Legal Question in Real Estate Law in New Jersey
quick claim deed
my parents want to quick claim deed their house to me.how do you go about doing this and also if they get sick and cant pay their medical bills can they come after the house after it has been deeded over to me? i am in the process of trying to buy it from them but do to some mistakes in the past my credit is not so great , i have been living in the house for the past four years, their is no mortgage on the house at the moment.
3 Answers from Attorneys
Re: quick claim deed
The procedure is simple, just a new Deed, signed by them and notarized, to be recorded. The problem is possible Medicaid repercussions. Depending on the value of the house, there is a look-back period that Medicaid might invoke if one of them were to apply for assistance in the future. Maximum look-back is 3 years. Contact me if you need more information.
Re:
First of all, there is no such thing. You are talking about a "Quit Claim Deed" which transfers the interest of the owner of the property to another. While the basic procedure seems simple (the signing and filing of a new deed), you need to understand the legal ramifications of same, which include rights and obligations under Estate Planning laws as well as certain tax considerations. You should not do this transaction without the input of an attorney. Keep in mind that this advice is based purely on the little bit of information that you have given to me. There certainly may be other factors that would change my opinion. Further, no one can rely on advice from an attorney who has not been retained. Since it appears that you have not retained an attorney, you may want to contact a real estate attorney (either me or someone else) to discuss your matter in more detail. Only then will you be able to rely on the advice. If you call me, [856-546-8010] mention Law Guru and your first one hour consultation will be free. Good luck! Rob Gleaner
Quitclaim Deed
A quitclaim deed is a deed without warranties. Essentially it says "I give you whatever interest I have in this property."
It is a common means of transfer among family members.
I urge you to think about the reasons for this. If the reason for the transfer is because your parents have substantial debts and are seeking to avoid their creditors, the the transfer might be considered to be a "fraudulent conveyance" and subject to a judgment even though title is in your name.
You also need to ensure that the property is not encumbered in any way, such as by a mortgage.
If you have the current deed, preparation of a quitclaim deed is easy; it is almost an adminstrative process although any responsible lawyer will want to look at some other things.
Call if you need help.