Land in Duchesne County, Utah

[Spencer McCain]

Hi everyone, I am relatively new to REI. I've been studying for quite awhile but am just beginning to take more action. I have been put in a potentially "lucky" position. My grandparents and my parents purchased a piece of land back in 2000 in Duchesne County, UT. They purchased it by paying just the back taxes which were only a few hundred dollars. My parents weren't legally on the title but some how my dads name was added to it a few years ago without my grandparents knowing. My mom passed away when I was really young so my grandparents have held the property so that they could use it to help me and my little sister out in the future. Well that time has come and they've told me that they will give it to me if my dad is willing to sign a quitclaim deed to give his rights to me. The problem here is my dad hasn't always been a very generous guy. He hasn't paid a dime to help with the taxes since the first year they bought it. My question is. If my dad is not willing to sign that quitclaim deed, is there another way to get his name taken off of the property since he hasn't paid his part for about 15 years?I talked to the recorders office and they said it would have to go through probate. Is that the only option?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[William Hochstedler]

@Spencer McCain

Something in your description is not adding up.  Probate is a legal process to disburse a deceased person's assets.  If everyone is alive, I don't understand why the recorder is advising this.  Perhaps you did not describe the situation accurately?

The only way that your father could have gotten on title is if he was added at the original tax sale or your grandparents signed a document with "deed" in the title.

Before hiring an attorney, and if the county recorder gets you nowhere, I'd look up a title company that has access to the title records and see what they turn up. (Title companies are cheaper than attorneys).

It's possible that your father appears on the tax notifications but is not actually on title to the property.

Let us know.