Can a person registered on the title to change the title without your knowledge? my brother and me as an inmate of a house. my brother just died and I find that now my name is still on the house and his, but his name is now also on the wives deed. I was never informed of this change and I was wondering if this was legal?
complex. Rather vague on the facts, but guessing that the act you refer to was made before his death, because he has his name.
In general, no, the act that you as an owner can not be changed without your knowledge. All owners or the union of a title should normally be attached to each change of title. Some states may allow an exception when (eg) two persons hold title as "tenants in common (and not as joint tenants), and one of the owners decided to split his half-share with someone other. In theory, because he shared his portion of the property, it does not need permission from the owner of the other undivided half of the property. Similarly, if you were "tenants in common" then its share of the property will pass by (or laws of intestate succession), probably for the surviving spouse.
Other than that, or if your previous act just you and your brother as "joint tenants" (he usually has to say these two words to qualify), then you should see a lawyer immediately and get this straightened (leases means the last common Survivor continues to own the thing). Take a copy of your previous and second.
Posted on June 6, 2010.
