Expert: Dick Dennis - 6/22/2009

Question
Hello .. I am 59 and my significant other is 61 . We have been together as friends for 19 years. helping each other through difficult times as both of us are on total disability and it has helped us to split the bills . He has his space and I have mine within our home . We do not wish to be married .

I bought a mobile home in a park 14 years. ago in my name only . We discussed him moving in and we could help each other with expenses and chores around the place . He now has been living here for 10 years. and with both of us getting older , I wanted to put his name also on the clear title of this mobile home , in case something happens to me first . He has put SO much of his time and money into it and I would like for him to feel secure about having this as his home in case of my death before his .

We took the clear title to the SOS and I asked if I could have him added to the title . They said I would have to sell it to him and then pay taxes on the sale and then the title would come back in his name . I don't want it to be in just HIS name as then I am in his position then . So we got nowhere there and we both left confused .

Can't I sign off on the back of the title and then we BOTH sign of as buyers and have it come back in both our names ? We were told that I would have to write in how much I sold it for and still pay taxes . Why should I pay taxes on something I already paid taxes on years ago just to add my dear friend along with mine ?

Like I said , we moved in together as we are both disabled and wanted to pool our resources in order to make ends meet without being a burden on family . We don't have lots of money to hire people to take care of this for us as that alone will put a burden on us to pay , hence why I have been trying to find an answer to this for years now . Why can't the SOS understand what we are asking ? Can you please give us some direction with this ?

Answer
This is really not a real estate question, Donna. But I will do my best to help you. This is not a real estate question if your mobile home is located in a park in which you are paying rent for your space. If it is located on a piece of land and you are paying yearly taxes on it and you are the owner of that property, then it is a different matter.

However, I will assume you are paying rent in a mobile home park. A mobile home in that position should be treated just like your car because it is considered to be controlled by the Department of Motor Vehicles just like your car. That's why you have a license plate on one end of your home. You should ask them how to do what you are trying to achieve. I do not know what SOS is other than an emergency signal, Donna, but it is obvious they want you to spend money to help their state's coffers. It would seem if you wanted to change the title of your car the same way you want to change the title on the mobile home, you would do it the same way. But to make sure, check with your state's DMV. I am suggesting this because apparently you do not have the funds to consult with an estate attorney. That's what IO would do. I do wish you well.

Dick Dennis
dixiedee13@aol.com