How can I move forward with the earlier buyer after a later buyer backed out over a title issue from a past tax foreclosure? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, moving forward with the earlier buyer usually comes down to whether the earlier contract was properly terminated in writing and whether any termination…
What documents should I gather from the closing and inspection to find out whether I have a case? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, the most useful documents are the signed purchase contract (and all addenda), the seller’s Residential Property Disclosure Statement (and any attached reports), the full home inspection report (including the…
Can we undo the sale or force the buyer to transfer the land back to our family? – North Carolina Short Answer Sometimes, but only in narrow situations. In North Carolina, once a deed is delivered and recorded, a court usually will not “undo” the sale unless the family can prove a legal reason to…
What happens to my property if the bond conditions aren’t met and the collateral is called? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, if a defendant misses court or otherwise violates bond conditions, the court can forfeit the bond and later enter a final judgment for the bond amount against the surety. If real…
Do I need to open probate, or can I transfer title without it because there is a lady bird deed? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, most people cannot transfer real estate without probate just because a document is called a “lady bird deed.” North Carolina does not generally use “lady bird deeds”…
What proof is needed to pursue adverse possession if my family has cared for the land for years? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, “caring for the land” is not enough by itself to win an adverse possession claim. The proof usually must show actual, open, continuous, exclusive, and hostile possession for the…
How do I get a certified copy of an older subdivision map if the online image is hard to read? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a certified copy of a recorded subdivision map (plat) is usually ordered from the Register of Deeds in the county where the plat was recorded. If the…
Would initiating a quiet title or similar court action be necessary to resolve a timeshare title issue? – North Carolina Short Answer Usually not. In North Carolina, a quiet title action is designed to resolve an actual adverse claim or “cloud” on title, not to force a management company to update its internal owner records…
Can I regain possession of my property following a trespass summons and county sale? – North Carolina Short Answer Possibly, but it usually depends on whether the county sale can still be challenged in court and whether the buyer has already obtained lawful possession through a civil court process. In North Carolina, a trespass summons…
What happens if there was a tax foreclosure against the heirs decades agodid the family lose the property, and is there any way to recover anything? – North Carolina Short Answer In North Carolina, a completed tax foreclosure sale usually means the family lost title to the property, because the sale is intended to convey…