Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Michigan
Adding a partner to my home owners title
I purchased home in 2003 as a single woman. I am in a committed relationship and wish to have my partner taken care of in terms of the house should anything happen to me. Can I add her name to the title or is this something that should be taken care of via a Will?
I want to make sure that in the event of my death, my partner will have the house.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Adding a partner to my home owners title
You can accomplish your objective by either a will or by conveying an interest via a quit claim deed.
I would STRONGLY suggest that you NOT convey an interest to her as "Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship" as if ANYTHING happened to your relationship, you would have a very very difficult time changing the property right.
May I suggest that you convey to her an interest as "Joint Tenant" and not as "Joint Tenant with Right of Survivorship".
If you made her a Joint Tenant and you were to die, she would own the whole.
Michigan has a peculiar rule for Joint Tenancies and if you have any questions, please see an attorney and have him/her prepare the quit claim deed - just to insure that it is done properly - so many "do it yourself" deeds have mistakes/errors/defects that substantially impair the conveyors intent.
Good luck,
Tom Weiss