Unless you are heavily involved in real estate, you may never have had reason to hear about the quiet title action. The quiet title can be an effective way to gain clear ownership to a property, to include not only the land but a home or building that may be located there, along with any outbuildings or even easements.
While the quiet title action could be a positive way for you to attain title insurance for your property, eliminating any cloud in ownership, keep in mind that the process could go the other direction if you are the one being blocked from ownership of a property. This may happen regarding a piece of land that is being purchased by someone who wants to make sure there is no threat later and may view you as a potential threat. This may also occur if someone else is attempting to buy the property and views you as an ‘adverse claimant.’
Filing the quiet title action may be a pre-emptive tool; for instance, these actions are sometimes taken when a piece of property is purchased during an estate sale. If you are on the other side as a possible heir who could move forward to challenge ownership and potentially cloud the title, the introduction of a quiet title action could be worrisome once you found out about it. Perhaps you thought you had rights to this land but the potential new ‘owner’ sees their right to the title as stronger. If you are concerned about such an action, consult with a skilled real estate litigation attorney like Shane Coons right away.
Quiet title actions are often required as routine measures too. The mortgage company may require the buyer to file a quiet title action—but in most cases, anyone who might have had rights or thought they had rights to the property would probably received documents delivered by a process server notifying them. If you are served documents related to a quiet title action on a property which you think you rightfully have the title to, it is imperative to respond to the lawsuit within the allotted time listed in the paperwork. It is not recommended that you file a response on your own, as such an exercise is challenging unless you have legal experience.
If you are involved in a real estate dispute or are concerned about a quiet title action, call Shane Coons now at 949-333-0900 or email us at Shane.Coons@seclawoffices.com. We can review your case, answer your questions, and help you decide how to move forward. We are here to help!