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Questions Answered by James Clifton
1 Answer | Asked in Foreclosure for Georgia on
Q: How much can a mortgagor's Agent charge as the fee to collect surplus funds?
James Clifton
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James Clifton
answered on Jan 16, 2025

Do not, under any circumstance, sign a contract with a non-attorney for surplus funds recovery in Georgia. Many of these "mortgagor's agents" are unscrupulous and prey upon vulnerable people who have just been foreclosed. These "agents" then turn around and hire an attorney... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Probate for Texas on
Q: This is to clarify whether I own partial of the house that parent's has since they passed and my name was on the deed.

Well, I was the co-borrower of my parent's house thus my name remain on the deed;however, my siblings are question I own more portion of the house since I was already a co-owner before my parent's passed.

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James Clifton
answered on Jan 13, 2025

Your exact percentage depends on how the deed was worded. If it was a joint tenancy with right of survivorship, you own the entire property. If it was tenancy in common, you own your portion plus a portion of your parents part if they died without wills. Schedule a free consultation to have your... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Foreclosure for California on
Q: my house was for closed done prior to foreclosure during default. I tried to sell it through a real estate agent,

And sold the house they sold it for a fair price and my entitled to extra money if there is any, it was definitely enough to pay off the loan and pay off other debts. How do I find out any of this information?

James Clifton
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James Clifton
answered on Jan 13, 2025

The trustee is required to provide you with notice of any money you are owed from the auction within 30 days of the foreclosure. If you haven't received that, there may not be any money. You can request the details from the foreclosure including the payoff amount and highest bid directly from... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Real Estate Law for Texas on
Q: I want to sell my portion of my mom's house she passed away last year my sisters name is on half the property how

Do I do that my sister is trying to take over the house but she is trying to sell it out from under us my mom put her name on the deed with her to be responsible they went in and tore every thing out of the house me and my brother want to sell my mom's half what do I need to do there was no... View More

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James Clifton
answered on Jan 8, 2025

It depends on how the deed with your mother and sister on it was written. If they were on the deed as joint tenants with right of survivorship, you do not have any interest in the property as it would have passed entirely to your sister at the time of your mother's death. If they were on the... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law for Texas on
Q: 15 acre property. Cost and how to partition & cost of mediation? Can one sell their portion or sign over their portion?

Wife wants to sell, aunt does not. Land locked. In Seguin. One cash offer on table but aunt doesn't want to sell because she feels the offer is too low. Taxes from last year are owed. taxes have already increased but aunt won't budge after multiple conversations to get these taxes paid... View More

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James Clifton
answered on Jan 9, 2025

Partition lawsuits take a long time to resolve if the parties can't reach an agreement. It is hard to estimate the cost without knowing more details. If it is contested, the costs can get quite high. Mediation is typically an hourly expense and ranges from $1,000-$5,000 depending on how long... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Bankruptcy and Real Estate Law for California on
Q: 50K Line of credit "called due" in 3 months; I had defaulted loc; then put on title; how can I save home ?

50K Line of credit "called due" in 3 months; I originally had defaulted on it and they ended up just putting it on my home loan in my understanding was that whenever I sold the house or I died or whatever… That loan since it was attached to my house would be paid off at that time… It... View More

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James Clifton
answered on Jan 4, 2025

Whether it can be called due depends on the written terms of the line of credit. Typically, if it is a deed of trust, it will have terms that allow it to be called due or accelerated and foreclosed. There are many alternatives to foreclosure including a loan modification, bankruptcy, sale of the... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents and Personal Injury for Georgia on
Q: The other occupants didn't use all medical expenses can I max out the vehicle limit because my injury have more expenses

Got in an auto accident as a passenger, the driver and other passenger received less then ten thousand together, and I've billed 100 thousand over the policy limit but in need of a lot more surgeries have 14 herniated disks,11 can be shown as new damage and ligaments and tendons still damaged... View More

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James Clifton
answered on Jan 1, 2025

The most you can recover individually is $250,000 regardless of how much the other injured parties have used. If you are having trouble getting your expenses reimbursed by the insurance company, you need to engage an attorney to advocate on your behalf. There may be other avenues of recovery to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Georgia on
Q: Is it ok to open a last will and testament that is in a sealed envelope?

My loved one is receiving hospice care and is nearing the end of her life. She told the family where her will was stored before she became incoherent. The will is in a sealed envelope.

James Clifton
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James Clifton
answered on Dec 29, 2024

Yes, it can be opened. Keep the original in a safe place so that it does not get lost or destroyed. Make a copy of the will just in case. If you need assistance interpreting or understanding any of the provisions in the will, schedule a free consultation. The consultation will also prepare you for... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Texas on
Q: My daughter was involved in a car accident she is a minor will the adjuster contact me for settlement???
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James Clifton
answered on Dec 23, 2024

If the adjuster does not contact you, you will need to reach out on behalf of your daughter. Since minors cannot legally settle claims on their own, you, or an attorney working with you, would be the one to communicate with insurance adjusters, handle negotiations, and sign any settlement... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Tax Law and Real Estate Law for Georgia on
Q: Is the land office allowed to sell property for taxes owed without a deed?

Also can the land office tax you for a house on open property and change status of farm to residence without your approval?

