About Me
Title Issues
Documents
Phrases:
Will I do it?
100

How many children do I have

2

100

What protect both real estate owners and lenders against losses they may experience due to legal defects that have occurred in the past, but not the future. 

Title Insurance 

100

The name of the document that legally transfers title to real estate over to the new owner

The Deed

100

In real estate, what two-word phrase means that the property is being sold to you in its present condition, and that the seller is not responsible for any issue you may have with that condition?

"As is"

100

Someone asks me to transfer their deed to their kid. Will I do it?

No - 

A subsequent sale can result in capital gains tax since only a portion of the gain will be exempt

Can’t sell without remainder man (children) joining in the sale

Lose control

Subject to all of children's creditors (divorce, court judgment, government liens)

Recovery available if sold while life tenant is receiving Medicaid benefits

There is too much liability, most of the time we will not do this for clients.

200

What is my partner's name at the law firm?

Angelique

200

I have a deed that has Philip and Sarah, a married couple, tenants by the entirety, with a life estate to Antoinette Eliopoulos. Antoinette wants to sell the house. Who needs to sign the Deed

Philip, Sarah and Antoinette

200

A document that is recorded that offers equity protection on your primary residence against non governmental third party creditors for certain properties 

Declaration of Homestead 

200

What language must be stated in a deed to have creditor protection for a married couple?  Tenants by the _____________.

"Tenants by the Entirety"

200

Someone wants me to put their home in an irrevocable Trust and they have no other significant assets. Will I do it?


No!

5 year look back period for Medicaid

Irreversible (cannot deed property back into your name (but remember escape hatch and asset can change forms inside the trust)

Can’t access equity in home in the future through conventional financing or reverse mortgage. If you sell home, the money has to stay in the trust.

Can’t take proceeds and go Hawaii

Can’t use proceeds to rent or go to pay for assisted living

300

What college did I go to?

Boston College

300

Which of the following is NOT covered by title Insurance:

a) prior owner discharge is missing

b) A neighbor starts encroaching on your property 2 years after you have moved in.

c) A fraudulently signed Deed

d) missing heir of a probate did not get proper notice 

B -Title insurance covers things that have happened in the past NOT the future

300
A document that would allow someone to sign closing documents so that they do not need to be present. For full points, need full name of the document to ensure the authority lasts into Incapacity. Half points without it :) 


Durable Power of Attorney 

300

A ______ of title is like a timeline or history of a property’s ownership. It is the chronological order of conveyance of a parcel of land from the original owner to the present owner. In Massachusetts, at least a 50 year title search is required.

"Chain" 

300

I great client reaches out to me and is getting divorced. Wants me to handle their case.  Will I do it?

NO!  My divorce days are over :)

I would refer them to Katerina.  

400

Name one of my hobbies

Hiking, Epic Movies, Skiing, Politics

400

A deed reads: Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain, A married Couple.

Can Courtney sell the house alone now that poor Kurt has been murdered...I mean has passed away?

NO!

Tenants in Common 

 NO rights of survivorship exist between parties. She Has to probate Kurt's estate and have a personal representative appointed to sell with her 

400

 A signed document from the lender indicating that the mortgage contract has been fulfilled.


A mortgage discharge 

400

A ________ manages assets for another, such as young children.  

"Trustee" 

400

I am doing a closing and a week prior to closing the owner passes away. I get a call that luckily that person had designated their daughter to be their Power of Attorney. Am I all set to proceed with the closing and have the daughter sign the deed?

NO! 

A power of attorney is extinguished at death!! Now need to probate the estate.

500

In college, I asked out a famous supermodel.  What was her name?

Paulina Porizkova

500

A document was recorded at the Registry of Deeds on the "recorded side" but actually something in the title has passed through land court so the document should have actually been recorded on the "other side" - it is now considered ______________ 

Registered Land 

After the Land Court renders its decision as to the ownership and boundary lines of real property, the ownership of that parcel can never again be disputed or doubted by any person. Going forward, recordings are more scrutinized and have more requirements.

500

An interest in land that gives one property owner the right to use real estate owned by another for a specified purpose.

An Easement 

Could be for utilities, or to allow someone to cross your property or for access (ex) National Grid, the driveway to my office building)

500

________shall include any and all transactions entered into on behalf of the Principal in which the attorney-in-fact may derive a benefit, either directly or indirectly, tangible or intangible.

"Self Dealing"

500
Buyer, three days before closing, finds out that someone passed away in the house and for personal or religious reasons no longer wants to go forward. They want my seller to give their deposit back for not disclosure that. Will I instruct them to give it back?

Short answer: NO!MGL  Chapter 93, section 114:

A broker does not have a duty to disclose whether a property was the site of a felony, suicide or homicide, or has been the site of an alleged “parapsychological or supernatural phenomenon,”i.e., a haunted house.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this section shall not authorize a seller, lessor or real estate broker or salesman to make a misrepresentation of fact or false statement.