work.life.law

Have you ever heard of a "zombie mortgage"?

It sounds like something out of a horror movie, but in Connecticut real estate, it's a very real problem, and a 2025 law change finally addresses it. What changed: Public Act 25-46 now imposes a 10-year statute of limitations on foreclosure actions for these types of mortgages on 1–4 family dwellings used as a principal residence. It's a meaningful protection, but it doesn't eliminate the need for a thorough title review before you buy.

Attorney Kate Cerrone is a real estate and business law attorney practicing in Connecticut. Learn more at KateCeroneLaw.com. 

You've accepted an offer, picked a closing date, and started packing. Then the title search comes back with an estate tax lien attached to an owner who passed away years ago — and your closing is suddenly on hold.

In this episode, Attorney Kate Cerrone walks Connecticut sellers through the Certificate Releasing Liens: what it is, why it shows up more often than people expect, and how to keep it from derailing your sale.

Here's what you'll learn:

• What the certificate actually does. Connecticut places an automatic lien on a deceased person's property for the estate tax — and the Probate Court adds a lien for probate fees. Until those liens are formally released and recorded, a title insurer generally won't insure the transfer.
• Why this isn't just an "inherited house" issue. The lien can reach any property where an owner in the chain of title died within the past ten years — including a home a surviving spouse held jointly with rights of survivorship.
• Where the certificate comes from. The Probate Court in the district that handled the estate, or the Department of Revenue Services when an early release is needed before the estate closes.
• The paperwork behind it. The estate tax return, the petition for the certificate, and the recording that has to happen with the town clerk where the property sits — not where the probate court is.
• Why timing matters. This is a weeks-not-days process, and it's far easier to start before you're under contract than after.

If you're preparing to sell a Connecticut property — or you're settling an estate that includes real estate — Attorney Cerrone explains the steps in plain language and what to have ready before your closing date is on the calendar.

Questions about your own sale? Reach out to Attorney Kate Cerrone at The Northeast Law Center to talk through your situation at KateCerroneLaw.com. 

This episode is general information about Connecticut law, not legal advice for your specific transaction.

Attorney Kate Cerrone is a real estate and business law attorney practicing in Connecticut. Learn more at KateCeroneLaw.com. 

Whether you're the buyer or the seller, when a real estate deal falls through at the last minute it is stressful and can feel chaotic. 

In this episode, Attorney Kate Cerrone shares what to know and do ahead of time to be prepared in case this unlikely but impactful scenario happens to you. 

Attorney Kate Cerrone is a real estate and business law attorney practicing in Connecticut. Learn more at KateCeroneLaw.com. 

There's a new law in Connecticut that shifts responsibility for contaminated site reporting to real estate buyers and sellers. In this episode, Attorney Kate Cerrone shares what to know to protect yourself before you purchase.

Attorney Kate Cerrone is a real estate and business law attorney practicing in Connecticut. Learn more at KateCeroneLaw.com. 

The first quarter of the year is a critical time for business owners to check in on legal, administrative, and human resources matters to make sure they are still operating in compliance. For CT businesses, there are some changes in 2026 that makes this even more important. 

In this episode, Attorney Kate Cerrone shares what business owners need to know and do now.

Attorney Kate Cerrone is a real estate and business law attorney practicing in Connecticut. Learn more at KateCeroneLaw.com. 

Whether you're a first-time homebuyer trying to break into the real estate market or a seasoned house-flipper looking for your next great deal, there are some critical things you should know and do to protect yourself prior to buying a fixer-upper. Attorney Kate Cerrone explains.

Attorney Kate Cerrone is a real estate and business law attorney practicing in Connecticut. Learn more at KateCeroneLaw.com. 

If you're buying or selling a home or commercial property right now, the ongoing government shutdown could slow things down. Here's what you need to know.

Attorney Kate Cerrone is a real estate and business law attorney practicing in Connecticut. Learn more at KateCeroneLaw.com. 

Protect your personal assets AND save on taxes by learning why LLCs are perfect for small businesses... and how to set one up!

Attorney Kate Cerrone is a real estate and business law attorney practicing in Connecticut. Learn more at KateCeroneLaw.com. 

Choosing the wrong business structure could cost you thousands! Discover the 4 structures every Connecticut entrepreneur needs to know. 

Attorney Kate Cerrone is a real estate and business law attorney practicing in Connecticut. Learn more at KateCeroneLaw.com. 

Running multiple ventures under one Connecticut business? Watch to learn if your LLC can legally handle diverse operations without creating separate entities.

Attorney Kate Cerrone is a real estate and business law attorney practicing in Connecticut. Learn more at KateCeroneLaw.com.