Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Louisiana
lady demands money to sign quit claim!
I purchased 10 acres from from this guy. his mother donated this property to him several years before. somehow, donation did not get filed. his mother agreed to come that following monday to sign a quit claim. closing took place,funds were released,and transaction was filed at clerk of court. now, the lady (mother) refuses to sign quit claim unless i give her $6000.00. can this guys mother get this property back? if so where do i stand? i have did several thousand in approvments to this land.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: lady demands money to sign quit claim!
I hope you have learned a valuable lesson about doing things legally before parting with your money. The person who sold you the property "did not own it at the time he sold it to you," therefore that sale is without legal effect and you have the right to get your money back from him. If you increased the value of the property by improving it, you have a right to reimbursement of the money you spent on the property. If you have witnesses that she was going to sign and refused and now wants to "extort" money from you, I would speak with the district attorney's office and see if the guy may be guilty of theft by fraud for taking your money for something he did not own, and his mother may be guilty of an attempted theft or accessory to the theft by her son. But don't be surprised if the DA won't act on it and punts by saying this is a civil matter and should be handled in the civil courts. And if you are claiming reimbursement for your "own labor in improving the property," don't expect to get anything for that.