My mother passed away and my father wants to add my name to a trailer and the property that he owns in the city of Jefferson OH. The property and trailer are paid for and he has title to the trailer and the deed to the property. How can we do this ourselves without involving an attorney?

You would do this by his signing a deed to the child and himself. That's the general idea, but if you intend to do it without paying an attorney a couple of bucks, you are asking for trouble. You or may end up paying thousands later. As the old saying goes, you are being "penny wise and pound foolish".

If he has the title to the trailer, then both you and he take the title to the local DMV office and have a new title issued adding your name to the Ohio title. It costs $10 for the new title.

As far as the deed, he can add your name to the deed for the property and file the new deed with the county recorder's office.

Once your name is added to the trailer title and the deed, you will also be liable for any taxes for the property and trailer as well. But if you are added now prior to his demise, it will save some expense later on and negate the property and trailer from having to be probated as these items would now be yours. Might be a smart move for you both to make.

See the sticky at the top of this board for how to add someone to a deed.