i'm getting married in less than a month and i want to add my fiancée to the deed/title of the house i bought back in 2008...we're going to get the marriage license today and i was hoping it might be as simple as just having her give proof of identification and me signing something that agrees to her being put on the title, but the wake county website is less than helpful

anyone done this? what's the process?

ibtgotoanattorney

8/17/2010 8:09:12 AM

For real estate, the title of the property has to be changed by adding the new spouse to the deed. That can usually be done by filing a quitclaim deed and an affidavit at the Recorder of Deeds Office in the county where the property is located. The affidavit should state that you are married to your new spouse and that you want the new spouse's name added to the deed as a co-owner. However, you should be careful about doing this because changing the name on a mortgaged asset could cause the mortgage to become due. So, check with your lender first to see if there are any undesirable consequences to making the change. Also, it's always good to speak to an attorney about this because the laws about changing title vary from state to state, and an attorney can prepare the necessary documents.

8/17/2010 8:10:43 AM

what's the reason for adding her other than to just do it?

8/17/2010 8:17:16 AM

just to do it

8/17/2010 8:41:41 AM

You can also add your spouse's name to a vehicle title by filing the name of an additional owner with your state's Department of Motor Vehicles. However, you should check with your lender first to see if there are any adverse consequences to changing the record title on the car.

Bank accounts are easily changed at the bank. You should go to your bank and inform the bank representative that you would like your spouse added as a joint tenant with right of survivorship on your accounts. That way, if you or your spouse dies, the surviving spouse becomes the sole owner of the account. One caution about adding your new spouse to your accounts involves court judgments. If your new spouse has a judgment against her or him, adding your new spouse to your accounts may subject the account to garnishment by the holder of the judgment if your new spouse fails to pay off the judgment.

Investment accounts are similar to bank accounts. You should inform the investment company that you would like to add your spouse's name to your accounts as co-owner. The company should provide you with a form to fill out in order to accomplish that.

8/17/2010 8:48:52 AM

Don't bother...once you are married, you can't sell it without her.

8/17/2010 8:49:21 AM

^^

http://consumer-law.lawyers.com/Add-a-Spouses-Name-to-Titled-Property-and-Accounts.html

8/17/2010 8:50:33 AM

yeah, it seems like a quitclaim and affidavit is the way to do this...and there's really no reason to do it until she legally changes her name, anyway

also, it appears that in NC, marriage gives the spouse marital interest in all previously-purchased and/or titled property (unless otherwise specified by a prenup)

THE MORE YOU KNOW

8/17/2010 8:58:31 AM

I was in the same situation, but it wasn't worth the hassle, and my wife didn't particularly care whether her name was in the registrar or not.

that got fixed when we moved to a new house.

8/17/2010 9:40:13 AM

just wait until you buy another house. there's no point in doing it right now. not worth the hassle.

8/17/2010 9:43:58 AM

my wife and i closed on our house about a month before we got married and her maiden name is on the deed because it's just too much trouble to worry about something like that

8/17/2010 10:02:24 AM