Hire a Service or Do-It-Yourself (DIY)? What are my options?*
- Do-It-Yourself (DIY)– You can go to either an office supply store or online through one of the legal Internet form stores. Although the online form stores may offer a “free” form, you often have to go through multiple screens before you find it. This can be frustrating for many people. Or, you can pay a nominal fee for the form for your State, however, good luck filling it out correctly. It is important to know what information to put where. Often the online stores do not identify what specific State/County forms are required in order to Record in that County. If you purchase the form at an office supply store, you then have to research how to complete it and what forms go with it. They also do not include State/County specific forms.
- Hire an Attorney– If you belong to a monthly subscription legal program, they will direct you to the form and you will need to complete it yourself. If you have an attorney, find out what they will charge you and how long it will take to get this done. Your attorney is, undoubtedly, busy and often times will delegate this function to a staff member which can be fine. In today’s business environment, attorneys are specialists just like every other profession. Be sure to ask your attorney if they or someone in their firm is experienced in real estate documents. The major question with using an attorney is the cost and time frame.
- Title & Escrow Company– By far this is the best way to accurately change title to a property. An Escrow Officer is experienced in purchases and refinances of real property. About six years ago, title and escrow companies moved away from doing after closing accommodation regarding title changes. This opened the door for companies like Quick Claim USA to provide a post-closing accommodation for title changes to real property. Make sure that the service company you work with is using a similar deed to what the title company uses. In Nevada, we use Grant Bargain Sale Deeds. When you purchased your property, this is the Deed that your Escrow company used to transfer title. You want to use a Service Provider that is familiar with the typing of both the Grantor (seller) and Grantee (buyer), the State specific forms and how to use the exemptions, when applicable. The cost for using a Service Provider Company is usually less than hiring an attorney. While DIY would be the lowest initial cost, it does not provide the expertise to prevent errors, frustrations and additional cost in the long run.
Bottom line – consider your budget, your time and your time frame. Don’t be pennywise and pound foolish when it comes to handling what is likely your biggest asset, your home. In some cases, if an error is made, it is not discovered until after the death of one of the named persons on the title. Don’t leave this to chance.
*Please note the above information is specific to the State of Nevada. Everyone should consult legal counsel with any questions of a legal nature.
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Quick Claim USA and their employees are not attorneys in the State of Nevada or in any other State or Jurisdiction. Quick Claim USA is not licensed to give legal advice and may not accept fees for giving legal advice. Should you have questions regarding any of the above items, you must seek the advice of independent legal/tax counsel of your choosing.
