MI Underwriting References

Conveyances

QTA

WFG does not insure from quiet title actions brought against just the property address. We would consider a quiet title action when it is brought against a specific person who owns the property. The court cannot eliminate a parties interest in the property if they are not named in the lawsuit to do so.

Homestead

FOR MORTGAGES - MORE JOINDER ISSUE

The non-owning spouse must join in a mortgage other than a purchase money mortgage. The non-owning spouse is not required to join in a purchase money mortgage. A non-owning wife must sign on a deed to sell property to release her Dower interest, but a non-owning husband does not need to join in on a conveyance by the wife.

Land Title Standards

Michigan Land Title Standards

Marital Property

FOR MORTGAGES: The non-owning spouse must join in a mortgage other than a purchase money mortgage. The non-owning spouse is not required to join in a purchase money mortgage. A non-owning wife must sign on a deed to sell property to release her Dower interest, but a non-owning husband does not need to join in on a conveyance by the wife.

Marketable Record Title Act & Curative Acts

ELEMENTS OF MARKETABLE RECORD TITLE STANDARD: A PERSON HAS MARKETABLE RECORD TITLE TO AN INTEREST IN LAND IF: (A) THERE IS AN UNBROKEN CHAIN OF RECORD TITLE TO THAT INTEREST FOR AT LEAST 40 YEARS (AT LEAST 20 YEARS FOR MINERAL INTERESTS AS DEFINED IN MCL 565.101a); AND (B) THERE IS NO ONE IN HOSTILE POSSESSION OF THE LAND. Authorities: MCL 565.101, 565.101a and 565.103. Cook v Grand River Hydroelectric Power Co, 131 Mich App 821, 346 NW2d 881 (1984); Rush v Sterner, 143 Mich App 672, 373 NW2d 183 (1985); Strong v Detroit & Mackinac Ry Co, 167 Mich App 562, 423 NW2d 266 (1988). Comment: The required period of an unbroken chain of record title is 20 years with respect to a mineral interest, which is defined in MCL 565.101a as an interest in minerals (other than an interest in oil, gas, sand, gravel, limestone, clay, or marl) owned by a person other than the surface owner.

Mortgages & Deeds of Trust

JOINDER OF SPOUSE The non-owning spouse must join in a mortgage other than a purchase money mortgage. The non-owning spouse is not required to join in a purchase money mortgage. A non-owning wife must sign on a deed to sell property to release her Dower interest, but a non-owning husband does not need to join in on a conveyance by the wife.

QTA

WFG does not insure from quiet title actions brought against just the property address. We would consider a quiet title action when it is brought against a specific person who owns the property. The court cannot eliminate a parties interest in the property if they are not named in the lawsuit to do so.

Restrictions And Reverters

Inapplicability of statute to church/public/education/charities

554.64 Exemptions to act. Sec. 4. This act does not apply: (a) To a lease for a term of years. (b) If the specified contingency must occur, if at all, within the period of the rule against perpetuities. (c) If the terminable interest is held for public, educational, religious or charitable purposes. (d) If the terminable interest is created in a conveyance from the United States of America, the state or any agency or political subdivision of either of them.

Spousal Interests

Joinder Requirements

The non-owning spouse must join in a mortgage other than a purchase money mortgage. The non-owning spouse is not required to join in a purchase money mortgage. A non-owning wife must sign on a deed to sell property to release her Dower interest, but a non-owning husband does not need to join in on a conveyance by the wife.

Trusts And Trustees

Certificate of Trust

A trustee may now furnish a certificate of trust under MCL 700.7913 (as amended by HB-5362), in affidavit form, required to contain the following:  The name of the trust, the date of the trust, and the date of each operative trust instrument.  The name and address of each current trustee.  The powers of the trustee relating to the purposes for which the certificate of trust is offered.  The revocability or irrevocability of the trust and the identity of any person holding the power to revoke the trust.  The authority of co-trustees to sign on behalf of the trust or otherwise authenticate on behalf of the trust and whether all or less than all co-trustees are required to exercise the trustee powers.  A statement that the trust has not been revoked, modified or amended in any manner that would cause the representations included in the certificate of trust to be incorrect. While not required by the statute, it is recommended as a best practice that the certificate of trust include the legal description of the affected real property. One other significant change is that the certificate of trust may now be signed or otherwise authenticated by the settlor, ANY TRUSTEE (including a successor trustee), or an attorney for the settlor or the trustee.

A trustee may now furnish a certificate of trust under MCL 700.7913 (as amended by HB-5362), in affidavit form, required to contain the following:  The name of the trust, the date of the trust, and the date of each operative trust instrument.  The name and address of each current trustee.  The powers of the trustee relating to the purposes for which the certificate of trust is offered.  The revocability or irrevocability of the trust and the identity of any person holding the power to revoke the trust.  The authority of co-trustees to sign on behalf of the trust or otherwise authenticate on behalf of the trust and whether all or less than all co-trustees are required to exercise the trustee powers.  A statement that the trust has not been revoked, modified or amended in any manner that would cause the representations included in the certificate of trust to be incorrect. While not required by the statute, it is recommended as a best practice that the certificate of trust include the legal description of the affected real property. One other significant change is that the certificate of trust may now be signed or otherwise authenticated by the settlor, ANY TRUSTEE (including a successor trustee), or an attorney for the settlor or the trustee.

Zoning

Michigan Land Title Standards