Compare Mortgage Quotes

Refinance Rates for Today

Please enable JavaScript for the best experience.

In the mean time, check out our refinance rates!

Company Loan Type APR Est. Pmt.

Not on Mortgage Note or Deed But Being Sued for Foreclosure?

Posted on: 11th Nov, 2008 07:03 am
Hi, I'm stressing big time trying to determine if I am financially liable in my situation: I received a Summons and Notice of Lis Pendens for the foreclosure on a home I USED TO live in with my former fiance. At the time we wanted to buy the home my credit was so-so and his was excellent, he didnt want a bad interest rate on the loan so he insisted we run only his credit to get the loan. Problem is, we are no longer together, I moved out a year ago, and I found out he walked away from the home in June and hasnt made a payment since April 2008 now its being foreclosed on and they are sending me notices as though I'm involved. If I am not on the mortgage note, but am mentioned on mortgage paperwork that we processed at closing (since I was paying 1/2 the mortgage this was to establish residency and protect me as far as I knew), I am no longer on the deed (I double checked with the county and its in his name only), all taxes and property appraiser records show his name only, he was the only one who signed and initialed the actual mortgage note and all payments and paperwork from Countrywide were always in his name only. If this is the case, why am I being sued? or is that just a formality ? I need to know if they can mess with my credit (which I have finally brought up to 700's) Can you please set my mind straight one way or the other?? Thanks so much!! (I'm in Florida)
gone, you mentioned that you are "no longer on the deed." that gives me the impression that you once were. if so, that's why you're being served. if you were an owner of this property at the time that the mortgage was granted, then the foreclosing lender must serve you.

that you no longer have any interest in the property may not be relevant to them (depending on the jurisdiction you're located in), or perhaps they simply overlooked your lack of ownership interest in the property.

what i'd suggest now is for you to contact an attorney who can iron out these facts for you and eliminate your consternation.
Posted on: 11th Nov, 2008 10:39 am
Thanks George but I already went that route and the attorney wanted $1700.00 before he would even speak with me, if I had the money that's what I would have done, I don't have anything (I wasted thousands of dollars fixing up the house that my ex fiance has let go) my savings is completely gone now. I was trying to find an answer in general if someone isnt on the note and no bills ever came in their name and they arent on the deed (but were in 2006) would they be financially responsible is what I need to know, if anyone out there can tell me this I would greatly appreciate it
Posted on: 11th Nov, 2008 04:34 pm
Hi GoneWest2Again!

It would have been better if you would have followed George M. Akerley's advice of consulting an attorney. However, as it is not possible for you, I would suggest you to speak to the lender and show him the documents which states that your former fiance had taken the loan. You can also show the document which states that you presently do not have any interest in the property. May be the lender would consider your case.

Thanks.
Posted on: 11th Nov, 2008 07:28 pm
They probably sued you as a formality, but you cannot let this go. If you ignore it, you will receive a foreclosure judgment on your credit history. In the future, creditors will not be able to tell whether you were on the mortgage or not, it will just appear as a foreclosure judgment on the public record.

You can do this yourself, or you can hire that attorney. $1,700 is about right for a fee for this. You will likely recover attorney's fees at the end, so you will probably get this money back.

First, you must respond to the lawsuit. You must file a written response with the court. There is usually a form for this; check the clerk's office, or your local county law library.

Next, prepare, sign and notarize, and file a Quitclaim deed. Then, send a copy to the plaintiff's attorney and request in writing to be dismissed from the lawsuit. If they deny your request threaten to file a "motion for summary judgment with costs". You can also raise the issue at the first court appearance (usually a status conference).

If the attorney still denies it, or more likely, just ignores you, you should hire an attorney to file the motion. Include a request for attorney's fees. If the judge denies the request at the motion, you can request attorney's fees when judgment is entered in your favor.

Good luck! Do not ignore this.
Posted on: 12th Nov, 2008 07:04 am
despite your disclaimer, jheard, i recognize good advice from a legal standpoint.

as i've said previously, i am so gratified that quality people with quality advice have happened along on this site. i hope gonewest follows your advice, and that in doing so, it will be fruitful.

