A homeowner’s liability insurer does not have duty to defend a lawsuit after the insured intentionally pruned trees on another’s property without permission. The intentional act of hiring a contractor to prune is not an “accident” within the meaning of the policy’s...
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Free Real Estate Forms!!
Here is your gift from the Google University School of Law courtesy of Chicago Title. Free real estate forms!!!! https://www.chicagotitleconnection.com/documentforms.htm Deeds, Affidavits, Deeds of Trusts, Promissory Notes, Homestead, Non Responsibility, Preliminary...
The down payment made by one co-tenant (co-owner) of Real Property is reimbursable to the person who paid it.
Looking at the CCP about Partition and the equitable powers of the court, the person paying the down payment should be reimbursed what they paid for the down payment before any distribution of the proceeds. In re Marriage of Leversee (1984) 156 Cal. App. 3d 891...
Air BNB Update on Short Term Rental in the Los Angeles Area
City of Los Angeles: Technically, short term rentals are currently illegal in Los Angeles. ( (Chen vs. Kraft (2016) LA is slow moving but in April 2018 the City Counsel committee approved a measure to allow short term rentals but CAP the number of days that a primary...
Court may NOT order answer only after denying a motion to quash service
In denying a motion to quash an unlawful detainer summons, the trial court may not restrict a defendant’s responsive pleading to an answer. Van Butenschoen v. Flaker; Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles – filed Oct. 16, 2017 Cite as 2017 S.O.S. 5258...
Commission Splits & Finder’s Fees as RESPA Violations!
California law allows commission splits and finders fees to be paid, but under the Federal Real Estate Settlement procedures Act (RESPA) they may not be legal. If your seller or buyer wants you to split the broker’s commission with them, that may not be legal unless...
Free Real Estate Forms from Chicago Title!
I love Chicago Title (even if it and many other title companies are all owned by the same conglomerate Fidelity Title!). Here is a link for many basic real property related forms. http://www.chicagotitlela.com/blank_documents.html Don’t forget, its not the form, but...
Revocable Transfer-On-Death Deeds (aka Lady Bird Deed) New Since 2016! (Probate Code §5642)
This provides a simple way to transfer California real estate at death without having to go through California probate. (Probate Code §5600, et seq.) The way to look at this is it is a “Transfer-On-Death Deed ” NOT a transfer during life deed. It only applies to...
Counting Days and Loopholes in CAR Real Estate Purchase Agreement Forms
A common question is how to count the days referred to in the Real Estate Purchase Agreement and related CAR (Calif. Assoc. of Real Estate) forms. In October 2016 CAR published a concise article on this in their magazine. In essence the CAR attorneys confirmed that...
Does a 6 year statute of limitations apply to a promissory note secured by real property?
While Commercial Code 3118(a) provides for a 6 year statute of limitations which can apply to a promissory note (9-109(a)(3). The key is this ONLY applies to a negotiable instrument (Comm. Code §3102) So, you have to make sure your promissory note falls under the...