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James and his wife Linda are selling their home in Waukesha, Wisconsin. They have been married for 10 years and purchased the home during their marriage using joint income. A buyer submits a WB-11 Offer to Purchase, and James signs the acceptance without Linda's signature. Under Wisconsin law, what is the status of this accepted offer?

Correct Answer

C) The acceptance is not enforceable as a complete contract because Linda's signature is required to convey marital property

Under the Wisconsin Marital Property Act (Chapter 766), property acquired during marriage with marital funds is classified as marital property. Both spouses must sign any conveyance of marital property, including the offer to purchase, to create a fully enforceable obligation to sell. James's signature alone is insufficient to bind the marital estate. The acceptance is incomplete without Linda's signature, and the buyer could face a title defect if the transaction proceeds without her consent.

Answer Options
A
The acceptance is fully binding because James, as the primary titleholder, has authority to sign alone
B
The acceptance is binding but Linda must sign the deed at closing to convey clear title
C
The acceptance is not enforceable as a complete contract because Linda's signature is required to convey marital property
D
The acceptance is valid because Wisconsin is a community property state and either spouse may bind the marital estate

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

offer_and_acceptancemarital_property_actchapter_766spousal_consentcontract_enforceability

Related Concepts

Earnest money is a deposit made by the buyer at the time of the offer or shortly after to demonstrate good faith and serious intent to purchase the property. It is also called a good faith deposit.

Equitable title is the buyer's interest in a property after a purchase contract is signed but before closing, giving the buyer the right to acquire legal title in the future. The seller retains legal title until the deed is delivered at closing.

A financing contingency makes the purchase contract conditional upon the buyer obtaining mortgage approval within a specified time period. If the buyer cannot secure financing, they can cancel the contract and receive their earnest money back.

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