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Ohio Real Estate Law Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Collections for Ohio on
Q: My dad passed away a year ago, what happens if i stop paying for his storage unit.

I have been paying for the units for over a year but they are not in my name nor did i sign any rental agreement i just took over payments. I have full access to the account. Will it hurt my credit or go to collections for me if i just stop paying for them

Aaron Epling
Aaron Epling
answered on Jul 29, 2022

If you're not a party to the contract with the storage unit company, then I don't believe you can be held liable under any of its terms.

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Land Use & Zoning for Ohio on
Q: 23 years ago.Rear of lot against 55 acres farm land with fence 4ft from mine. Maintained land 4ft.Prescriptive easement

23 years ago I bought and built a home on a lot 80 x 125 feet with back of lot against a 55 acre Open field With an old Barb-wired fence 4ft in a tree line against the back of my lot from my property line. I have maintained and taken care of this 4 feet up to the Fenceline for the duration of that... View More

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Jul 29, 2022

An easement like that is not automatic. It must be established by filing in court claiming adverse possession. Use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local real estate attorney to review the real estate records and all the facts of the situation, and then advise you of your options.

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Ohio on
Q: Do I have any claim of ownership in a house I've paid 50% of all the total housing expenses of, but my name isn't on?

Instead of my fiancé and I both having our name on the title when we first starting living together, she suggested I just pay the mortgage and utilities until we reached that 50/50 split of total money invested into the house (and use my other savings for a ring).

Fast forward two years... View More

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Jul 27, 2022

You have a potential claim -- but you will have to try to prove in court if you and she cannot agree on a fair solution. There is no guarantee you would win in court. A court can enforce an oral contract, but you would have to prove the terms of the agreement. Two people living together do not... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Ohio on
Q: Can an HOA force me to put Solar panels on the back of my roof

The HOA is telling me I need to put Solar only on the back of my house and this becomes disadvantageous for going Solar. I am well aware of SB 61 which states that HOAs can put reasonable restriction on Solar. Yet their restrictions are making it so that there is only a detriment on going solar.... View More

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Jul 26, 2022

You'll need an attorney to review the HOA declaration and actions by the board, and then advise you, but there is no way an attorney can predict the outcome of litigation if the HOA sues you for failure to comply. Use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local real estate attorney to review all... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant and Real Estate Law for Ohio on
Q: I own my home, but rent the lot on which it is located. If my landlord decided to sell the lot, what are my options?

I purchased my home, but the lot on which it was located is a rental. I was curious if my landlord decided to sell the lot, and I couldn’t afford to physically move my home what would I do? My landlord is getting old, and I worry if he dies or sells I will lose my home.

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Jul 25, 2022

If you do not have a solid, long-term, written lease agreement that is signed and notarized, then a new owner could ask you to leave when your lease expires. A lease that could last more than 3 years must have the signatures of landlord and tenant notarized, or else it could be terminated. Use... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Ohio on
Q: what damages can seller of home sue for if buyer breaches contract? Can seller keep home as pending on MLS?

Buyer terminated contract said appraisal didn't meet. They were ask to provide appraisal and said their Atty. said they were not obligated to do so. They are asking for earnest money back. What damages can I sue for and can I keep house pending on MLS and for how long?

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Jul 21, 2022

If there is a dispute about earnest money, then it must be held until buyer and seller reach agreement, or a court says what to do with it. If nothing happens in 2 years, then the earnest money is returned to the buyer. In a lawsuit for breach of contract, seller's damages could be the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Ohio on
Q: Am I, as a townhome owner, responsible for the replacement of dry-rotted studs on exterior walls?

The siding has been repaired in the 5.5 years I have lived here, when it should have been replaced. The patching and hammering for repairs is what cause the drip edge to fail, thereby causing the damage. HOA states that they will replace siding, but I have to pay for the studs, even though it is... View More

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Jul 19, 2022

It depends on how the Condominium Declaration defines your "unit." If it is from the interior surface of the walls, then the studs would be part of the condominium common area and the responsibility of the condo association to make repairs. Contact your insurance agent and then use the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents, Real Estate Law and Landlord - Tenant for Ohio on
Q: Who is responsible for a power line/box/meter being ripped off onto my car?

A power outage occurred. The power company was repairing a transformer. A semi went by, had to get over as far as possible to get by the power company vehicle and in the process it ripped a line/pole/box/meter down onto my car. The power company employees said it occurred because the pole was too... View More

Michael Lewis Eisner
Michael Lewis Eisner
answered on Jul 8, 2022

Generally, a truck driver is responsible to make sure he/she only travels through proper clearances. Accordingly, there is a legitimate argument that he/she was negligent. The owner of the property may also be negligent in maintaining a nuisance on their property and infringing upon the public... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Ohio on
Q: While under contract to buy a home the seller created an easement with the neighbor. It was recorded 7 days after I clos

The easement was signed by the seller and my neighbor in August. My contract to purchase the home was July. I closed on the purchase on 8/31/2021 and the easement was recorded in sept.

