeated by s. 706.04, but a tort claim may exist against a signing spouse who misrepresents the non-signing spouse's acquiescence. Glinski v. Sheldon,
88 Wis. 2d 509,
276 N.W.2d 815 (1979).
706.02 Annotation
The defense of the statute of frauds is waived if not raised in the trial court. Hine v. Vilter,
88 Wis. 2d 645,
277 N.W.2d 772 (1979).
706.02 Annotation
A mortgage fraudulently executed by the use of a forged signature of one grantor was wholly void. State Bank of Drummond v. Christophersen,
93 Wis. 2d 148,
286 N.W.2d 547 (1980).
706.02 Annotation
When a contract for the sale of land and personalty is not divisible, the contract is entirely void if this section is not satisfied. Spensley Feed v. Livingston Feed,
128 Wis. 2d 279,
381 N.W.2d 601 (Ct. App. 1985).
706.02 Annotation
The homestead signature requirement of sub. (1) (f) must be waived affirmatively by actual signing of the mortgage. A failure to plead the statute of frauds as an affirmative defense did not constitute a waiver. Weber v. Weber,
176 Wis. 2d 1085,
501 N.W.2d 413 (1993).
706.02 Annotation
A quitclaim deed of a married couple's homestead from one spouse to the other is not valid to alienate the grantor's interest in the property in any way that would eliminate either spouse's contractual obligations under a mortgage containing a valid dragnet clause. Schmidt v. Waukesha State Bank,
204 Wis. 2d 426,
555 N.W.2d 655 (Ct. App. 1996),
95-1850.
706.02 Annotation
An in-court oral stipulation could create a mortgage interest in property, but a homestead conveyance must bear the conveyor's signatures. Because the stipulation lacked signatures, it was not a mortgage that could defeat the homestead exemption under s. 815.20. Equitable Bank, S.S.B. v. Chabron,
2000 WI App 210,
238 Wis. 2d 708,
618 N.W.2d 262,
99-2639.
706.02 Annotation
A conveyance that “identifies the land" as required by sub. (1) means the conveyance must identify the property with “reasonable certainty." “Reasonable certainty" means that by the aid of the facts and circumstances surrounding the parties at the time the court can with reasonable certainty determine the land which is to be conveyed. It does not, however, necessarily require a legal description. Anderson v. Quinn,
2007 WI App 260,
306 Wis. 2d 686,
743 N.W.2d 492,
06-2462.
706.02 Annotation
Parol evidence in the context of the statute of frauds does not operate to supply fatal omissions of a writing but rather to render the writing intelligible. A clear distinction must be drawn between the proper admission of extrinsic evidence for the purpose of applying the description to identified property versus the improper supplying of a description or adding to a description that on its face is insufficient. As the description “remaining acreage" was, on its face, insufficient to identify the specific property, parol evidence would not be admissible under the statute of frauds. 303, LLC v. Born,
2012 WI App 115,
344 Wis. 2d 364,
823 N.W.2d 269,
11-2368.
706.02 Annotation
The mortgage in this case was equitably assigned to the holder of the original note by operation of law upon transfer of the note. Therefore, equitable assignment of the mortgage was not barred by the statute of frauds under this section. Dow Family, LLC v. PHH Mortgage Corporation,
2014 WI 56,
354 Wis. 2d 796,
848 N.W.2d 728,
13-0221.
706.02 Annotation
Mere ambiguity does not render a contract unenforceable vis-à-vis the statute of frauds. Rather, when a conveyance includes a description of property that can be applied in multiple ways, the statute of frauds requires that parol evidence of intent be connected in some way to the language of the agreement. Prezioso v. Aerts,
2014 WI App 126,
358 Wis. 2d 714,
858 N.W.2d 386,
13-2762.
706.02 Annotation
The statute of frauds does not bar a tort action for intentional misrepresentation. Winger v. Winger,
82 F.3d 140 (1996).
706.03
706.03
Agents, officers and guardians. 706.03(1)(a)
(a) “Private corporation" means a corporation other than a public corporation.
706.03(1)(b)
(b) “Public corporation" means this state, a county, town, city or village in this state, a subunit of the state, county, town, city or village, a special purpose district in this state or any state or municipal authority or similar organization financed in whole or in part by public funds.
