Posted on: 23rd Nov, 2011 09:32 pm
I purchased a home from my friend and paid cash for the same. After doing so, we went to an attorney in order to get the deed transferred in my name. The attorney told me that he will do a title search and then go ahead with the closing. He told us that he will be closing this week and asked me to bring cashiers check for paying the charges for the work he has done. He did all of the extras without my permission and now wants to charge me for them. I told him I will go to another attorney but he will not give the deed back because he claims he did too much work to just give it back. What should I do? Can he keep the deed? Will I still be liable for the charges? I never signed any paperwork, there is no contract. He just has the original deed.
Hi Casey,
The attorney cannot simply keep back the original deed with himself. As far as I know, that will be considered as illegal. I will suggest you to contact another attorney and take legal actions against your present attorney in order to sort out the matter. But then again, I feel, that it will be better to negotiate with your present attorney and so that he reduces the amount of payment. You can then pay off the dues to the attorney and get hold of your property deed.
Thanks,
Jerry
The attorney cannot simply keep back the original deed with himself. As far as I know, that will be considered as illegal. I will suggest you to contact another attorney and take legal actions against your present attorney in order to sort out the matter. But then again, I feel, that it will be better to negotiate with your present attorney and so that he reduces the amount of payment. You can then pay off the dues to the attorney and get hold of your property deed.
Thanks,
Jerry