Skip to main content
Lawyer directory
Free Q&A and articles
Sign in

Legal AdviceLawsuits and disputesAdvice
LEGAL GUIDE
By Timothy M. B. Farrell
Jul 21, 2011
CNMI Legal Guide – Intestate Succession to Jury
Real estate zoning laws
Criminal defense
Estates
Show 5 more
INTESTATE SUCCESSION : 8 C.M.C. 2901

Custom is closely mirrored by 8 C.M.C. 2901, which deals with intestate succession. Under Chamorro custom, the surviving spouse receives a life estate, the issue get a vested remainder in fee. If there is no surviving spouse, the children get all the property by representation. If the spouse is not of NMD, then the spouse takes the maximum interest in property allowed by law, but not an interest in fee.

Other Chamorro property is split evenly between the surviving spouse and the children. If there is no surviving spouse, then the children take all by representation. See Ancestor’s Land topic.

Under Carolinian custom, family land is held by a customary trustee. Family land cannot be sold or mortgaged without family consent. Family consent is obtained with a majority vote. The trustee’s vote should go with the majority. The trustee is obligated to guard the land, use it and collect proceeds from it.

When the trustee dies, title passes to the oldest surviving sister. If there is no surviving sister, then to the oldest brother. If none, to the oldest surviving daughter, and so on.

All other lands pass to the surviving spouse in fee. Unless there are surviving children, in which case the spouse gets a life estate as trustee, the remainder to the oldest surviving daughter as trustee.

All other Carolinian property of a deceased husband is given to the surviving spouse in fee. If the wife dies first, then the surviving husband gets a life estate with the remainder to the issue.

For those who are not N.M.D., the surviving spouse gets all the property in fee. If there are children, the surviving spouse gets $50,000.00 and half the remainder, the children receive the other half of the estate by representation.

The above distribution scheme only applies to those who die after 1984. Those dying earlier have their estates distributed according to pre-code custom.

JUDGMENTS

Com. R. Civ. P. 54 to 57.

Judgments may be given for or against one or more of several plaintiffs or one or more of several defendants either jointly or severally.

Judgment on the Pleadings – available under rule 12(c), identical to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c).

Summary judgment- provided by rule 56, similar to FRCP 56.

Declaratory judgments – See rule 57 of Civil Procedure.

Vacation or modification – See rules 59 and 60.

Setting aside – 7 C.M.C. 1304

Any defendant not personal notified may at any time within one year after final judgment enter an appearance and the court shall thereupon set aside the judgment and permit the defendant to plead.

Foreign Judgments – the CNMI has adopted the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgment Act of 1994. 7 C.M.C. 4401. The law is to be interpreted to effectuate its general purpose to make it uniform with other adopting states and jurisdictions. The filing fee is the same as that established by the clerk for filing civil actions.

JURY : 1 N.M.I. Const. art. VIII

The legislature may provide for trial by jury in criminal or civil cases. Juries are not required for misdemeanors or felonies with punishments of less than five years or a $2,000 penalty. A jury trial must be demanded in a civil case not later than sixty days prior to the date set for trial. Com. R. Civ. P. 38.

Rate this guide
HelpfulNot helpful
About the author

Timothy M. B. Farrell
4.5 stars 2 reviews
Business Attorney in Bethesda, MD
Call
Related guides
Neglect of elderly person 2C:24-8
Kenneth Albert Vercammen, attorney
NC Law of Intestate Succession
Christopher C Wilms Jr., attorney
8-17-12 EFFECTIVE DATE FOR MAJOR CHANGE TO THE OHIOBWC C-84 PROCESS – BE PREPARED – DON’T JEOPARDIZE
Michael H. Gruhin, attorney
Continuous Alcohol Monitoring C. A. M. Systems
Gregory David Spink, attorney
THE 1099-C SURPRISE
Shaye Larkin, attorney
See all advice on Lawsuits and disputes
Related questions
I’m a refugee on “asylum pending” C-8 category status in CA, should I file FBAR for my foreign accounts?
Los Angeles, CA | 1 attorney answer
What category I’m I suppose to use to request for renewal of my EAD,c8,c11 or both?
Los Angeles, CA | 3 attorney answers
What do I answer for question #11 on the I-765 form if I already have a C8 work permit if I’m applying for a C9 for marriage?
Victoria, TX | 1 attorney answer
If my asylum case was granted to be administratively closed, do I still file under c8 ? “good cause has been establishd ”
Los Angeles, CA | 1 attorney answer
Is it possible to get a interim EAD for C-8?
Alhambra, CA | 3 attorney answers
See all advice on Lawsuits and disputes

Free Q&A with lawyers
in your area

Ask a question
Recommended articles about Lawsuits and disputes
Overview of the Adoption process
Zachary C Ashby, attorney
Important Topics in Adoption
Keith B Hofmann, attorney
Navigating Green Acres Restrictions: Mitigating the Impact on Utility and Development Projects
Brian Welch Keatts, attorney
Navigating Green Acres Restrictions: Mitigating the Impact on Utility and Development Projects
Christine A Roy, attorney
Can’t find what you’re looking for?

Post a free question on our public forum.

Ask a Question
– or –

Search for lawyers by reviews and ratings.

Find a Lawyer
Legal Guides
Set Aside: HOW TO ATTEMPT TO SET ASIDE A…
Property Split: Understanding Community…
Intestate Succession: What happens when you die…
Land Use: How to Win the Land Zoning and…
Life Estate: Will Alternatives
About Avvo
Careers
Review your lawyer
Blog
For lawyers
Recently Answered Questions
Terms of use
Privacy policy
Support
Community guidelines
Avvo Rating explained
Sitemap
Follow us on
© Avvo Inc. All Rights Reserved 2019