706.03(1m)
(1m) A conveyance signed by one purporting to act as agent for another shall be ineffective as against the purported principal unless such agent was expressly authorized, and unless the authorizing principal is identified as such in the conveyance or in the form of signature or acknowledgment. The burden of proving the authority of any such agent shall be upon the person asserting the same.
706.03(2)
(2) Unless a different authorization is recorded under
sub. (3) or is contained in the corporation's articles of incorporation, any one officer of a private corporation is authorized to sign conveyances in the corporate name. The absence of a corporate seal shall not invalidate any corporate conveyance. Public corporations shall authorize and execute conveyances as provided by law.
706.03(3)
(3) Any private corporation may, by resolution of its governing board, duly adopted, certified and recorded in the office of the register of deeds of the county in which a conveyance executed by such corporation is to be recorded, authorize by name or title one or more persons, whether or not officers of such corporation, to execute conveyances, either generally or with specified limitation, in the name and on behalf of such corporation. After adoption and recording of such resolution and until recording of a resolution amending or revoking the same, conveyances may be executed on behalf of such corporation only in accordance with the terms thereof.
706.03(3m)
(3m) A nonprofit association, as defined in
s. 184.01 (2), may authorize a person to execute conveyances of estates or interests in real property by executing and filing a statement of authority under
s. 184.05.
706.03(4)
(4) A conveyance by a minor or an individual adjudicated incompetent in this state is effective only if executed by an authorized guardian on behalf of the minor or individual adjudicated incompetent. This restriction does not apply if the individual's adjudication of incompetency permits him or her to contract.
706.03 Annotation
When a partner's actions in a transaction on behalf of a partnership fall within the express provisions of s. 178.06 (1), the partner is “an agent of the partnership" and s. 178.06 (1) controls. When the partner's actions do not fall within those provisions the partner “purports to act as an agent" and this section controls. Wyss v. Albee,
193 Wis. 2d 101,
532 N.W.2d 444 (1995).
706.03 Annotation
If the grantor's attorney-in-fact does not have authority to exercise the power of attorney in his or her own favor, any deed that the attorney-in-fact signs to himself or herself and others is void in its entirety under sub. (1m). Lucareli v. Lucareli,
2000 WI App 133,
237 Wis. 2d 487,
614 N.W.2d 60,
99-1679.
706.04
706.04
Equitable relief. A transaction which does not satisfy one or more of the requirements of
s. 706.02 may be enforceable in whole or in part under doctrines of equity, provided all of the elements of the transaction are clearly and satisfactorily proved and, in addition:
706.04(1)
(1) The deficiency of the conveyance may be supplied by reformation in equity; or
706.04(2)
(2) The party against whom enforcement is sought would be unjustly enriched if enforcement of the transaction were denied; or
706.04(3)
(3) The party against whom enforcement is sought is equitably estopped from asserting the deficiency. A party may be so estopped whenever, pursuant to the transaction and in good faith reliance thereon, the party claiming estoppel has changed his or her position to the party's substantial detriment under circumstances such that the detriment so incurred may not be effectively recovered otherwise than by enforcement of the transaction, and either:
706.04(3)(a)
(a) The grantee has been admitted into substantial possession or use of the premises or has been permitted to retain such possession or use after termination of a prior right thereto; or
706.04(3)(b)
(b) The detriment so incurred was incurred with the prior knowing consent or approval of the party sought to be estopped.
706.04 History
History: 1993 a. 486.
706.04 Annotation
A partnership created to deal in real estate is void unless conforming to the statute of frauds unless all parties have performed the contract, thus indicating their acquiescence in its terms. In re Estate of Schaefer,
72 Wis. 2d 600,
241 N.W.2d 607 (1976).
706.04 Annotation
In an equity action seeking the conveyance of a farm under an oral agreement, the trial court properly ordered the conveyance under sub. (3) when the tenants gave up plans to build a home on other property, planted crops on the farm, and painted the interior of the farmhouse. Krauza v. Mauritz,
78 Wis. 2d 276,
254 N.W.2d 251 (1977).
706.04 Annotation
Personal services to a vendor in reliance upon an oral agreement are not enough, standing alone, to constitute part performance. In the Matter of the Estate of Lade,
