Steven Willock

Steve Willock is a transactional attorney with over 20 years of experience successfully representing a wide array of real estate and business clients.

Although the principal focus of Steve’s practice is on real estate transactional matters, over the course of his career, Steve has been honored to serve as ongoing general counsel (both in-house and as outside counsel) to a variety of business clients, real estate developers, municipalities, regional businesses, and Fortune 500 companies. In this role, Steve served as trusted legal advisor and the first point of contact whenever any new legal issue arises. As a result, Steve has developed a broad base of knowledge and experience in additional legal areas that are critical to the operation and protection of his clients’ business and financial interests, such as employment law, secured financing, intellectual property, litigation management, bankruptcy, insolvency, and creditors’ rights.

Steve has deep roots in both California and Washington State and is licensed to practice in both jurisdictions.

• Free Consultation

Arizona

State Bar of Arizona

ID Number: 038168

Since 2023

California

State Bar of California

ID Number: 206207

Since 2000

Washington

Washington State Bar Association

ID Number: 47655

Since 2014

9th Circuit

Attorney

Sandman Savrann, LLP

2023 - Current

Partner

Van Ness Feldman LLP

2022 - 2022

Of Counsel

Van Ness Feldman LLP

2021 - 2021

Attorney / Partner

The Narrows Law Group

2019 - 2020

General Counsel

Point Ruston/MC Constructions

2014 - 2019

University of California - San Diego

B.A. | Economics

Honors: with honors

University of California, Davis, School of Law

J.D. | Law

Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association

Member

Current

King County Bar Association

Member

Current

Washington State Bar Association

Member

2014 - Current

California State Bar  # 206207

Member

2000 - Current

Q. My son and daughter own a piece of property in Wa. State, 50% each. My daughter signed her 50% over to me with a quite

October 15, 2019

A: Assuming the quit claim deed conveying your daughter's 50% interest to you complies with the statutory requirements for a quit claim deed under Washington law, the deed would be a legal document enforceable against your daughter even if it has not been recorded. A deed does not need to be recorded in Washington State to be a valid legal document. On the other hand, the benefit of recording the quit claim deed is to protect your ownership interest in the property against third parties who claim an interest in the property and have no actual knowledge that your daughter transferred her interest to you. For instance (and this may get a bit confusing), if an otherwise valid quit claim deed is not recorded, it is possible for the original transferor to either re-sell the same 50% interest to a third party or to use that interest as security for a loan even after the interest was sold or transferred to you. Under these circumstances, if the buyer or lender did not have knowledge of the transfer when they purchased or mortgaged the property, and if the buyer or lender then records their deed (or, if applicable, deed of trust), then the transfer made via the original unrecorded quit claim deed may be void as against the rights of the subsequent buyer or lender. Thus, it is always advisable to record a deed as soon as possible even though that deed is enforceable against the transferor without the necessity of recording.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, please note that there may be relevant facts that would have an impact on your rights, and you should not interpret the foregoing as legal advice. Only an attorney who has had a chance to inquire about all relevant facts and to review all relevant documents can provide you with competent legal advice. Therefore, I would suggest that you consult with a local real estate attorney to evaluate your matter. ... Read More