Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Florida

We are buying a condo for our son who is disabled, will be on the warranty deed, but we will be financing the loan because he is only 21 and does not have any credit.

Is it best way to vest the ownership interest:

Tenants in Common, Rights of Survivorship or Tenents by the Entirety.

We signed contracts in April 2010 and close Aug. 6th, so want to take advantage of the $ 8,000 tax credit as well.

Our goal is to provide a safe environment whereby he can walk everywhere, and secure what is needed to maintain his daily life once we are gone.

He is a first time home buyer and this will be his home forever we believe.

His handicap is EMH.

Please advise?

Thank You


Asked on 8/03/10, 10:17 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Shelly Schellenberg MI & FL private practice

The way you take title depends on your intent in the event of the death of any of the parties.

Only married persons (to each other) may take Tenancy by the Entireties, meaning your son could not be on the deed.

Married persons may take Tenancy as Joint Tenants with their son, with rights of survivorship. This means that upon the death of any one or two of you, the remaining 2 or 1 person will own the entire property without an interest by any "outside" party. Ie, if you die, your husband and son will both have an undivided 100% interest in the property.

If you take title as Tenants in Common, and your son dies, you and your husband would own the property together with his heirs. If he get married between now and then, you could end up owning this property with his wife/children. If he bequeaths his interest to another party, you could end up owning the property together with a total stranger, or the Humane Society, for instance.

If you intend that only the 3 of you will have an interest until the last person is living...then Joint Tenancy is the way to do this. You should consider having a real estate attorney review your closing documents prior to your final signature to be certain that your understanding of the transaction is accurate.

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Answered on 8/08/10, 10:28 am


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