Consumers

In addition to issuing title insurance and conducting closings, we offer document review and preparation services to both buyers and sellers. Our attorneys will review the commitments prepared by the closing agent to ensure that our clients’ interests are fully protected.

When the Buyer and Seller come to settle the real estate sales contract, this is called a closing. The seller has signed the seller’s documents, which include a Warranty Deed, Bill of Sale for items in the sold property, IRS Residency Certification, A Seller’s closing affidavit, and other documents that are required by the title commitment. It is an exchange of the Seller’s keys for the recording of the deed which is the ownership of the sold property.

As part of the closing process, our office will obtain the title commitment which states who legally owns the property and what conditions need to be met in order to transfer clear marketable title to the buyer. Then, we help you satisfy the title commitment by obtaining the estoppel and the property survey, the municipal lien search, seller’s affidavits, and any other requirements that are set forth in the title commitment.

Homestead protects your (1) claims from creditors, (2) gives the owners of the property a discount on taxes, and (3) provides for inheritance to a spouse or minor child. Homestead can be obtained by applying to your local county property appraiser by March 1st. Homestead can also be filed late up to mid-September by filing a petition to the Value Adjustments Board of the county of the property and paying $15.00 for the late filing.

When you hire us we will review your contract for free!

A quit-claim deed is a transfer of whatever interest the owner may have. The owner does not have to have 100% interest of the property in order to transfer property by quit-claim deed. A lot of times spouses transfer property to each other in a divorce by quit-claim deed. A quit-claim deed can also be used to transfer the property interest into a revocable trust to avoid probate. A quit-claim deed is also at times used as a survivorship deed for the longevity of the property and to add remainder beneficiaries.