As the executor of an estate, you have to manage the maintenance of multiple assets and potentially either transfer them to people or sell them as part of the probate process. The real estate owned by the decedent will probably be the most valuable asset you have to...
Quiet Title
Could a title blemish delay your home sale?
The title records maintained by the county recorder's office help show who owns a property. When there are questions about the actual owner or the quality of the title, a title search can quickly resolve the issue in most cases. Those title records don't just show...
When you can’t reach a contractor to remove a mechanics’ lien
Maybe you signed a contract to replace the windows in your house right before you got laid off from your job, or perhaps the check you sent for your furnace got delayed in the mail, leading a supplier to think you hadn't paid them. The professionals who provide...
Clarify ownership with a quiet title action
A quiet title action is a lawsuit filed with the intention to settle an issue regarding who has title to a property. If there are any concerns regarding the title of a property that you wish to purchase, you may have to pursue a quiet title action to resolve issues...
How do you handle an old, paid mechanic’s lien?
Mechanics' liens are powerful tools for those in the construction industry. They allow professionals and companies to perform services without accepting all of the payment for their work up front because they have recourse for getting paid after they do their job....
Quiet title actions and their alternatives: What you should know
Most people have never heard of a quiet title action -- because most people never need to know about them. It can come as a shock, then, to find out that you have a problem with your deed that makes it impossible to refinance, sell or obtain insurance for your new...
How to handle a lien on title that you’ve already paid in full
Liens against your property cause title issues that don't go away until you pay them in full. Some liens or encumbrances are the result of financing decisions. If you take out a loan or mortgage using your home as collateral, the lender will place a lien against the...
Could you have a claim for adverse possession in Pennsylvania?
“Adverse possession” is a phrase used to describe one method of acquiring ownership rights over a piece of property. Sometimes called “squatter’s rights,” adverse possession occurs when someone takes over another person’s property and continues to possess, use and...
How a quiet title action allows you to establish true ownership
If you own Pennsylvania real estate, then you've inevitably heard of something called a quiet title action. What you may not understand about this concept, though, is what this legal process allows you to do, including establishing true ownership of a property. ...
Do you need to file a quiet title action? Your attorney can help
If you have an interest in a property but it is unclear who really holds the title to that property, you may have to consider filing a quiet title action. If there is confusion about who really holds the title, a title insurance company will not issue an insurance...