CHAPTER 1. STATUTE OF FRAUDS; WRITING REQUIREMENTS
IC 32-21
ARTICLE 21. CONVEYANCE PROCEDURES FOR
REAL PROPERTY
IC 32-21-1
Chapter 1. Statute of Frauds; Writing Requirements
IC 32-21-1-1
Requirement of written agreement; agreements or promises
covered
Sec. 1. (a) This section does not apply to a lease for a term of not
more than three (3) years.
(b) A person may not bring any of the following actions unless the
promise, contract, or agreement on which the action is based, or a
memorandum or note describing the promise, contract, or agreement
on which the action is based, is in writing and signed by the party
against whom the action is brought or by the party's authorized agent:
(1) An action charging an executor or administrator, upon any
special promise, to answer damages out of the executor's or
administrator's own estate.
(2) An action charging any person, upon any special promise,
to answer for the debt, default, or miscarriage of another.
(3) An action charging any person upon any agreement or
promise made in consideration of marriage.
(4) An action involving any contract for the sale of land.
(5) An action involving any agreement that is not to be
performed within one (1) year from the making of the
agreement.
(6) An action involving an agreement, promise, contract, or
warranty of cure concerning medical care or treatment.
However, this subdivision does not affect the right to sue for
malpractice or negligence.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.6.
IC 32-21-1-2
Consideration for agreement; writing not required
Sec. 2. The consideration that is the basis of a promise, contract,
or agreement described in section 1 of this chapter does not need to
be in writing but may be proved.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.6.
IC 32-21-1-3
Conveyance; trust in lands; goods; things in action
Sec. 3. A conveyance of an existing trust in land, goods, or things
in action is void unless the conveyance is in writing and signed by
the party making the conveyance or by the party's lawful agent.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.6.
IC 32-21-1-4
Trust arising from or extinguished by implication of law
Sec. 4. Nothing contained in any Indiana law may be construed to
prevent any trust from arising or being extinguished by implication
of law.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.6.
IC 32-21-1-5
Compelling specific performance in cases of part performance
Sec. 5. Nothing contained in any Indiana statute may be construed
to abridge the powers of courts to compel the specific performance
of agreements in cases of part performance of the agreements.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.6.
IC 32-21-1-6
Representations concerning other persons
Sec. 6. An action may not be brought against a person for a
representation made by the person concerning the character, conduct,
credit, ability, trade, or dealings of any other person, unless the
representation is in writing and signed by the person or by the
person's lawful agent.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.6.
IC 32-21-1-7
Conveyance revocable at will of grantor; provision void as to
subsequent purchaser
Sec. 7. If a conveyance of or charge upon an estate contains a
provision for revocation at the will of the grantor, the provision is
void as to subsequent purchasers from the grantor, for a valuable
consideration, of the estate or interest subject to the provision, even
though the provision is not expressly revoked.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.6.
IC 32-21-1-8
Revocation and reconveyance power; person other than grantor
Sec. 8. If the power to revoke a conveyance of any interest in
land, and to reconvey the interest, is given to any person other than
the grantor in the conveyance, and the person given the power
conveys the interest to a purchaser for a valuable consideration, the
subsequent conveyance is valid.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.6.
IC 32-21-1-9
Conveyance before vesting of power of revocation
Sec. 9. If a conveyance to a purchaser under either section 7 or 8
of this chapter is made before the person making the conveyance is
entitled to execute the person's power of revocation, the conveyance
is valid from the time the power of revocation vests in the person.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.6.
IC 32-21-1-10
Commission for finding purchaser of real estate
Sec. 10. A contract for the payment of any sum of money or thing
of value, as a commission or reward for the finding or procuring by
one (1) person of a purchaser for the real estate of another, is not
valid unless the contract is in writing and signed by the owner of the
real estate or the owner's legally appointed and duly qualified
representative. For purposes of this section, any general reference to
the real estate that is sufficient to identify the real estate is a
sufficient description of the real estate.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.6.
IC 32-21-1-11
Instruments executed in foreign country; acknowledgment before
diplomatic or consular officer
Sec. 11. If executed in a foreign country, conveyances, mortgages,
and other instruments in writing that would be admitted to record
under the recording laws of this state must be acknowledged by the
grantor or person executing the instrument and proved before any
diplomatic or consular officer of the United States, duly accredited,
or before any officer of the foreign country who, by the laws of that
country, is authorized to take acknowledgments or proof of
conveyances. If the acknowledgment or proof is in the English
language and attested by the official seal of the officer
acknowledging it, the instrument may be admitted to record.
However, if the acknowledgment or proof is in a language other than
English or is not attested by an official seal, then the instrument must
be accompanied by a certificate of a diplomatic or consular officer
of the United States attesting:
(1) that the instrument is duly executed according to the laws of
the foreign country;
(2) that the officer certifying the acknowledgment or proof had
legal authority to do so; and
(3) to the meaning of the instrument, if the instrument is made
in a foreign language.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.6.
IC 32-21-1-12
Validation of conveyance or acknowledgment; seal or ink scroll not
required
Sec. 12. It is not necessary to affix a private seal or ink scroll
necessary to validate a conveyance of land or an interest in land
executed by a natural person, business trust, or corporation. It is not
necessary for the officer taking the acknowledgment of the
conveyance to use an ink scroll or seal unless the officer is required
by law to keep an official seal.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.6.
IC 32-21-1-13
Conveyance of land; written deed required
Sec. 13. Except for a bona fide lease for a term not exceeding
three (3) years, a conveyance of land or of any interest in land shall
be made by a deed that is:
(1) written; and
(2) subscribed, sealed, and acknowledged by the grantor (as
defined in IC 32-17-1-1) or by the grantor's attorney.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.6.
IC 32-21-1-14
Conveyances by attorney; power of attorney
Sec. 14. A conveyance of land by attorney is not good unless the
attorney is empowered by a written instrument that is subscribed,
sealed, and acknowledged by the attorney's principal in the same
manner that is required for a conveyance by the attorney's principal.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.6.
IC 32-21-1-15
Conveyances by quitclaim
Sec. 15. A conveyance of land that is:
(1) worded in substance as "A.B. quitclaims to C.D." (here
describe the premises) "for the sum of" (here insert the
consideration); and
(2) signed, sealed, and acknowledged by the grantor (as defined
in IC 32-17-1-1);
is a good and sufficient conveyance in quitclaim to the grantee and
the grantee's heirs and assigns.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.6.
IC 32-21-1-16
Estate of inheritance; expression of intent required to create lesser
estate
Sec. 16. It is not necessary to use the words "heirs and assigns of
the grantee" to create in the grantee an estate of inheritance. If it is
the intention of the grantor (as defined in IC 32-17-1-1) to convey
any lesser estate, the grantor shall express that intention in the deed.
As added by P.L.2-2002, SEC.6.
IC 32-21-1-17
Incorporating by reference recorded encumberances
Sec. 17. A conveyance of land may incorporate by reference a
recorded covenant, restriction, easement, or other encumbrance on
the use of the land with a clause that is substantially similar to either
of the following:
(1) "Subject to the __________ (insert the type of
encumbrance) recorded on _____ (insert the date of recording)
in ___________ (insert the book and page number on which the
encumbrance is recorded or the instrument number in which the
encumbrance is recorded).".
(2) "Subject to ___________ (insert the type of encumbrance)
of record.".
As added by P.L.171-2006, SEC.6.