A quiet title is a lawsuit that determines or confirms the rightful legal ownership of real estate property or fixes errors on a title. Generally, anyone who has a claim or holds a lien to the property presents their evidence, and the judge makes a ruling and gives a court order stating the rightful owner.
Lawsuits for quiet titles can be complicated or take longer than expected, especially when contesting ownership with several claimants. Things can also get a little technical in terms of your legal rights, and you might be better off moving forward with a real estate attorney.
Quiet Title Actions Can Take Months
Most quiet title suits take around 8 to 10 weeks to complete, but this isn’t always the case.
Depending on the circumstances of your case, a quiet title action can take up to six months in some cases. This is especially true if there are many parties disputing ownership as compared to correcting a title error. Your lawsuit can also take longer if you’re pursuing it without legal support because there are various laws you need to understand first.
The Cost May Depend on Where You Live
A quiet title action can cost you anywhere from $1,500 to $4,000, depending on the facts of your case or property.
Unfortunately, state laws where the property is located determine how the process is carried out, as well as the total cost. Ensure to check with your real estate attorney on matters regarding finances before getting started.
Quiet Titles Aren’t Always Necessary
Not all land ownership disputes or cases of defective titles require a quiet title action. Seeing the cost and time it may take to solve a quiet title suit, there are other alternatives you can try before settling on a lawsuit.
For instance, if the other parties mentioned in the title are no longer interested in claiming the property, your attorney can simply ask them to sign a quitclaim deed instead of going to court.
Talk to a Real Estate Lawyer
Do you have a defective title or are other parties contesting ownership of a property that you believe is rightfully yours? Consult a real estate lawyer from The Curry Law Firm to get all these issues sorted out.
We can review the facts of your case in a free consultation and determine if a quiet title lawsuit is necessary. If so, we can also represent your interests before a judge by presenting evidence that shows your rightful ownership. Call us today at 713-574-2070 or fill out our online contact form to get started.