Am i legally obligated to pay property taxes missed by the title co.?

Closed Thread
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 05-11-2020, 06:00 PM
boxcarwilly boxcarwilly is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 120
Thanks: 43
Thanked 59 Times in 32 Posts
Default Am i legally obligated to pay property taxes missed by the title co.?

Sold our condo in Maine all went well but the title co(law firm actually) failed to include outstanding property taxes approx 1500.00. They want me to pay them ASAP. Am i legally obligated to pay this? They mentioned something to the effect they could put a lien on our new property here in the villages.Thanks in advance.
  #2  
Old 05-11-2020, 06:07 PM
Jayhawk's Avatar
Jayhawk Jayhawk is offline
Gold member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,451
Thanks: 3
Thanked 1,772 Times in 512 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by boxcarwilly View Post
Sold our condo in Maine all went well but the title co(law firm actually) failed to include outstanding property taxes approx 1500.00. They want me to pay them ASAP. Am i legally obligated to pay this? They mentioned something to the effect they could put a lien on our new property here in the villages.Thanks in advance.
Is it your debt? If it is, I think you know what to do.
  #3  
Old 05-11-2020, 06:13 PM
retiredguy123 retiredguy123 is online now
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 13,954
Thanks: 2,275
Thanked 13,422 Times in 5,111 Posts
Default

If you owed the taxes on a property you owned, then, I would think you are obliged to pay the tax. Just because they made a mistake doesn't relieve you of the tax liability. But, as far as putting a lien on your house in The Villages, that sounds like a premature threat. They would need to sue you, get a judgement, and then, if you don't pay the judgement, they can try to seize any assets you own as part of a collection process, to include a lien on your Villages house. But, if you really owe the tax, and they made an honest mistake, the best thing to do is to pay the tax.
  #4  
Old 05-11-2020, 06:53 PM
rustyp rustyp is offline
Sage
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,965
Thanks: 5,220
Thanked 2,278 Times in 807 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by boxcarwilly View Post
Sold our condo in Maine all went well but the title co(law firm actually) failed to include outstanding property taxes approx 1500.00. They want me to pay them ASAP. Am i legally obligated to pay this? They mentioned something to the effect they could put a lien on our new property here in the villages.Thanks in advance.
Ask your lawyer. Are you really going to take advice from an internet blog ?
  #5  
Old 05-11-2020, 07:42 PM
kathyspear's Avatar
kathyspear kathyspear is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Village of Valle Verde
Posts: 849
Thanks: 321
Thanked 930 Times in 299 Posts
Default

One of the many documents we signed during each of our home sales/purchases states that if an error is made and we owe money, we will pay it. I suspect you signed something similar. Check your documents.

kathy
  #6  
Old 05-11-2020, 08:07 PM
villagetinker's Avatar
villagetinker villagetinker is offline
Sage
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Village of Pinellas
Posts: 9,587
Thanks: 2
Thanked 6,002 Times in 2,199 Posts
Default

I would have thought they would have had some from of a performance clause (like H&R Block has) where they would be liable for this, HOWEVER, you are dealing with lawyers, a fight you probably cannot win. IMHO, the taxes must be paid, if you can find someone with a legal background to look at your agreement with your "title company" thay may be able to tell you if this is worth pursuing, but I doubt it.
__________________
Pennsylvania, for 60+ years, most recently, Allentown, now TV.
  #7  
Old 05-11-2020, 08:14 PM
Marathon Man Marathon Man is offline
Soaring Eagle member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,446
Thanks: 3
Thanked 2,635 Times in 929 Posts
Default

Do you actually owe the taxes?
  #8  
Old 05-11-2020, 08:41 PM
Stu from NYC Stu from NYC is offline
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 12,438
Thanks: 1,161
Thanked 13,939 Times in 5,278 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Marathon Man View Post
Do you actually owe the taxes?
Agreed are the taxes from the period you own the home? Would think if you owe it than you might want to discuss with attorney to determine your liability.
  #9  
Old 05-11-2020, 08:51 PM
boxcarwilly boxcarwilly is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 120
Thanks: 43
Thanked 59 Times in 32 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Marathon Man View Post
Do you actually owe the taxes?
Confirming tax status with the city asap.
  #10  
Old 05-11-2020, 09:24 PM
Topspinmo's Avatar
Topspinmo Topspinmo is offline
Sage
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow
Posts: 12,167
Thanks: 6,271
Thanked 4,845 Times in 2,404 Posts
Default

Lawyers and law? (who makes them Bottom line you pay! If it was me I would pay it quickly before they start adding fees.
  #11  
Old 05-12-2020, 04:53 AM
biker1 biker1 is offline
Sage
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 3,117
Thanks: 1
Thanked 931 Times in 523 Posts
Default

This should be a simple question for a lawyer.

Quote:
Originally Posted by boxcarwilly View Post
Sold our condo in Maine all went well but the title co(law firm actually) failed to include outstanding property taxes approx 1500.00. They want me to pay them ASAP. Am i legally obligated to pay this? They mentioned something to the effect they could put a lien on our new property here in the villages.Thanks in advance.

Last edited by biker1; 05-12-2020 at 05:50 AM.
  #12  
Old 05-12-2020, 05:44 AM
Maryc7878's Avatar
Maryc7878 Maryc7878 is offline
Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: from Louisiana, NY and Boston
Posts: 45
Thanks: 1
Thanked 28 Times in 9 Posts
Default

If you were living in the home for Half the year, you owe Half the taxes.
  #13  
Old 05-12-2020, 05:48 AM
Mosells Mosells is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 146
Thanks: 15
Thanked 60 Times in 29 Posts
Default

Does the title company have O & E insurance ( omissions and errors) ? If so that insurance should kick in. We’re not talking about 15 thousand dollars. After all is said and done you would have paid the tax owed through the closing of your home, so instead of paying it then, pay it now. No one is entitled to a free ride.
  #14  
Old 05-12-2020, 05:51 AM
Daxdog Daxdog is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 134
Thanks: 6
Thanked 150 Times in 50 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by boxcarwilly View Post
Sold our condo in Maine all went well but the title co(law firm actually) failed to include outstanding property taxes approx 1500.00. They want me to pay them ASAP. Am i legally obligated to pay this? They mentioned something to the effect they could put a lien on our new property here in the villages.Thanks in advance.
Not really a question to ask here, maybe ask a Tax Attorney!
  #15  
Old 05-12-2020, 05:56 AM
jeffy jeffy is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 300
Thanks: 8
Thanked 60 Times in 21 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by kathyspear View Post
One of the many documents we signed during each of our home sales/purchases states that if an error is made and we owe money, we will pay it. I suspect you signed something similar. Check your documents.

kathy
πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘
Closed Thread

Tags
pay, property, title, obligated, taxes

Thread Tools

You are viewing a new design of the TOTV site. Click here to revert to the old version.

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:20 AM.