[CA] I am transferring ownership to absolve my personal debt; how can that be recorded?
April 24, 2025
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Thank you for explaining your situation. Unfortunately, the transaction you are describing appears to be intended to defraud the state of California by making it appear that you do not own a home when in fact you would be hiding the asset knowing you will get it back in the future. Knowingly withholding information in order to receive public assistance in this way would seem to be a violation of state law (California Welfare and Institutions Code § 10980).
As such, I am sorry to say that I am not permitted to assist you with your question because it is illegal for a licensed lawyer to assist anyone who is committing what appears to be a fraudulent transaction. I really wish I had better news for you, but I am ethically required to give you my honest legal assessment of the situation.
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I am transferring ownership to absolve my personal debt. How can that be recorded?
I understand you're looking to transfer ownership to absolve your personal debt. Have you already identified the specific assets you plan to transfer?
Yes, I created a quit claim deed but haven’t had it recorded yet. It’s my home.
Are you seeking legal advice on the best way to document this transfer to ensure it is legally binding and properly recorded?
Yes, I’ll be moving to California and applying for medical insurance (state/gov), and I don’t want it to look like I sold my home for $100. That’s the amount I put on the quit claim deed — I didn’t see how to put the actual cost being debt paid with house.
Is there anything else the Lawyer should know before I connect you? Rest assured they’ll be able to help with your quit claim deed.
No.
Hello and welcome to AskaLawyer. My name is Ben, and I'm a licensed attorney
What is the amount of the debt you are paying off by transferring ownership of your home?
It is less than $5,000. I have to move to California to take care of my daughter — she is in hospice and needs me. However, I will need to be on medical assistance in California, and to get that I will be residing in her home as a California resident. Therefore, my property in Arizona must be transferred out of my name.
The person I am transferring it to is a trusted friend who will transfer it back to me when I move back to Arizona.
Thank you for explaining your situation. Unfortunately, the transaction you are describing appears to be intended to defraud the state of California by making it appear that you do not own a home when in fact you would be hiding the asset knowing you will get it back in the future. Knowingly withholding information in order to receive public assistance in this way would seem to be a violation of state law (California Welfare and Institutions Code § 10980).
As such, I am sorry to say that I am not permitted to assist you with your question because it is illegal for a licensed lawyer to assist anyone who is committing what appears to be a fraudulent transaction. I really wish I had better news for you, but I am ethically required to give you my honest legal assessment of the situation.
I appreciate your honesty.
You are welcome. It was my pleasure to assist you (at least try to). Thank you for using AskaLawyer.
I have another legal matter to discuss. My mother and father were not married and she has five children by him. In 1977 he gave up his rights to the property in lieu of child support — this was an arrangement by the DA. I read a paper I found in my mother’s desk, and it was an agreement by the DA of San Bernardino County. It stated that my father was giving up his interest in the properties in lieu of child support.
Well, my mother has died and she put a transfer of death deed in for my stepbrother to claim her interest in the property. My stepbrother put only his name on the deed and is trying to sell the property as his own. What can I file to stop him from selling until this gets resolved?
Hi. Please note that the rules of this website allow you to ask follow-up questions to clarify responses to your original question. New topics have to be asked separately, in a brand-new question thread. One reason for this rule is that the attorney who responded to the question on the first topic may not be familiar with the new topic.
The most recent question you asked relates to a new topic. In accordance with the rules of this website, kindly ask the question in a new thread (a new page). Thank you very much for understanding.
Thank you, Ben. I understand and bless you for the work that you do.
You are welcome.
