Case Name: Clausells, Appellant, v. Registrar of Property, Respondent
Court: Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
Jurisdiction: Puerto Rico
Decision Date: 1914-04-23
Citations: 20 P.R. 298
Docket Number: No. 181
Parties: Clausells, Appellant, v. Registrar of Property, Respondent.
Judges: Chief Justice Hernández and Justices del Toro and Aldrey concurred.
Reporter: Puerto Rico Reports
Volume: 20
Pages: 298–299

Head Matter:
Clausells, Appellant, v. Registrar of Property, Respondent.
Appeal from a Decision of the Registrar of Property of San Hermán assigning curable defects.
No. 181.
Decided April 23, 1914.
Mortgage — Maturity in Case of Sale — Curable Defects. — A mortgage deed: contained tlie following clause: “7th. In case of sale of the land described, the term of this mortgage shall by that fact mature, and in consequence the creditor may execute it (the mortgage), claiming' what is due him.” The registrar recorded the said mortgage with the curable defect that the said elaúse prohibits the alienation of the property. Held: That the said clause does not prohibit the sale of the mortgaged property and therefore did not constitute a defect in the deed.
The facts are stated in the opinion.
Mr. R. Martínez Nadal for the appellant.
Mr. Rafael B. Sama, the registrar, filed a brief pro se.

Opinion:
Mr. Justice Wole
delivered the opinion of the court. '
A mortgage deed contained the following clause:
"7th. In case of sale of the land described, the term of this mortgage shall by that fact mature, and in consequence the creditor may execute it (the mortgage), claiming what is due him."
The Registrar of Property of San Herman recorded the instrument containing this mortgage with the defect that the condition mentioned was based on a prohibitive law and, therefore, could not be surrendered.
The appellant draws attention to the fact that mortgages, are frequently drawn with clauses that make the whole mortgage mature upon the failure to pay any instalment of capital or interest. He maintains that the clause recited put no prohibition on the alienation of property and we think he is right. Any person purchasing the property from the debtor would he hound to take notice of the immediate maturing of the mortgage debt and he has the immediate right to pay the said mortgage to the creditor. The creditor has the same right to demand payment. The purchaser has the right to pay the mortgage forthwith. The purchaser is not bound to purchase, but the clause recited does not prevent him from obtaining a good title subject to a mortgage immediately payable.
The note must be reversed in so far as the defect assigned is concerned.
Reversed.
Chief Justice Hernández and Justices del Toro and Aldrey concurred.