Stolen Property: How a Real-Estate Attorney Can Sort the Sordid Details

It is very possible to steal land and the buildings on it, if you know how. More to the point, you may be a victim of property theft in your old age, since that is typically the age group that these thieves go after. While it is most heinous to think that thieves can and are willing to make Granny homeless, there is help. Talk to a real-estate attorney such as John M. Ogden, and be sure to bring any paperwork that the thieves gave you with you.

Tricking You to Sign Quit Claim Deeds

Some property thieves have used quit claim deeds as a means to steal land and homes from their owners. They peruse local foreclosure notices, searching for elderly homeowners who are desperate and possibly cognitively impaired enough to not fully read the papers they are given. Once these frauds narrow down their targets, they often pretend to be lawyers who want to help these elderly homeowners pro bono.

Believing the scam artists, and believing that this is a way to save their homes from foreclosure, they readily sign all the papers the frauds ask them to sign. Hidden in the stack is a quit claim deed, which allows the frauds to seize control of the property and kick the elderly owners to the curb. Meanwhile, the elderly homeowners are still bound to the mortgages and the promises they made to pay them.

Taking Action If This Has Happened to You or Someone You Love

In the event that this happens to your parent or grandparent, or if it has already happened to you, a real-estate lawyer can help. Clearly you did not know all that you were signing, despite the fact that you were told that the papers were meant to stop the foreclosure process. This does count as fraud, despite the fact that you or your family member are old enough to know that you should always read every document a lawyer or "lawyer" tells you to sign. As such, this deal may not be as ironclad as you might think the courts tend to view it.

Additionally, if you signed any other documents under duress or the promise of keeping your home, this may be difficult to prove, but doing so is worth the effort. If you or your family member suffer from cognitive impairments too (e.g., dementia, Alzheimer's, traumatic brain injury, and so forth), then the fraud posing as a lawyer could not have acted legally. Persons with cognitive impairments are frequently not allowed to sign anything without legal counsel and representation present. A real lawyer would know that, and that is how the real-estate lawyer can help you prove that the fraudulent one perpetrated a major crime.

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