Suggestions or more crickets?

[Bill Tyler]

I posted this last week under the Tax, Legal Issues, etc. forum category and not a single response.  I'm not sure if it's such a complicated situation that no one has any advice, or if I simply had the wrong category.  So - let's try this category and see if there's any input.  I apologize for the length - but it is a very weird situation.

I have what might be an unusual situation and I want some advice and thoughts from the BP community on how to best handle this.

Back in the 1950's my dad purchased 2.5 acres in what would later become my hometown. He sold it to his mom (my grandmother) for $10. Now, 60 years later, much of the family has died including my dad and grandmother.

I just received a letter from an attorney regarding the back property taxes that are owed and they are trying to protect my 1/15th interest in the property. My grandmother has only 4 children still living and then 11 grandchildren. My aunt who had been paying the property taxes had a stroke a few weeks ago and will no longer be able to make payments. She and her 3 siblings evidently have the property tied up in a lawsuit - but the 3 siblings have not made any tax payments.

The back taxes and fees are just under $3,000 and I am considering paying them to keep the land in the family. However, I don't want my deadbeat aunt and uncles to be able to do anything with the land without me being able to recover the taxes and fees if I choose to pay them. I am not certain who currently has the deed - the tax office shows the aunt who had been making payments with ownership interest of 1.0000000 (which is the same as what is listed for the property my mom owns).

What do you guys recommend? Pay the taxes and immediately file a lien on the property? I have also considered just asking the aunt who had been paying on it to simply sign a sales contract/deed for a small amount (maybe $10 like originally purchased). I have also considered some sort of a contract for us grandchildren (most of us are in our 40's-50's now) to relinquish any claims and rights to the property. The tax district has it appraised at only $18,000 since there is no longer a home on the land.

Thanks! Of course I understand none of you are giving legal advice (unless you are a Real Estate Attorney). If anyone wants to recommend a good Real Estate Attorney in the Arlington, TX area - I would appreciate that as well.