Quiet Title

Protecting Your Property

When it comes to real estate, a clear title to the property is what matters. There are many different situations where the question of who owns a piece of property might not be as clear cut as you would think or hope. Sometimes property is passed down through families and it is unclear who actually owns the real estate, other times there are liens on property, or someone claims to have ownership through adverse possession. When conflicts or doubts as to ownership of real estate arise, one way to reach a resolution is through a lawsuit.

Quiet Title Actions

A quiet title action is a lawsuit filed in order to establish ownership of a piece of property. Anyone with a claim to ownership over a property can file a quiet title suit, which will essentially file a lawsuit against anyone who has any claim to the land. These parties can be both known and unknown. These can be filed only once a title is obtained and typically begin by ordering a full title search on the property to verify if there are any other claims to ownership. 

Quiet title actions are extremely important in proving that you own a particular piece of real estate, especially if any transfers of the real estate are going to occur. If you’re intending to prove ownership over a property, these actions are generally required. This is especially the case if there is a so-called cloud on the title, or any claim/potential claim of ownership on a particular property. These clouds can regard either full or partial ownership of the property. Having a cloud on a property can cause major damage, as purchasers and lenders are not likely to risk investing in the property. Removing these clouds with a quiet title action can reverse this ramification. 

When A Quiet Title Action Might Occur

A quiet title action may be needed for a variety of reasons. Anything that would require you to prove ownership over a property can warrant a quiet title action. Tax sales are an incredibly common instance in which a quiet title action is necessary. Tax sales are property sales that occur when the property owner incurs late payments on their property taxes, otherwise known as delinquency taxes.  These sales often present an array of issues regarding establishing property ownership, so if you’ve purchased property from one of these sales we encourage you to contact our team today to set up a consultation with one of our attorneys to get assistance with your property matter.

The examples provided are just a handful of instances in which a quiet title action may be necessary. There are many different types of cases and scenarios in which you should consider a quiet title action, so it’s important to decide whether the situation you’re currently facing would warrant this step. Rivertown Law is here to assist in evaluating your situation to help you determine the best course of action to protect your property and your rights as the property owner. 

Get the proper legal assistance you need to protect what matters: Contact Rivertown Law today to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys that will work diligently and effectively on your quiet title action/short sale.