The Kansas Court of Appeals, on March 15, 2024, found that a 2020 informal agreement between cousins Tiffany Miller and Aaron Harvey to sell a 5‑acre property in Kansas City for $80,000 is binding.
Miller had taken over mortgage payments after Harvey fell behind, spending $15,000 on repairs and upgrades that left the house market‑ready. She also added the overdue $9,055.68 to the loan, a move approved by the lender in May 2020, and kept the property in good standing while the debt hovered at $49,000.
The court said Kansas law allows a verbal sale to be upheld when parties act on the agreement, citing Miller’s possession of the keys, her access to the loan account, and the extensive improvements she made. Harvey’s claim that the agreement was never written was rejected because the parties had already executed the deal and the lender’s approval of the modified mortgage effectively ratified it.
Harvey must transfer title by June 30, 2025, or risk forfeiture. Miller is expected to receive the deed that day, while the court will monitor compliance.