Langston v. Bates

Citations

• 84 Ill. 524

Syllabus

<p>1. Specific performance—sale of land by parol. A parol contract to sell land may be enforced in equity where the vendee has taken possession under the contract, and made lasting and valuable improvements, and paid the purchase money.</p> <p>2. Same—between parent and child for conveyance of land. A promise or agreement made by a father to a child to convey a tract of land if the child will take possession of the land and improve the same, when followed by possession, and the expenditure of labor and money in making lasting and valuable improvements, may be regarded as resting upon a valuable consideration, and will be upheld and enforced in a court of equity.</p> <p>3. Statute of Frauds—evidence to take case out of operation, must be clear and certain. In order to take a case out of the operation of the Statute of Frauds, a parol contract to convey land should be clear and certain in its terms, and established by testimony of an undoubted character, which is clear, definite and unequivocal.</p>