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Tennessee Real Estate Law Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Tax Law for Tennessee on
Q: Why does a Tennessee tax deed need a quiet title suit for insurance?

I'm trying to obtain title insurance for a property bought at a Tennessee delinquent tax sale seven years ago. The title company advised me to file a quiet title suit, but Tennessee state law claims absolute title is granted one year after purchase. Why is there a discrepancy between the law... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Mar 14, 2025

If an insurance company demands certain assurances of title, then they do not have to issue a policy if they are not satisfied. Try to find another title insurance company as there are different requirements and lawyers involved. Or do not buy an owner's title policy. Or cure the title... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Real Estate Law for Tennessee on
Q: Am I entitled to more than 50% of house sale proceeds after divorce?

I bought a house before I was married. Two years after purchasing, I got married, and four years later, we refinanced the house under both of our names. We have since divorced, and the divorce settlement only stated that I would occupy the house and be responsible for all costs associated with it... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Mar 13, 2025

Unless you gave him a deed or the Judge vested him with an interest, he has no titled interest in house. Did your lawyer not tell you this? When you sell it, and some title company wants him to give you a deed or give him money, go somewhere else. Getting a deed of trust does not bestow... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Land Use & Zoning for Tennessee on
Q: Do I need to abide by a 50-year-old deed restriction on mobile homes in TN?

I recently purchased a manufactured home with the intention of placing it on my mother's land in Tennessee. I have a legal waiver signed by her permitting the placement of the home and have obtained the necessary septic permit. The home was delivered by the home center yesterday. A neighbor... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Mar 7, 2025

If you place the mobile home there, you take an extreme risk of a nearby property owner suing you and your Mother for a mandatory injunction to remove it. Arguably there is no SOL on enforcing such a covenant that was created on all parcels from the original tract. Sorry but you should have... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law, Probate and Tax Law for Tennessee on
Q: Can I file a lien to recover property taxes paid on an inherited property in probate?

I paid the property taxes on 2 acres my brother-in-law owned in Nashville, Tennessee, after he died (in 2020, 2021, and 2023). The property is currently in probate. It is recorded in both the tax and probate records that I paid these taxes. The property is supposed to be auctioned, but there's... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Feb 24, 2025

You may be able to file a claim against the estate. It may be late but whoever the representative is might not file an objection, especially since you have materially assisted the preservation of the real property. You might want to look into what a perspective bid at a tax sale might be... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law, Collections and Contracts for Tennessee on
Q: Is lien allowed and am I still obligated to pay after home sale?

I recently sold my home and found out there was a lien on the property from a creditor with whom I have a structured settlement. I was not informed of this lien by the creditor or my debt relief company, and discovered it at closing. No advice was given, and the settlement amount was $10,580. So... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Feb 23, 2025

You should get the debt relief agency to do their job, which is actually practicing law without a license. So I am not surprised at this result as you made a mistake going to them. If there is a lien, then a judgment must have been entered. Look at the judgment, compute the amount with legal... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Tax Law and Real Estate Law for Tennessee on
Q: Which value do I use for capital gains tax on inherited property sold in TN?

I received a property through a quit claim deed from my mother in 2023, and she continued to live there until she passed away in early 2024. She originally purchased the house in 1995 for $95,000. The property's value was approximately $350,000 at the time of her passing, and I sold the house... View More

Phillip Todd Zagotti
Phillip Todd Zagotti
answered on Feb 16, 2025

Hi there.

Unfortunately, when you inherited the property, you received your mother's original basis, which is $95,000. This amount will be used to calculate any capital gains.

If you had inherited the property after her passing, you would have benefited from a step-up in basis...
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1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning and Real Estate Law for Tennessee on
Q: I just bought the lot next door. The neighbors power and City Water run across my new lot. Can I make them move them?

The lot in question was one big rectangle that was sub-divided into two lots. The right front corner is one lot and a large flag lot the other. A house was put on the small right front corner and the water was run underground crossing the left front corner of the flag lot. The original owner of... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Jan 27, 2025

Have you searched your title? If no recorded easements, then try to estimate how long those pipes have been underground. 20 years gives them prescriptive use easements, and they maybe have easements through other laws. I doubt you are able to build without marking the ground where the pipes... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: My uncle passed away 11/21. He left his estate to my grandmother and her disabled daughter. His wife was the executor

His wife decided to sue for half of estate.My nana passed away 02/22 while in the nursing home. TennCare immediately put a lean on my uncles estate. Judge ordered all assets to be auctioned. My aunt, whom is disabled still resided in the home. How can TennCare sieze property if a disabled person... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Nov 9, 2024

Daughter was not an owner of the property, so TennCare Lien against Uncle had priority against any heir of his. The Estate was the place to fight the Lien. Everything is apparently over now. Probating the Estate was the mistake, as Spouse could have got a year's support, third of... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Real Estate Law and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: What are my options for speeding up a sale?

I am in the process of buying property from heirs of an estate. Apparently the estate was still in probate and the lawyer is delaying the closing. Acontract was signed with all heirs agreeing to the sale and the price. The contract expires on October 31. The money has already been paid but the... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Oct 22, 2024

You can hire an attorney to search the title and examine the Probate Case to evaluate it yourself. Sometimes some heirs are not cooperative, but could be persuaded. But sometimes the title is bad and cannot be properly conveyed. Claims may be affecting the solvency of the Estate, or... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Tennessee on
Q: Do I need to find & notify all possible relatives?