82 Wis. 2d 80,
260 N.W.2d 665 (1978).
706.04 Annotation
Under sub. (3) (a), a grantee with knowledge of the facts giving rise to equitable estoppel against the grantor takes title subject to the estoppel. Brevig v. Webster,
88 Wis. 2d 165,
277 N.W.2d 321 (Ct. App. 1979).
706.04 Annotation
The homestead defense under s. 706.02 (1) (f) is not defeated by this section, but a tort claim may exist against a signing spouse who misrepresents the non-signing spouse's acquiescence. Glinski v. Sheldon,
88 Wis. 2d 509,
276 N.W.2d 815 (1979).
706.04 Annotation
Failure to execute a document can be cured under this section. The “unclean hands" defense is discussed. Security Pacific National Bank v. Ginkowski,
140 Wis. 2d 332,
410 N.W.2d 589 (Ct. App. 1987).
706.04 Annotation
Once a deed has been properly executed and recorded, a court, in equity, may not alter the document when a party later expresses a different intent than was memorialized. Wynhoff v. Vogt,
2000 WI App 57,
233 Wis. 2d 673,
608 N.W.2d 400,
99-0103.
706.04 Annotation
Section 706.04 does not refer to deficiencies under s. 706.03. Triple Interest, Inc. v. Motel 6, Inc.
414 F. Supp. 589 (1976).
706.05
706.05
Formal requisites for record. 706.05(1)
(1) Subject to
s. 59.43 (2m), every conveyance, and every other instrument which affects title to land in this state, shall be entitled to record in the office of the register of deeds of each county in which land affected thereby may lie.
706.05(2)
(2) Except as different or additional requirements may be provided by law, every instrument offered for record shall:
706.05(2)(a)
(a) Bear such signatures as are required by law;
706.05(2)(c)
(c) Identify, to the extent that the nature of the instrument permits, and in form and terms which permit ready entry upon the various books and indexes publicly maintained as land records of such county, the land to which such instrument relates and the parties or other persons whose interests in such land are affected. Except as provided in
sub. (2m), identification may be either by the terms of the instrument or by reference to an instrument of record in the same office, naming the place where such record may be found.
706.05(2m)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), any document submitted for recording or filing that is to be indexed in the real estate records, any document submitted for recording or filing that modifies an original mortgage or land contract and any subordination agreement submitted for recording or filing shall contain the full legal description of the property to which it relates if the document or subordination agreement is intended to relate to a particular parcel of land. The legal description may be included on the document or may be attached to the document. Any such document shall also contain the document number of any original mortgage or land contract that the document affects and, if given on the original mortgage or land contract, the volume and page numbers of the original mortgage or land contract.
706.05(2m)(b)
(b) The requirement of a full legal description under
par. (a) does not apply to:
706.05(2m)(b)1.
1. Descriptions of easements for the construction, operation or maintenance of electric, gas, railroad, water, telecommunications or telephone lines or facilities.
706.05(2m)(b)2.
2. Descriptions of property that is subject to liens granted on property thereafter acquired by a rural electric cooperative organized under
ch. 185, by a telephone cooperative organized under
ch. 185 or
193, by a pipeline company under
s. 76.02 (5), by a public utility under
s. 196.01 (5), by a railroad under
s. 195.02 (1), or by a water carrier under
s. 195.02 (5).
706.05(3)
(3) In addition to the requirements under
sub. (2), every conveyance of mineral interests offered for record shall:
706.05(3)(a)
(a) Fully disclose the terms and conditions of the agreement including both the financial arrangements and the exploration rights. Financial arrangements include the consideration exchanged for the interest in land, terms for payment, optional payments, royalty agreements and similar arrangements. Exploration rights include the conditions and extent of any surface and subsurface rights to the land, options to purchase further interest in the land, options to conduct mining operations and similar arrangements.
706.05(3)(b)
(b) Fully disclose the parties including any principal, parent corporation, partner or business associate with an interest in the conveyance. This paragraph shall be interpreted to provide maximum disclosure of any person with an economic interest in the transaction.
706.05(4)
(4) Any person who anticipates becoming a party to a number of conveyances of a given form may cause a prototype of such form to be recorded, accompanied by a certificate declaring the intention of the recording party to incorporate the terms of such prototype in future recorded conveyances by reference.
