Neighbor maybe deceased - what should I do?

Question

Tom Gimer · Answer

In case of emergency... post to BP. lol

Michaela G. · Answer

The situation isn't all clear to me?

Are you saying that this person may be in dire straights and may be hurt or dead inside the house? If so, then I think doing real estate checking through records for relatives isn't the way to go, but rather get the police involved to do that welfare check.

If you're saying that the house seems vacant and the owner may have died, then , if you have his name, I would do a google search for obituaries. If you have the date of death, then you can go to your county vital records and get an informational copy of his death certificate - if this is in California. You could also order it through vitalchek, but you'll need at least the year of death. Neighbors might know more.

The dc will show an informant, which is usually a relative. If there's no relative, then probate will likely be handled by public administrator and they'd be in charge of auctioning off the house.

Yia Her · Answer

Joe, of course if there was an opportunity to buy the home that would be the reason for doing the research and finding out the information.

Chris Purcell · Answer

@Yia Her

Are you telling me there could be a corpse in this house and you’re asking who to contact to buy it

Joe Splitrock · Answer

@Yia Her what is your question exactly? Are you saying when he dies, how can I find his heirs to buy the house? You already know how to call for a welfare check and you wouldn't come on a real estate forum asking about just that. Rather than beating around the bush, just say what is on your mind.

Tom Gimer · Answer

Giving new meaning to ghosting ... or a dead lead.

John Franczyk · Answer

Look at the county's real estate tax website to determine the owner. Skip trace the owner to determine if the person who was living there and who, you suspect, has passed away, is in fact the owner. Look for heirs in the skip trace records and start by contacting them. Talk to a local attorney about how to get dibs on the property if there are no heirs. You may, for example, be able to do something with the taxes if they haven't been paid. If heirs are involved they will need to put the estate through probate to transfer title properly. If the property had been mortgaged and payments on the mortgage stop, then expect the lender to get involved, in which case I would walk away rather than waste my time on it.

Aaron K. · Answer

Call the authorities, she will have some sort of heir that probate court should determine, even if the heir ends up being the state

Neighbor maybe deceased - what should I do?

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