Quiet Title Law in California

San Diego Quiet Title Actions

Definition: A legal proceeding to establish an individual’s right to ownership of real property against one or more adverse claimants.

Quiet Title  – is a lawsuit filed to establish ownership of real property (land and buildings affixed to land). The plaintiff in a quiet title action is seeking a court order that prevents the respondent from making any subsequent claim to the property. Quiet title actions are necessary because real estate may change hands often, and it is not always easy to determine who has title to the property.

Clouded Title

Clouded Title – A quiet title lawsuit is also called a suit to remove a cloud. A cloud is any claim or potential claim to ownership of the property. The cloud can be a claim of full ownership of the property or a claim of partial ownership, such as a lien in an amount that does not exceed the value of the property. A title to real property is clouded if the plaintiff, as the buyer or recipient of real estate, might have to defend her or her full ownership of the property in court against some party in the future. A landowner may bring a quiet title action regardless of whether the respondent is asserting a present right to gain possession of the premises.

Example of a Clouded Title

For example, assume that JOE, the seller of a property agreed to sell a property to MARY but JOE then passed away before the sale was finalized. Assume further that the JOE, the seller, also gave the property to a a life-long friend in her will. This is not uncommon! JOE may have reconsidered giving away of the property as money was needed for an unexpected problem, and since the life-long friend really was never informed by JOE that JOE was going to will the friend the property, JOE figures that he will not be hurting her friend’s feelings. JOE fully intends to have her will altered when he gets around to it. Unfortunately for everyone, (mostly JOE), JOE passes away and never had the opportunity to modify her will as planned. In such a situation, both the life-long friend and the buyer have valid grounds for filing a suit to quiet title because each has a valid claim to the property.

Quiet Title Proof Requirements

A plaintiff seeking to quiet title against a person with legal title to property has the burden of proving title by clear and convincing proof, rather than by the preponderance of evidence usually used in civil cases.

The general rule in a quiet title action is that the plaintiff may succeed only on the strength of her own claim to the real estate, and not on the weakness of the respondent’s claim. The plaintiff bears the burden of proving that he owns the title to the property. A plaintiff may have less than a fee simple, or less than full ownership, and maintain an action to quiet title. So long as the plaintiff’s interest is valid and the respondent’s interest is not, the plaintiff will succeed in removing the cloud (the respondent’s claim) from the title to the property.

Advocating for Plaintiffs and Defendants in Quiet Title Claims

To schedule a consultation regarding a San Diego or Southern California quiet title action with Real Estate Attorney Valerie Kramer, contact us for an appointment right away. Attorney Valerie Kramer welcomes inquiry from either plaintiffs or defendants in quiet title claims.

Assisting Owners, Lien Holders, Private Lenders in Title Disputes

Real Estate Attorney Valerie Kramer in San Diego advocates on behalf of owners, lien holders, and private lenders in clouded title and title disputes who seek court judgments validating that they are rightful property owners of a particular piece of real estate. Conversely, Attorney Valerie Kramer also represent opponents in quiet title actions.

Detailed Investigations Prove Validity of Quiet Title Claims

For a San Diego or Southern California area quiet title action, Real Estate Attorney Valerie Kramer is experienced and prepared to undertake a detailed investigation to prove the validity of the quiet title claims of their clients. We are dedicated attorneys working steadfastly for our clients and we do not take shortcuts. Our lawyers do whatever is required to complete a case effectively and in a timely manner.



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