Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

Re: how to put a property on my name

Whoops, it isn't that easy!!!

You say you "have" a property. What does this mean? Frequently (but not always) "having" a property means that your name, and no one else's, is on the title recorded down at the courthouse.

Whether your problem can be solved by filling out a form probably depends upon whether the friend and relative agree with you that you are entitled to ownership of the property.

If they agree, then the "form" to use is a deed. Have the owners shown on the official records deed the ownership (so-called "legal title") to you. If the deeds are in proper form, notarized and then recorded, this should be sufficient to establish you as the sole and undisputed owner for all purposes.

At least two kinds of deed form will work. The best for you would be a grant deed (or two grant deeds if two others have separate interests). More likely in this situation, the one or two other owners of record are not in a position to give you a clean grant deed, and would (at most) be willing to give you quitclaim deeds. I suggest using a title company to prepare and process the deeds. There will be a fee, but it's worth it to get a prefessional job done.

If the friend and relative won't even give you quitclaim deeds voluntarily, you'll probably have to sue them in court to get an order from a judge removing them from title.

Another interesting question here is whether anyone has title insurance. If there is an issue as to who holds title, someone may have an insurance claim and an insurer may be on the hook to defend.

A lawyer could assist you better with more particulars as to how you "have" a property, yet other folks are on the official records as owner(s). This is possible, but the basis of your claims needs more substantiation.