Pearce v. Briggs
The court held that, because a joint-tenancy interest passes only by operation of law and cannot be severed or devised by a revocable instrument such as a will, the Gibson and Rosedale parcels remain in the Charles John Briggs Individual Living Trust and the Pearce parties' claim under Probate Code § 859 fails.
Date Filed: August 31, 2021
Case Name: Pearce v. Briggs
Case Number: F080403
Court: California Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District
(‘The Fifth District Court of Appeal affirms the trial court’s decision that the Gibson and Rosedale parcels belong to the Charles\u202fJohn\u202fBriggs Individual Living Trust, holding that a joint‑tenancy interest cannot be severed or devised by a revocable instrument such as a will and therefore the Pearce parties’ claim under Probate Code §\u202f859 fails. This ruling clarifies that joint‑tenancy ownership passes only by operation of law—not by testamentary disposition—providing a key precedent for title‑determination disputes in California probate proceedings.’, ‘7e19799f’)
This case summary was prepared for educational purposes. For the authoritative version, please refer to the full opinion or the official California Courts website.