Real Estate Law

The attorneys of Wilcox & Peirano LLP have substantial experience in handling a variety of real estate issues and disputes for their clients. If a real estate sales transaction goes badly the buyer and the seller may have signficant rights can be protected with quick legal action. For instance, if the seller refuses to close the escrow, the buyer can sue for "specific performance" of the purchase contract. In such cases, a "notice of pendency of action" is recorded when the lawsuit is first filed and that notice clouds the title to the real property so that it cannot be sold during the lawsuit. Contractors also have rights to real property through the "mechanic's lien" they can record for the value of their services that improve real property. The attorneys of Wilcox & Peirano LLP have experience representing general and subcontractors on mechanic's lien claims. Also in today's aging society, elders are often taken advantage of by other family members or thid parties. It is unfortunately not very difficult to have a deed prepared to add a person's name on to title as a joint tenant with the elder and then convince the elder to sign it before a notary. Unfortunately, to void that deed requires a lawsuit to "quiet title" to remove the offending deed once the financial elder abuse is discovered. In the meantime, the joint tenancy can be terminated and reduced to a tenancy in common with the recordation of an appropriate affidavit; but to completely remove the other tenant in common and to void the deed that added his or her name, requires a lawsuit. Wilcox & Peirano LLP have successfully handled such lawsuits. The firm also has substantial experience in representing individuals and business owners who are suffering a "taking" of their real property by a public entity or redevelopment agency. This procedure is called "eminent domain" and the attorneys of Wilcox & Peirano LLP can help the affected owner receive the maximum compensation for the taking to which they are entitled.