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| LUTHENS LAW OFFICES |
| Des Moines Office |
| West Towers Building , Suite 206-24 |
| 1200 Valley West Drive |
| West Des Moines, Iowa 50266 |
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| Colfax Office |
| Luthens Law Building |
| Eight West Howard Street |
| Colfax, Iowa 50054 |
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| Telephone: (866) 579-3816 |
| Email: info@luthenslaw.com |
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| The workers compensation & personal injury claims and settlement attorneys at the Luthens Law Offices, P.C. are dedicated to serve their clients in central Iowa, including the cities of West Des Moines, Colfax, Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Ames, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Davenport, Dubuque, Waterloo and Burlington , and the communities that make up Woodbury, Pottawattamie, Polk, Webster, Story, Linn, Johnson, Scott, Dubuque, Black Hawk, and Des Moines counties. |
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REAL ESTATE | BACK TO PRACTICE AREAS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |
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I. Brokers
II. Contracts and Transfers
III. Mortgages and Foreclosure
IV. Deeds
V. Home Inspection
VI. Closing
VII. Glossary
VIII. Internet Resources |
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Deeds
A deed is a legal document which records the transfer of real estate between owners. No real estate transaction is complete unless the buyer receives a valid deed to the property. Legal requirements for deeds include:
- Must be in writing. Verbal transactions are not legitimate.
- The names of the buyer and seller.
- A legal description of the property.
- The signature of the person transferring ownership.
- Must follow state and federal laws.
State laws differ regarding the language and format for deeds. There are different types and the two most common deeds are quitclaim and warranty deeds.
A quitclaim deed allows the seller to resign any rights he or she has to the property. However, it does not guarantee the extent of these rights. Quitclaim deeds are often employed during divorces, when one spouse transfers property rights to the other. This does not release one from an obligation to a mortgage they have signed.
A warranty deed includes an explicit promise to the buyer that the seller has clear title to the real estate. The warranty deed offers the buyer much greater protection, as it guarantees that no liens or encumbrances are extant against the property and undisclosed in the deed. It also obligates the seller to protect the buyer against any defects in the deed. A special warranty deed only contains this guarantee for claims which arose while the seller was the legal owner of the property.
It is a good idea to officially record the deed and make it public record. County governments record property deeds at an office, which is often (but not always) called one of the following:
- The recorder’s office.
- The land registry office.
- The register of deeds.
Even if the broker or closer handles the recording of the deed, it is a good idea to make sure that this crucial step takes place. Recording the deed makes the transfer public record, and allows future title searchers to find the history of a property’s ownership.
Given the crucial nature of the deed, it is vital to have the deed reviewed by a competent real estate attorney.
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DISCLAIMER: The information you obtain at our firm web site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. It is recommended that you should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.
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If you would like to schedule a free initial consultation contact an attorney representing clients in Fort Dodge, Iowa at the Luthens Law Offices, P. C.. Give us a call at (866) 579-3816 or email us at Info@luthenslaw.com. |
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