My cousin passed in 2019. I'm the only one taking care of his property & house. Do I still need to get a lawyer to find lost relatives, etc. in order to proceed with legalities to sell his place before the house gets run down too much. His parents are deceased, he had no siblings, never... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Aug 5, 2024

You are correct about hiring an attorney to establish heirship and selling the property. Also keep taxes paid and ask for reimbursement for your expenses later although there is no right to recover them. The Affidavit of Heirship will be difficult but not impossible. And a title search is... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Tennessee on
Q: I recently applied for home equity loan and found 2 judgements on the title from my wife now ex wife.

They renewed the 1 judgement and is there anyway I can get this dismissed as we are not married for the last 6 years ..I also had a bankruptcy 8 years ago and kept the house and has always been in my name..

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Jul 10, 2024

If your wife never owned your property then her judgment lien never attached to your title. Hire an attorney to carefully search the title. If lien is only against her, and never attached to property, than borrow money elsewhere if necessary if present lender mistakenly believes your title is... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Small Claims and Real Estate Law for Tennessee on
Q: I purchased my home over nine years ago. I had an inspection and everything he found we turn it over to the seller and

he fixed it but it was just minor stuff. I’ve had issue after issue with this house ever since especially the plumbing. Warranty company won’t pay because there’s a water house stuck in there. Don’t have a clue how it got in there and that’s probably that cause of all the plumbing issues... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Jun 20, 2024

Whatever residential disclosures that were made by the seller or real estate agent are way outside the SOL for suit. However a breach of contract action on your Warranty might not have run. Hire an attorney to look at your Warranty, examine your damages, and then file suit. If damages are... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Tennessee on
Q: What do you do when you have a signed contract for real estate purchase, and then the seller walks away?

I submitted a contract with earnest money to purchase a home. The seller went silent right before closing. My (buyers) contingencies were that HVAC leak be repaired and that boundary encroachment be resolved. The seller's contingencies was that my current home be sold so we could close early.... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Jun 18, 2024

Apparently the contingencies have not been cured, so the contract on its face is voided. If you paid out earnest money, ask or sue in GS for it back. With that many serious problems, you knew it would not be executed. Suing for Specific Performance would be crazy. Buy elsewhere and hire... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: Hi my dad has passed away he lived in Tennessee he he lived with a companion but there not married deed is on his name

Do I have rights to have deed changed in my name

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answered on Jun 2, 2024

The answer to your question is it depends on a lot of other things, but the bottom line is a probate attorney can help you with this. You should schedule consultation and be prepared to answer questions about whether he was still married to someone else, whether he had other children besides you,... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Tennessee on
Q: Correction of deed-- what to do when the previous owner-seller is not available to sign ?

My vacant lot is in escrow and in order to close filing the correction is needed ( a legal description not complete ).

The previous owner is not able to be reached. How to proceed?

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on May 31, 2024

You will need to hire an attorney to cure the title defect. A title search will be required first and then the attorney can analyze how to cure the title defect. You should have known about the title problem a long time ago. Some defects cannot be cured except by lengthy time periods under... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Tax Law and Real Estate Law for Tennessee on
Q: Can a person who has not paid there property taxes in over ten years be forced into sale of their property in Tennessee?

And the person is mentally disabled

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on May 26, 2024

In Tennessee, if a property owner fails to pay their property taxes, the county can initiate a tax sale to recover the delinquent taxes. This process is known as a tax lien sale or tax deed sale. However, there are certain protections and considerations for mentally disabled individuals.

1....
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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: In a valid 'Last Will & Testament' w/ a 'real property' that has a direct beneficiary listed, can this by-pass Probate ?

In a valid 'Last Will and Testament' there is two real properties listed to be be inherited each by name as a direct

beneficiaries to each respective property, does this still have to go thru Probate Court since the valid will clearly list each 'real property' with a... View More

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answered on May 16, 2024

The only answers that can be given to your questions are "maybe" and "sort of". There is no avoiding probate court when the decedent had a will that devised real property. The only question is which kind of probate. It might be a very simple court process or it might be a... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Land Use & Zoning and Real Estate Law for Tennessee on
Q: Can TN new neighbor change location of my easement if I have easement deed?
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answered on May 13, 2024

Not without your permanent agreement. But he can try to terminate the easement or file a declaratory judgment action on it. Having an easement in your chain of title is worthless as it must be in the servient estate's title.

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Tennessee on
Q: My home was taken by my lien holder. I lived there for 20 yrs. I'm in Tennessee, how do i claim surplus money for the s

The property sold for 230k I owed less than 100k . This all happened July-Aug of 2023

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on May 9, 2024

Hire an attorney to sue the Trustee for the money. The surplus will not be as large as you think as the noteholder has all the discretion in adding up the total debt. You must sue fast, and collection of the judgment can be difficult.

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law for Tennessee on
Q: The location of our well was never disclosed. It's on the next door property.

We have owned the home for four years and just recently found out our well is shared and about 120' off our property. Do we have any legal recourse against the seller?

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answered on May 7, 2024

More than likely there was a Residential Disclosure Statement made by the grantors. Did you read it? Even if it lied about the waster supply, the 1 year SOL has passed. You need to search your title and the title where the well is situated. There may be a breach of covenant there, but it is... View More

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