inheritance tax pa sheriff sale

[Krish Patel]

I bought property in sheriff sale and there was a inheritance tax lien on it when i went to sale. title company escrowed $5500 and asked me to get pay off statement if i want to get that remaining money back. I contacted PA revenue department and found out based in their calculation it is $9500 owed to remove lien. they applied 12.5% as sibling tax rate. when i asked to apply 4.5% as surviving heir is grand daughter, they said in obituary they mention deceased had sibling. while foreclosure has no mention of sibling and only mention of gran daughter which is 4.5%

2 questions:

1. they are asking me to prove obituary is wrong and actually surviving heir is grand daughter. how i can find this information? where should i check?

2. if i don't do anything, do i still owe title company remaining amount when they find out that actual lien is more then they escrowed?

can someone help legally with PA revenue on this?

Thank you, Please reply and help if you know something