Although I understand why an easement might be needed, I am not comfortable with the current language in... View More

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Jun 8, 2022

It is legally possible for a seller to grant an easement while still owning the property before the closing, although many purchase contracts say seller can't do that. But if seller does it anyway, the easement is still valid, but seller's action would be a breach giving the buyer a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law and Real Estate Law for Ohio on
Q: Hello. The final piece of property from my Fathers Estate was sold. As a beneficiary I received a distribution

of those assets. A small amount of money was left in the estate bank account. The property transferred to the new owners on April 1, 2022. The Executrix of the Estate asked the Probate court to extend the administration of the estate for another year on April 28, 2022 and put the reason for the... View More

Moshe Toron
Moshe Toron
answered on Jun 7, 2022

It is pretty routine to ask for an extension. The Executrix must prepare a final accounting and that can take some time. Also, a tax return might need to be filed for the profit from the sale of the house. That could be why the Executrix is holding back a small amount of funds.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law, Real Estate Law and Probate for Ohio on
Q: My Father passed away in 2020. The Estate Exemption for that year was $11.58 million. It was a small estate so it was

not used. Can the Estate Exemption be transferred to the heirs? What can be done?

Moshe Toron
Moshe Toron
answered on Jun 7, 2022

It can only be transferred to a spouse. Also, it must be done within a short window of time.

1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning and Real Estate Law for Ohio on
Q: Issue with neighbor house

I own a home in Ohio that was built in the early 1900’s along with its surrounding homes. It’s in a neighborhood where the houses are very close together, but the house to the left of ours is abnormally close like 4ft. They are missing gutters along that side of the house that borders ours and... View More

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on May 24, 2022

Tell them you will talk to the local building dept. which might issue a building code violation. Or you could sue them for any damages caused by the excessive water.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law and Real Estate Law for Ohio on
Q: 45 yrs living & paying property tax in brothers house. Do I have a claim now that he died with deed in his name?

I have lived in family house about 30 years, maintained all of it, paid all taxes to date. My mom used priest many years ago to put house in me and my bro name when she died but house only went in his because of a nasty divorce I had when younger and I cannot find the priest or have paperwork. My... View More

Andrew Popp
Andrew Popp
answered on May 23, 2022

There is no short answer to this question. I highly recommend sitting down with an attorney to see if there are any avenue's you can take in trying to keep the house.

Best of luck.

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law, Domestic Violence and Landlord - Tenant for Ohio on
Q: Can my landlord have me escorted off the property, if I'm not on the lease?

I and my sons have been living here since October of 2021. The landlord and lease holder refused to out us in a lease. I had the lease holder arrested for domestic violence against me. After which the landlord wrote me note saying I could stay. Two days later, after speaking with my abuser, lease... View More

Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
answered on May 15, 2022

He will have to evict you, if you’ve been living there but he can as you have no lease. If the defendant in your DV case put him up to this, the defendant has almost certainly violated the terms of a court no contact order which generally includes not doing anything to mess with the victim’s... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Ohio on
Q: Can an HOA create a rental cap?

We have quite a few homes being sold to rental companies and those companies do not respond well to any HOA rules targeted at making the home acceptable in appearance per our CCRs. Nor do they engage in any type of vote. Can we put a cap of 15% on rentals allowed?

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on May 9, 2022

The HOA can amend its declaration by following the process specified in the declaration and recording the amendment in the county recorder's office. The HOA board can retain a local real estate attorney to assist with that process.

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Ohio on
Q: My ex husband just passed. My name is on the deed of the house but not on the mortgage. We never did a quick claim deed.

Would I have any claim to the house?

Bruce Martin Broyles
Bruce Martin Broyles
answered on May 4, 2022

Sorry for your loss.

The lender who hold the mortgage should treat you as a successor in interest and continue to accept payments on the mortgage from you as well as discuss loss mitigation options with you if you have fallen behind as a result of your husband's recent passing.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law, Real Estate Law and Elder Law for Ohio on
Q: Forgot to say in my previous post...

I forgot to say a few more things about that equity line of credit issue with my mother. Her house is in disastrous condition and is worth far, far less than what she owes the bank. So the bank simply taking the house, I don't think that will satisfy them, unless (I hope) by law that's... View More

Moshe Toron
Moshe Toron
answered on Apr 6, 2022

It depends on the loan agreement.

In any event, you are not personally responsible for the loan.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law, Real Estate Law and Elder Law for Ohio on
Q: Home Equity Line of Credit -- Will I be responsible?

Years ago the bank made me a co-owner (joint checking account) of my mother's checking account. I wanted to just be POA to help pay her bills, but they made me a joint owner instead. She has a $55,000 line of credit on her home that she will never pay off. She is under hospice care and pretty... View More

Moshe Toron
Moshe Toron
answered on Apr 6, 2022

They will foreclose on the house to get paid.

They can't go after you personally.

3 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Ohio on
Q: My brother and I who are both veterans are getting ready to buy a home together... i have been his caregiver for over 40

years. And am also over his healthcare. We plan on holding our property undivided half interest, fee simple, with right of survivorship... now our sister has a power of attorney he granted her about 12 years ago. Will she be able to sell his interest or otherwise intervene in our property?

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Mar 28, 2022

All he has to do is revoke that old POA by sending her a formal notice of revocation. He should also send notice of revocation to anyone anywhere who has a copy of it. And he should demand the return of the original so he can destroy it.

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1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Ohio on
Q: In Ohio I have a mortgage with my wife she wants off the mortgage to be able to get her own mortgage .. can we do that

We don't want to refinance just sign off

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Mar 28, 2022

The mortgage holder would have to sign a release, and is unlikely to do that. Call them mortgage holder.

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