Bar exam everywhere

July 20, 2005

It's impossible to even take a few minutes off and read something non-bar related without spotting issues that might be a bar problem...

"Well, Harry," said Dumbledore, turning toward him, "a difficulty has arisen which I hope you will be able to solve for us. By us, I mean the Order of the Phoenix. But first of all I must tell you that Sirius's will was discovered a week ago and that he left you everything he owned." … "This is, in the main, fairly straightforward," Dumbledore went on. "You add a reasonable amount of gold to your account at Gringotts, and you inherit all of Sirius's personal possessions. The slightly problematic part of the legacy-- is that Sirius also left you number twelve, Grimmauld Place."

Let's see. If this was executed in NY, would it be a valid will? In writing? Yep. Signed by an adult testator at the end of the document? Um, maybe. Published? Apparently. Two witnesses? Um, maybe. Or, if this was valid by wizarding law, would NY recognize it as valid?

"Black family tradition decreed that the house was handed down the direct line, to the next male with the name of 'Black.' Sirius was the very last of the line as his younger brother, Regulus, predeceased him and both were childless. While his will makes it perfectly plain that he wants you to have the house, it is nevertheless possible that some spell or enchantment has been set upon the place to ensure that it cannot be owned by anyone other than a pureblood."

Or maybe those traditions will not affect the bequest by will because they violate the Rule Against Perpetuities...

"Fortunately," said Dumbledore, "there is a simple test."

Apparently, house elves are useful not only for doing chores around the house, but also for clearing title to real property.