Owner died with no one else one deed, can I buy?

[Matthew Vanden Avond]

I found a duplex I’d like to buy.

20 years ago father and daughter bought the property with both on the deed. In 2001 she did a quit claim deed to father, and he is the only one on the deed now.

Father passed in 2016. She lives at the property but does not own it. She has not paid any taxes or utilities so she behind.

Can buy the property somehow without the property going through probate and giving possession to the daughter. I want to help but I believe probate will take time and money that she doesn’t have.

Thank you for any help.

Matt

[Sean Morrison]

Just want to throw this out there: if the daughter is the only heir and the total value of the estate is low enough (differs by state), sometimes that can be handled by a small estate affidavit instead of probate. If so, no long probate, just file the affidavit to transfer ownership to the daughter.