Owing taxes on a house I don't own!!

[Cadam]

We sold our manufactured home 6 months ago. The buyer hasn't filed the paperwork with the county and so they still consider us on the hook for the taxes. We can't file the paperwork because we need her signature and we can't complete the transfer until we pay nearly 1000$ in back taxes and fees! They are about to put a lien on the house which will go on our credit report. (The one we have worked so hard on and now have a kick'n credit score)

The only thing we can possibly do (we already talked to a lawyer) is pay it and then take her to small claims for the money but technically the judge can only say she has to pay us back, not that she has to file the paperwork. So the problem could just keep going if she wants to be stubborn. Why is the burden on us to force her to file paperwork? We should be able to file something saying we are no longer the owners and then the county can go after the real owner!

So I get to be out a ton of time, money and possibly my good credit because this $%$@^* woman doesn't want to pay her taxes. How can a seller have no recourse. This really sucks!

[Melinda in VT]

I would think that the attorney or title company or whoever handled your closing should have gotten the paperwork signed and filed.

[Liz CA]

I would think that the attorney or title company or whoever handled your closing should have gotten the paperwork signed and filed.

paperwork not be filed if escrow closed and transfer of title has occured?
Even if you have done a "sale by owner" deal, the title company had to be involved - at least in our state. But I know that mobile homes are often considered differently than actual homes. Is this the problem?

[Claire]

I wonder if it's treated like a car sale. When I have sold cars, I have required payment in cashier's check and then have insisted that the new owner drive with me to the DMV to transfer title (because signatures of both buyer and seller are required). After that, they can drive the car away and I can cash their check. I have done this because I know that if title is not actually transferred, license taxes on the vehicle would still come to me and also traffic tickets would be mailed to me. Had heard horror stories of people who sold cars and did not get the title transferred. Wonder if that's what's happening here?

[Cadam]

The problem is that it use to be treated like a car sale. At some point after we bought it the law changed and now every-time on is sold it has to be de-titled exc. so it is treated differently. It is this de-title paperwork she is not submitting. It is no longer good enough to sign over the title but no one seems to have the power to force her to file properly and so yes, much like the traffic ticket situation we are on the hook for taxes.

[RoughCollie]

You know, there may be something you can do to resolve this situation.

You can try contacting a law school because sometimes they have a group that helps people with problems like this. Call the Dean's office and speak to the Dean if you can.

You can also try contacting this organization.

http://www.lawhelp.org/program/694/index.cfm

I'm telling you this because IMO most people cannot afford to pay a lawyer for problems like this, especially when the legal fees would be more than the amount in controversy.

If none of that works, try calling your state rep and then your state's congressional representative and then your state senators' offices.

You are a constituent and it is possible that someone there will be able to help you. DH had a problem once that our congressional rep solved for him, after the state rep and our state senators were no help at all. So it doesn't hurt to try all four of them.

RC

The problem is that it use to be treated like a car sale. At some point after we bought it the law changed and now every-time on is sold it has to be de-titled exc. so it is treated differently. It is this de-title paperwork she is not submitting. It is no longer good enough to sign over the title but no one seems to have the power to force her to file properly and so yes, much like the traffic ticket situation we are on the hook for taxes.