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James Clifton
answered on Dec 23, 2024

Yes, the tax commissioner can sell the property for past due taxes. If the sale has occurred, you still may be able to redeem the property by paying the past due amount plus interest, fees, etc. You may also be able to recover money from the tax sale. If a house was built on the property, the... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for California on
Q: I pay mortgage in my deceased parents home for years. Can my sister kick me out if she says she's the executor? No will

She says there's no will & she tells me to be out so she can sell it. I'm located in Hemet CA

.

James Clifton
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James Clifton
answered on Dec 23, 2024

If there is no will, she definitely isn't an executor as an executor is only appointed through a will. If she is the court appointed estate representative of your deceased parent's estate, she can only remove you with a court order. At some point in time, she can can remove you though and... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law and Foreclosure for California on
Q: My 2 nd mortgage foreclosed on me , I’m current with my first mortgage ,The second I owed $74 kMy 1st I owe $366,000

Whom ever bought the 2nd? Do I have to give my home/retirement to 2nd mortgage buyer? This is in California

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James Clifton
answered on Dec 20, 2024

If your second mortgage foreclosed on you, you are no longer the owner of the home. There is no need to pay the first mortgage. Whoever purchased the property at the foreclosure auction will have to pay your first mortgage if they want to keep the property. All hope is not lost though, you may be... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law, Divorce and Family Law for Texas on
Q: Hi, In Texas, is the house always split equally? I have made every mortgage payment and pay all utilities.

She has not contributed at all to the house even thought she did have a job some of the times. She would quiet or get fired after a few weeks. She is on the title of the house, but not the mortgage or any of the bills.

James Clifton
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James Clifton
answered on Dec 19, 2024

The house will be split equitably. If one person made more payments than the other, that can be taken into account when splitting up the asset. If this is a partition lawsuit, it is important that you are represented to maximize the amount you receive from the property. If this is a divorce, you... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Texas on
Q: My husband died with a will that requested all his debts to be payed on his passing. HIs dad was the executor

step mother co executor. His father passed before my husband. The step mother said she did not want anything to do with anything. The will said he was not married at the time but had a son. My husband did not know he had a son until the boy was 14years old and my husband had cone into an... View More

James Clifton
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James Clifton
answered on Dec 19, 2024

If the child is granted a portion of the estate in the will, he is entitled to whatever the will states. If the child is not granted anything in the will, he is not entitled to a portion of the estate. The will controls the distribution. If a person is married after they create the will and does... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Probate for Florida on
Q: How does life estate work with 50% undivided interest, both life estate tenants in common are deceased.

The home was purchased in 6/95. The deed states "a single woman, as to an undivided 50% interest with Life Estate to **** and same for a single man as to an undivided 50% interest with Life Estate to ****, tenants in common." There are two beneficiaries of the tenant that died in 1996... View More

James Clifton
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James Clifton
answered on Dec 6, 2024

The two heirs of the single woman inherit her 50% of the property. The three heirs of the single man inherit his 50% of the property. Probate will be required for the man and woman for their heirs to take their portions of the property. The previous attorney was probably referring to the tax basis... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law for Georgia on
Q: If 3 people's names are on a deed and 1 of the persons lives there exclusively. Can the other two charge him rent?
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James Clifton
answered on Dec 6, 2024

One co-owner cannot exclude the other co-owners. If they do, the other co-owners are entitled to a reasonable amount of rent from the co-owner who is excluding them. If they are unwilling to pay rent, your will have to file a lawsuit. You can force the sale of the property through a partition... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Child Support and Probate for Florida on
Q: When I sell my dad home he's deceased. Can child support in NY take areas owed by my brother and it affect my 50%.

Can my brother also sign a document giving me total 100%

James Clifton
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James Clifton
answered on Dec 5, 2024

Child support services cannot take your portion of the inheritance. If it is not too late, your brother can renounce his portion of the inheritance leaving you as the only owner of the property. In that case, child support services would have nothing to go after. A renunciation needs to be filed... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Texas on
Q: Is a spouse eligible to receive husbands inheritance that had not been given to him yet by the courts after he dies?
James Clifton
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James Clifton
answered on Dec 5, 2024

If the husband had no will, the husband's inheritance will pass to his heirs according to the laws of intestacy. The wife would be entitled to a portion of the estate as would any children of the husband. The wife will need to file probate on behalf of the husband to receive his inheritance.... View More

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5 Answers | Asked in Animal / Dog Law and Personal Injury for California on
Q: I was bitten by a dog 2 months ago on the wrist while house sitting and I have a referral to see a hand surgeon in June,

I was bitten on the wrist by a dog I was house sitting about 2 months ago, and it seems to have affected my tendons. The dog has a past history of biting, the owner's homeowner's insurance just paid out some money to a lady the same dog bit 6 months ago.

I also know that the... View More

James Clifton
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James Clifton
answered on Dec 2, 2024

Under the state's strict liability law for dog bites, where the dog owner is liable if their dog bites someone in a public place or lawfully on private property, like during house sitting, you have a very high likelihood of success in your claim. The dog's history of biting strengthens... View More

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4 Answers | Asked in Probate for Florida on
Q: I live in Indiana and inherited a vacant lot in Wakulla Co. Florida. My mom (the original owner) was also a resident of

Indiana. It’s still in her name. I want to sell it. What should I do?

James Clifton
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James Clifton
answered on Dec 1, 2024

You will need to file probate in Florida. How complicated the process will be depends on if probate has already been filed in Indiana. If it has, ancillary administration can be filed in Florida. If probate has not been filed in Indiana, an original probate must be filed in Florida. If the lot is... View More

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