706.05(5)
(5) Copies of instruments affecting title to land in this state, authenticated by certificate of any public officer, either of this or any other state or foreign country, in whose office the original is filed or recorded pursuant to law, may be recorded in every case in which the original would be entitled to record under this section.
706.05(6)
(6) Except as may otherwise be expressly provided, no instrument shall be denied acceptance for record because of the absence of venue, seals, witnesses or other matter of form.
706.05(7)
(7) Every instrument which the register of deeds shall accept for record shall be deemed duly recorded despite its failure to conform to one or more of the requirements of this section, provided the instrument is properly indexed in a public index maintained in the office of such register of deeds and recorded at length at the place there shown.
706.05(8)
(8) A duly recorded certificate signed by or on behalf of the holder of record of any mortgage or other security interest in lands, and authenticated as provided by
s. 706.06 or
706.07 identifying the mortgage or other interest and stating that the same has been paid or satisfied in whole or in part, shall be sufficient to satisfy such mortgage or other interest of record.
706.05 Annotation
Under sub. (1), only instruments that affect an interest in land are entitled to be recorded. A land patent is the instrument by which the government conveys title to portions of the public domain to private individuals. “Land patents," “updates of land patent" and other, similarly-titled documents filed by private individuals that purport to be grants of private land from private individuals to themselves or other private individuals are not true land patents and are invalid on their face and not entitled to recording.
OAG 4-12.
706.055
706.055
Conveyances of mineral rights. The register of deeds shall record all conveyances of mineral interests in the index maintained under
s. 59.43 (9).
706.055 History
History: 1977 c. 253;
2009 a. 98.
706.057
706.057
Lapse and reversion of interests in minerals. 706.057(1)(1)
Applicability. This section does not apply to an interest in minerals which is owned by the same person who owns the fee simple interest in the surface of the land above the interest in minerals.
706.057(2)
(2) Use of an interest in minerals. In this section, an interest in minerals is used if any of the following occur:
706.057(2)(a)
(a) Any minerals are mined in exploitation of the interest in minerals.
706.057(2)(b)
(b) A conveyance of mineral interests is recorded under this chapter.
706.057(2)(c)
(c) Any other conveyance evidencing a transaction by which the interest in minerals is created, aliened, reserved, mortgaged or assigned is recorded under this chapter.
706.057(2)(d)
(d) Property taxes are paid on the interest in minerals by the owner of the interest in minerals.
706.057(2)(e)
(e) The owner of the interest in minerals records a statement of claim under
sub. (4) or
(5) concerning the interest in minerals.
706.057(3)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b) or
(c), an interest in minerals lapses if the interest in minerals was not used during the previous 20 years.
706.057(3)(b)
(b) An interest in minerals which was not used during the 20-year period prior to July 1, 1984, does not lapse if the interest in minerals is used within 3 years after July 1, 1984.
706.057(3)(c)
(c) An interest in minerals which was used during the period from 17 to 20 years prior to July 1, 1984, does not lapse if the interest in minerals is used within 3 years after July 1, 1984.
706.057(4)
(4) Statement of claim; recording; requirements. If the owner of an interest in minerals uses the interest in minerals by recording a statement of claim, the statement of claim shall comply with this subsection. The statement of claim shall contain the name and address of the owner of the interest in minerals, a description of the location and boundary of the interest in minerals and a reference to the recorded instrument which created the interest in minerals. The statement of claim shall be recorded with the register of deeds for the county in which the interest in minerals is located.
706.057(5)
(5) Cure of lapse. The lapse of an interest in minerals under
sub. (3) is cured if the owner of the interest in minerals records a statement of claim complying with all of the requirements of
sub. (4) before the surface owner records a statement of claim under
sub. (6) (a) or before a statement of claim takes effect under
sub. (6) (b) 1., whichever is later.
706.057(6)
(6) Claim of lapsed interest in minerals. 706.057(6)(a)(a) The owner of the land under which an interest in minerals exists may claim that portion of a lapsed interest in minerals which lies beneath the owner's land by recording a statement of claim. The statement of claim shall contain the name and address of the owner of the land under which the lapsed interest in minerals is located and a description of the land under which the interest in minerals is located. The statement of claim shall be recorded with the register of deeds for the county in which the land is located.
