Hillsborough, NC asked in Real Estate Law for North Carolina

Q: If I did not sign a disclosure form when we bought our home 12 years ago, Can I be sued by anybody?

Related Topics:
1 Lawyer Answer
Rachel Lea Hunter
Rachel Lea Hunter
Answered
  • Cary, NC
  • Licensed in North Carolina

A: Can you be sued? Yes. Anybody can sue anybody else at any time for anything. Is it likely? Assuming some kind of breach of contract or duty occurred 12 years ago, the answer is probably not. It would depend on why they were suing and when they discovered the harm/injury.

What kind of disclosure form are you talking about and why would a buyer have to sign it? I am familiar with residential real property disclosures or lead based paint or some other disclosures (could be environmental/nuisance hazard). Those forms have to be signed by the seller and acknowledge to the buyer that these conditions exist or do not exist. That way if the seller lies or fails to disclose the buyer can sue the seller. If you are the buyer and none of the things covered by the typical disclosures have emerged in 12 years, then it will be difficult to show that the seller lied to you.

Why is this an issue for you now?

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.