Dear Quentin, I’m considering selling my home. My question is this: Do l need to advise prospective buyers that my husband passed away in the living room? What am I obliged to tell people who are interested in buying my house? Widow and HomeownerDear Widow,
The short answer to your short question is: It depends on what state you live in. Every state has different rules on disclosures by homeowners when selling a property and on the nature of those disclosures. Ultimately, a good real-estate attorney will answer any questions you may have. You don’t have to do this alone. But before I go further: I’m sorry your husband passed away, and I do hope that he did so peacefully, and that you had many happy years together. And now for the long answer. In California, a seller must disclose if a death has occurred in the house within the last three years, even if it was from natural causes. Cal. Civ. Code § 1710.2 states: “Nothing in this section shall be construed to immunize an owner or his or her agent from making an intentional misrepresentation in response to a direct inquir …