Real Estate

To change your California property title from "Joint Tenancy" to "Tenants in Common," one joint tenant must unilaterally sever the joint tenancy by executing and recording a new deed. This process eli...

To clear a deceased person's name from a California property title held in joint tenancy, you must complete an "Affidavit of Death of Joint Tenant," attach a certified death certificate, and record th...

Under California law, you have the right to make necessary repairs and deduct the cost from your rent, but you must follow a strict legal procedure to protect yourself from eviction. Here are the step...

To formally contest a wrongful property lien in California, you must file a legal action in court, such as a Petition to Release the Property from Lien or an Action to Quiet Title. Here is how to form...

To evict a California tenant for a nuisance or lease violation, you must serve a proper written notice and then, if they fail to comply, file an eviction lawsuit called an Unlawful Detainer. The speci...

To officially respond to a Notice of Default, you must immediately contact your mortgage servicer to request, complete, and submit a loss mitigation application to explore alternatives to foreclosure....

In California, a landlord must provide a formal written notice to a former tenant before storing, selling, or disposing of any personal property they leave behind. The specific steps depend on the est...

You can determine if a property has Mello-Roos or other special taxes by carefully reviewing the seller's legally required disclosure documents and independently verifying the information with the cou...

Under California law, your landlord must provide a safe and habitable home, which includes addressing significant mold problems that affect your health and safety. They are required to disclose known ...

To legally transfer your California real estate into a living trust, you must prepare, sign, and record a new deed with the county. This process formally retitles the property from your individual nam...

Under California law, a rental property is considered "habitable" if it is safe, sanitary, and fit for human occupation. The landlord is legally required to provide and maintain specific essential fea...

To properly report a legal nuisance, you must first create detailed documentation of the offense and then report it to the correct local agency, which is usually the police for noise or city/county co...

Once you sign a California lease, it is a legally binding contract, and you are responsible for the rent. However, your liability is limited because the landlord has a legal duty to find a replacement...

To clear a paid-off loan from your property title, you must ensure the lender files a "Deed of Reconveyance" with the county recorder. If the lender fails to act, you can make a formal demand or use a...

To draft a legally binding Tenants in Common Agreement, you must create a written contract defining each owner's shares, rights, and responsibilities, which all co-owners must sign. This agreement wor...

If your neighbor's construction is damaging your property, you must immediately document the damage, notify the responsible parties in writing, and identify their insurance and bond information for po...

To legally remove an unauthorized occupant in California, you must follow the formal civil eviction process, known as an unlawful detainer action. You cannot physically remove them yourself or lock th...

To legally convert your garage into a Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit (JADU) in California, you must obtain a permit from your local city or county by submitting compliant architectural plans and recor...

You can find the specific zoning ordinances and land use restrictions for your property through the planning or community development department of the city or county where your property is located. C...

A valid California home improvement contract must be a detailed written agreement that includes specific legal notices and financial limitations to protect you. These requirements ensure clarity on th...

You can legally cancel a listing agreement by formally requesting termination from your agent and their broker, ideally by mutual consent based on the agent's failure to perform their duties. A writte...

To properly serve a Notice to Pay Rent or Quit in California, you must prepare a written notice with specific required information and then deliver it to the tenant using one of three legally defined ...

To file a housing discrimination complaint in California, you must gather evidence of the discrimination and file a formal complaint with the state's Civil Rights Department (CRD) within one year of t...

Under California's Solar Rights Act, your HOA cannot prohibit or unreasonably restrict you from installing solar panels on your home. An HOA's restrictions are generally considered unreasonable if the...

Homeowners can legally challenge an unreasonable HOA rule or a large special assessment by first following a required internal and alternative dispute resolution process before pursuing litigation. Th...

To establish a formal access easement, you must first negotiate a written agreement with the neighboring property owner. If negotiation fails, you will need to file a lawsuit to have a court judiciall...

You can verify a contractor's license, insurance, and bond status for free on the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) website. Performing this check is a critical step to protect yoursel...

In California, your lender must provide specific notices before they can officially record a Notice of Default, which formally begins the foreclosure process. These notices are designed to give you an...

In California, you generally have the right to trim a neighbor's tree branches and roots that cross onto your property, but you must do so responsibly and at your own expense. If the tree's roots are ...

As a homeowner in a California homeowners association (HOA), you have a legal right to request and inspect most of the association's records. The process is straightforward and is governed by the Cali...

To legally add a person to the deed of your California home, you must prepare, sign, notarize, and record a new deed with the appropriate county office. Here are the steps to transfer a partial owners...

In California, your rights as a tenant are protected even if your rental property is sold or foreclosed; a new owner generally cannot immediately evict you and must honor your existing lease. Here is ...

To file a formal complaint against a licensed real estate agent in California, you must gather your evidence and submit a completed complaint form to the California Department of Real Estate (DRE) for...

To legally increase rent in California, you must provide the tenant with proper written notice that complies with state and local laws regarding the notice period and the maximum allowable increase. ...

To legally resolve a property line dispute in California, you typically need to file a lawsuit known as an "Action to Quiet Title" to have a court determine the true boundary line. Here is the process...

In California, a landlord must provide a tenant with reasonable written notice, presumed to be 24 hours, before entering a rental unit for specific, lawful purposes. Entry is generally restricted to n...

If you discover a major undisclosed defect, your primary action is to document the problem and demand compensation from the seller. If they refuse, you may need to pursue mediation or file a lawsuit t...

To find existing liens on a California property, you must search public records at the County Recorder's Office and, most importantly, obtain a Preliminary Title Report from a title insurance company....

Building an ADU in California requires preparing compliant architectural plans and obtaining a building permit from your local city or county government. State law streamlines this process, but you mu...

You can legally force the sale of a co-owned property through a court process called a partition action, which is an absolute right for co-owners in California. Here is how to initiate a partition act...

To get your full security deposit back in California, you must leave the property in good condition and provide proper notice; if the landlord makes improper deductions, you must send a demand letter ...

To remove an expired or invalid mechanic's lien, you can either obtain a signed release from the contractor or file a petition in court to have a judge order its removal. Here is how to remove an expi...

To file a valid mechanic's lien in California, you must strictly follow a series of legal steps within tight deadlines. Missing a step or deadline can invalidate your lien rights completely. Here are...

To formally dispute an HOA fine, you must review the violation notice and submit a written request for a hearing with the HOA board before the fine is officially imposed. California law grants you the...

To legally dispute your property tax assessment in California, you must file a formal "Assessment Appeal Application" with your county's Assessment Appeals Board before the annual deadline. Here is th...

To properly file a homestead declaration, you must complete a specific legal form, have it notarized, and record it with your county recorder's office. This process formally declares your home as your...

In California, you can legally break a lease if the landlord fails to repair serious problems that make the unit uninhabitable, a process known as "constructive eviction." Here's how to do it correctl...

To legally evict a tenant for non-payment of rent in California, you must serve a valid written notice and then file and win an Unlawful Detainer lawsuit in court. You cannot change the locks or remov...

In California, you are legally required to provide buyers with detailed written disclosures about the property's condition, known defects, and specific environmental or natural hazards. Here is how to...

You can legally back out of a real estate purchase agreement in California by using one of the contingency clauses in your contract within its specified timeframe. Here are the steps to cancel your ag...