Replies

1. 
   DanH | Nov 23, 2011 07:17pm | #1

   Go the real estate registration desk at your courthouse and ask what you need to do.

2. 
   davidmeiland | Nov 24, 2011 06:11pm | #2

   Trust/verify

   It is fairly easy to TRANSFER title from one party to another, but making sure that you are getting CLEAR title is a different matter. Suggest a brief consult with a lawyer, as much as it sounds like you do not want to do that.

1. 
   DanH | Nov 24, 2011 09:01pm | #4

   She knows the title was clear when they bought it.  She (presumably) knows whether it was encumbered while they owned it jointly.  It's a question of how much she trusts her ex that he's not encumbered it since then.

3. 
   gfretwell | Nov 24, 2011 08:28pm | #3

   In MD all I had to do to sell my ex the house was file a quit claim deed with the court clerk. They had the form at an office supply. You sign it in front of a notary and off you go.

4. 
   junkhound | Nov 25, 2011 09:44am | #5

   Yep, quit claim proceedure.

   A buddy bought 13 houses over the years using quit claim, he'd did a little research on his own, but no problems with any of them.

1. 
   davidmeiland | Nov 25, 2011 01:41pm | #6

   Quitclaim is fine

   as long as you get one from everyone who has a possible interest. The title owner can't quitclaim anyone else's interest. If he owes money on the property, has judgements against him, etc. etc......

5. 
   glacierfergus | Nov 28, 2011 12:41pm | #7

   good advise above...

   Ask the county Clerk and Recorders office what the procedure is to transfer title. We recently sold a house to her parents.  Same situation, she bought it 10 years ago, did the title search, etc. We then got married and moved, so we just did a Quit Claim deed and filed it at the courthouse. Not complicated at all, no lawyers or realtors needed.

   I haven't done it, but you can do you own title search to see if there are any leins against the property. Title companies provide this service and give you "title insurance" incase they missed something.  Doing your own title search, you have no one to go back against if you miss something, but you will save some money. 

   Since you did a title search when you bought the property, your real risk is that your Ex may have borrowed money or put this property up for collateral in some other deal. I don't know your husband, but if you wonder at all, a title search or title insurance might be a good idea.

6. 
   leeu | Dec 03, 2011 02:23pm | #8

   Thanks for all the feedback

   Very helpful comments--looks like we will be doing this, clean & simple, in a few weeks-it's very exciting!!  I think I'll build a kiln and go back to throwing pots in my pending retirment years!!!