Expert, localized Los Angeles answers provided by Heather Roy

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House in Aunt's Name

  I have been making mortage payments and taxes for 2 yrs. the house is under my aunts name, but the agreemnet was that in 2 years i would refi, to get her off loan, problem my agent never put my on title. do i have a case because she has never lived in the house and doesn't have any paper to proof that she has ever even paid a penny please help.
 
  If the house is in your aunt's name alone, you don't have a legal claim on it, and the money you've been paying so far pretty much counts simply as a rent payment to her.  (I assume you've been living there?)You can't refinance in your own name until you are an owner.  Sounds as if you and your aunt need to discuss the whole situation.  I can't tell just where each of you stands or what it is you want and what she wants.  But you'd better straighten the whole thing out. 
    Edith
Originally published on October 30, 2007
 
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