How do I remove someone's name from my house and land after I have added them to it?

Question

How do I remove someone's name from my house and land after I have added them to it?

Anonymous Mar 25, 2009 2 views 1 answers

My husband asked me to add his brother's name to a house we were building because the house they owned couldn’t be sold. After their house was sold, the brother was supposed to remove his name from our house, but before he did, my husband was killed in a car crash. Now my brother in law wants $600K before he will take his name off my house. He doesn’t do any work around the house nor will he invest any of his money in to it. He has filled the basement with items that are outdated or broken and it amounts to complete fire hazard. I alone pay the land taxes and do all work around house. The house was built on land my father gave to me before he died. I want to keep my land and home and I'm concerned that if I die before him, not only will he profit, he will also have the right to give my home to whomever he wants.

George Meng · Accepted Answer · 2026-06-15T10:26:32+00:00

You have 2 sets of issues. One deals with how to separate you and your brother in law for your joint ownership. A full analysis of this issue is beyond this kind of response. Your second issue has to deal preserving your part of the house so that if you die, the house will go to your heirs instead of your brother in law. To do that you need to change the deed from a joint tenancy to a tenancy in common. I presume the deed that shows the 3 names is a joint tenancy These are not simple issues and a full understanding of your options will probably require about an hour meeting with a lawyer. You would be wise to spend some money and seek the advice of a lawyer who can do a full analyssis of your situation so the you can get a complete set of options.

How do I remove someone's name from my house and land after I have added them to it?

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