Legal Question in Real Estate Law in District of Columbia

Deed Conveyance

I have heard that deeds and contracts to transfer or sell real estate in D.C. must be signed by all joint tenants AND THEIR SPOUSES. In 1965, a house was deeded to me and my brother as joint tenants. In 1969 I got married. In 1970, the deed was conveyed by me and my brother to a straw buyer (listed as ''unmarried'') and retitled to my mother and my brother as joint tenants. Question: Was the conveyance in 1970 to the straw buyer improper/illegal due to the exclusion of my wife's consent/signature?


Asked on 7/09/02, 5:30 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Deed Conveyance

The conveyance you describe would not be appropriately characterized as illegal, but

improper would not be too far wrong since it lacked the signature of your wife, which may have well created a slight cloud on the title by virtue of what's called your wife's unconveyed dower interest(or potential interest) which was never properly extinguished through the efficacy of her signature in the transaction.

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Answered on 7/09/02, 11:56 pm


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