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New York Title Dispute Lawyers Handling Difficult Conflicts

Disagreement or ambiguity over the ownership of property or problems with the chain of title can make it difficult or impossible to sell your property and can diminish its value. Don’t let a lurking irregularity in the chain or title, ownership dispute, or other title defect keep you from selling your property or having the peace of mind of clear and marketable title to your realty.

Fadullon Dizon Krul LLP is a boutique litigation firm that handles title disputes of all varieties, uniquely tailoring our approach to fit the individual needs of each client.  With offices in Woodside (Queens) and Jericho (Long Island), and serving clients in the boroughs of Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island, as well as Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk counties, we work to build an individualized, trustworthy relationship with each client, standing by from the start of litigation through trial and appeal and fighting tirelessly to protect our clients’ rights and interests.

Why Do Title Disputes Occur in NYC?

They can happen for several reasons. Here are three examples:

  • Clerical errors: Misspelling of names, misfiling of land records, incorrect property descriptions or outdated information
  • Adverse possession: A little-known legal doctrine under which continuous use of land without the owner’s permission over a long period of time sometimes allows the user of the land to gain title of it, leading to legal challenges over the ownership of the land in question
  • Fraudulent transfers: Illicit transfer of titles that bypass the rightful owner’s consent

How Can A Title Dispute Affect Your Rights?

Title disputes lead to legal uncertainties as to the ownership or chain of title of property, making difficult or impossible the selling, refinancing, or purchasing of affected realty.

For example, if you are a defendant in a lawsuit concerning your title to real property, you may find yourself unable to transfer or sell the property because of (among other possibilities) a lis pendens (or notice of pendency) filed against the property; or, in some cases, a court can restrain or enjoin you from selling or transferring your real estate, or from taking some other actions you might otherwise have been entitled to take, pending the outcome of a lawsuit. If you are the plaintiff in a lawsuit claiming a right in (or seeking to recover title to) real property, or if you are seeking to remove clouds on the chain of title of your property, laws at your disposal may keep your adversary from being able to take steps to convey or transfer the property pending your day in court; if you are a defendant in such a lawsuit, mounting a strong defense and knowing when your adversary is not entitled to what they demand can keep an overzealous litigant from trying to win what is rightfully yours under the law.

Reviewing your options with an attorney can make all the difference in the outcome of your title dispute.

Title Insurance

Title insurance is meant to address risks associated with the purchase and sale of real property and provides coverage against financial losses resulting from title defects in title that were covered by the title policy. Examples of possible title defects include forgery, fraud, unsatisfied judgments, and encumbrances (liens, etc.). Title insurance also covers legal fees and any potential financial losses arising from a covered loss, and your title insurance company may hire an attorney to represent you in a title claim.

New York Title Insurance Litigation

While title insurance plays a critical role in protecting against various risks associated with the purchase and sale of real property, if your title company declines to indemnify or pay you for a covered loss under your policy, litigation between you and the title company may follow. Or, you may find yourself defending against a lawsuit commenced by a title company if your interest in property falls within a policy that it issued, and, for example, having failed to diligently conduct a title search of the property when issuing the policy, seeks to have your interest in the property deemed invalid in court. In either scenario, clouds in your chain of title would negatively affect your property’s marketability and need to be resolved.

How Long Does The Resolution Process Take?

Simple disputes might be resolved in a few weeks by negotiating a mutually satisfactory resolution, while more complex cases involving extensive research and legal proceedings can take months or years.

Protect Your Property Rights

At Fadullon Dizon Krul LLP, we help property owners in New York settle title disputes confidently. Call 347-967-4087 today to schedule your initial consultation or complete our brief intake form.

The firm takes clients from the boroughs of Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island as well as Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk counties.