Title, Deeds and Ownership
How California records ownership, what clouds a title, and what it takes to clear one.
All 6 articles on this subject
Quiet Title Actions in California
A quiet title action asks a court to decide who owns a property and on what terms. When you need one, what it takes to win, and why nobody wins by default.
5 min readAdverse Possession in California
Occupying land does not make it yours. California requires five years of possession and payment of the property taxes, which defeats most claims.
3 min readForged Deeds and Title Fraud in California
A forged deed transfers nothing, but it still sits in the record and still stops your sale. What to do first when one appears on your property.
3 min readLegal Title, Equitable Title, and Who Can Sue
The distinction decides who has standing to bring a quiet title action in California. If you hold only the equitable interest, the case may not be yours to file.
3 min readTypes of Deed Used in California
Grant deed, quitclaim, warranty. The deed you receive decides what the seller has promised you about the title, and the difference matters when something goes wrong.
4 min readWhat a Cloud on Title Is and How It Clears
A title search has turned up something and your sale is stuck. The common defects on California property, which ones stop a closing, and what it takes to clear each.
4 min read