looking for probate advice - state of VA

[Tracy R.]

Any attorneys on here who specialize in probate in Virginia?  

I am trying to figure out how to buy a SFH property in a small town in SW Virginia, but the probate issues seem to be a tangled mess.

The property is unique for the area in its design, having been built by a somewhat "known" artist in the 60s, but now it's falling into disrepair.  I'd like to try to buy it and restore it, first as a rental, and eventually as my second home.

The mother died several years ago without a will, and had 3 children.  I've been in close touch with the daughter, the other 2 sons are sort of MIA.   The daughter never took the property through the probate process, and evidently still can't get it together to do it.  She is not against me becoming the owner, but she just doesn't have the wherewithal to do what she needs to to try to sell it.  There is under $10,000 owned in back taxes, as far as I know.  There are several other complicated elements as well.

There is an outside firm who handles the tax auctions in the area, but evidently, they've not gotten to the point of having this property come up for auction yet.  (I am on their email list, so I keep a watch out for it).

A local lawyer has advised that I should just wait until it comes up for tax auction, based on the all the other complications.  But it's already been so many years that it's just continuing to go downhill.

Does anyone have any advice here?  I can give more details if that would help!  Thank you...