Quiet Titles - The Nuts And Bolts

That first moment when you realize you are the new owner of something is one you will always remember. It doesn't matter what the new something is. It can be a new video game console, a new TV, a new car, or a new house. Whatever it is, it's yours. Sadly, everything in life is not so cut and dry. If you've just inherited real estate or come by some new real estate, you might be faced with other people who want to lay claim to your property. In this case, you would have to file something known as a quiet title action.

The best way to handle something like this is to know what you have to do. You're going to want to be informed and prepared so that you know when things are going your way and when things are less than ideal. You should be ready for every eventuality. Once you've inherited the land and realize you're going to have to deal with quiet titles, you will want to hire a company that will search for other claims to the real estate. These companies are usually called title companies and will search for partial claims, full claims, and even liens on the property. This way, you will know how many claimants you will be facing. These other claims are called "clouds" and come in many intensities and varieties.

As soon as you know there is going to be a conflict with your property and you are going to have to go ahead with a quiet title action, find a good attorney. You can find attorneys who specialize in this type of law and will know exactly what to do to be sure you stay in ownership of your property. Do a little research on lawyers before settling on the first one you come in contact with. You can also get references and referrals that might make you feel a bit safer about the attorney you do choose. Once you've chosen a lawyer, you will want to assess your claim. The point is not to worry about the weaknesses of the other claims but to focus on the strength of your own. You can assess your claim against the other claims but don't worry too much about them. That's where your attorney comes in. He or she can do all the figuring and deduce how much your claim is worth.

In order to file quiet titles, you must already be in possession of the real estate. You must also be able to prove this so make sure that you have that all in order before you proceed any further. Also be sure that you file properly, in the correct court in your county. Be advised that this process can take four to six months so you might not see results right away. However, as long as you have your ducks in a row and are fully prepared, you should be ready for anything that happens. After this, it's mostly a waiting game.

Receiving new property can be both exciting and stressful. If you are faced with the quiet titles process, you can rest assured that, with proper preparation and research, you'll come out of it with a property that is free, clear, and totally yours.