keep it up!
Posted on: 12th Nov, 2008 07:14 am
I spoke with my attorney about this situation. My husband lost his job in 2008, We moved into our home in 2005.. our mortgage is $2K a month for a 1600 sq ft home. The reason I describe the home is because $2K a month sound like you're living in a mansion and we're not. We tried to get modification help from 2 companies, visited the congressman's office, wrote to the white house, you name it. Nobody is able to help us and we have just recently been served with an action for a summary judgment for foreclosure. My attorney says that I need to contact the court house because I am not on the note, but being sued. He said this is called Malicious Abuse of Process. He also feels that because this is damaging to my credit report that I will have an action against the bank for including me in the suit.
Posted on: 06th Mar, 2010 07:33 pm
the question here, then, is this: are you an owner of this house of yours? if you are, then the lender is required to include you as a defendant in its suit. any party - you, your husband, another lienholder, the taxing authority and on and on - must be included in order for the lawsuit to be valid.

if you are an owner, then i question the credentials of your lawyer for telling you that you're being wrongfully sued.
Posted on: 06th Mar, 2010 07:43 pm
I signed for a Mortgage for my relatives about. This makes me financial responsible for the Mortgage I realize this. They are making payments.
My question is? They are on the Deed of the house.
The agreement (verbal) was 3 conditions.
1) Get a copy of Credit History and start rebuilding within due time they
Have the mortgage in there OWN name at a reasonable APR rate.
I would sign the House over.
2) Go for marriage counseling.
3) Go on a budget Plan and take a 101 class.
At this stage none of the above has happen. Spoken with both parties and they refuse to sign the deed over to me. I didnt sign-up for this for 3o yrs. This has been clearly stated from the very beginning. What ARE my rights for being such a Trusting FOOL for relative?
Posted on: 12th Mar, 2010 11:47 am
Hi Guest,

As the agreement has been verbal, there is hardly anything you can do in this regard. Nevertheless, I would suggest you to contact an attorney and check out if he can help you in this regard.
Posted on: 12th Mar, 2010 09:38 pm
dear help me...cosigning is a risky business with anyone, be it family or not. my first question to you is this: was there a specified timeframe in your verbal agreement as to when the counseling, the class, the new mortgage were to take place? if not, you could be in for a long haul.

i would have to think that a verbal agreement will stick up in court, with the right lawyer on your side, anyway. if your family members will own up to the reality of the agreement in court, that ought to result in a judgment in your favor.

of course, you didn't say when you did this act of kindness. if it was a few years ago, before the markets changed for the worse, then that will raise another whole group of issues. for example, in this economic climate, are they even able to refinance? have they suffered economically as have the rest of us? have they been able or unable to effectively attack the credit issues you mentioned? obviously these will all affect their ability to refinance.

the difficult situation we are all in now is causing much agita with cosigners, as people for whom they've signed are simply unable to do what the original master plan was for them to do - refinance and take out the cosigner asap.

get a lawyer...see if you've got a leg to stand on in court...and continue to make entreaties to your relatives to do the right thing.
Posted on: 16th Mar, 2010 12:45 pm
my husband is the only one on this loan, (my name is NOT),yet they include me in the foreclosure suit, (this mortgage company, in the past would NOT discuss anything with me about this account..they said I was not on the account) .Husband had to fax written authorization to them. So can they still sued me also,when they themselves have said i wasn't on the account
Posted on: 20th Nov, 2010 06:27 am
Welcome bobbie,

As your name is not mentioned on the mortgage docs, you are not liable for the loan. The lender cannot sue you for the dues.
Posted on: 21st Nov, 2010 09:11 pm
I'm late in chiming in, but if you are an owner of the property, Bobbie, then the lender must take action against you. They are also correct in not allowing you to have information about the loan, because you're not a borrower. In order for the bank to foreclose, they must act against all owners of the property; hence you're included, as you must have an ownership interest in the home.
Posted on: 20th Dec, 2010 06:53 pm
My stepmother and father died within weeks of each other early in 2010. I was left insurance policy cash, but stepsib was made executor and residual legatee for everything in the house, including the house. She is disputing the insurance inheritance through legal means, but I hadn't heard anything from my lawyer in FLA in months about it.

Now I learn (by online research; no one has sent me any documents) that I am named by Wells Fargo as a party (with stepsib and "John Doe") to a foreclosure lawsuit. How can I be sued if I never had my name on the deed/title, the mortgage/lien, nor received ownership in the property through my dad's will?

Could she have named me a part-owner of the property without my knowledge or informing my lawyer? How do I prove this property is not mine, and that I have never had any legal or financial interest in it?
Posted on: 03rd Mar, 2011 04:44 pm
Hi Jeannie!

Welcome to forums!

If your name is not on the mortgage, then you won't be liable to pay the loan and the foreclosure won't be listed in your name. You should contact the lender and sort out the matter. Your step-sibling cannot transfer the property in his/her name without your signatures or permission.

Sussane
Posted on: 03rd Mar, 2011 09:59 pm
Page loaded in 0.134 seconds.