A quitclaim deed is a document that transfers any interest you may have in a particular piece of property. If you have no interest, the quitclaim deed will transfer no interest. If you own the property outright, the quitclaim deed will transfer that ownership interest to the grantee. However, a quitclaim deed does not promise or represent to a grantee that you have any interest in the property.
Kids on title to house? Another take
Should you put kids on title to house? Here's another reason why it's a bad idea to have children listed on the title to your home. Q: Friends of mine put their two children on the title of their house some time ago. The home has no mortgage. The father is now deceased and the [...]
Do I need a quit claim deed?
Do I need a quit claim deed? Reader wonders if she needs a quit claim deed if living trust is in place Q: Is there any risk, concern or benefit to simply adding a child to title through a quit claim deed (not replacing homeowner on title, but adding)? This child is the beneficiary and [...]
Who owns the house?
Who owns the house? When you add kids to a deed and then remove them, it may be tough to know exactly who owns the house Q: My boyfriend's mother died two years ago. Back in 2007, she added her kids to the deed to the home and created a life estate for herself. Then, [...]
How to Record a Quit Claim Deed
How to record a quit claim deed without hiring a lawyer Reader doesn't understand why recording a quit claim deed to transfer title is to complicated Q: I wanted to record a quit claim deed to transfer title of our home into our respective living trusts in order to avoid probate. Our plan was to [...]
Selling a House in Disrepair: Tax Implications
Selling a house in disrepair: tax implications. This reader wants to know how selling a rundown family home will affect their income taxes. Q: I recently received title to a home from my brother by quitclaim deed. He purchased the home in 1982 from my parents who at the time were in financial trouble. My [...]
How to Buy Out a Family Member’s Share of Investment Property
How to buy out a family member’s share of investment property. A quit claim deed or warranty will do the trick, but each have their own benefits. Q: My wife and I, along with my brother and his wife, bought a vacation home in 2010. Each couple took half. The home is in California and [...]
Should You Have a Transfer on Death Deed, a Living Trust or Both?
Should you have a transfer on death deed, a living trust or both? For this reader, it may be best to pursue all options available to them. Q: My father signed a quit claim deed in 2008 for my mother to be sole owner of their mobile home. Now, in 2018, she put him as [...]
What Happens to a Quit Claim Deed When a Spouse Dies?
What happens to a quit claim deed when a spouse dies? It all depends on the type of deed transfer and their estate plans. Q: What happens if you and your wife own a home through a quit claim deed and the spouse dies? We live in the State of Maine. A: A quit claim [...]
Ex-Spouse Can’t Pay Mortgage – Now What?
There are friendly and not-so-friendly divorces. But if your ex-spouse can't pay the mortgage because he lost his job, should you step forward and offer to pay off the remaining amount and give him the house just to be completely done? What's the price of being done? What would you do? Q: I have been [...]
Quit Claim Deed and Mortgage Responsibility: Getting Name Off Mortgage
Quit claim deed and mortgage responsibility don't go hand in hand. Getting your name off the mortgage is possible when refinancing. Q: I did an act of donation on my house to my ex-husband. He is going to give me a fixed payment once he refinances the home. Is there a way to get my [...]