Seller‘s Deed Not Properly Transferred

[Terry Sargent]

Hello, I have a lead on an Indiana property that is well-under market value. However, I’ve run into an issue regarding the deed. To add context, here is the situation: The seller was gifted the property in question, by a friend, prior to the friend‘s passing. That was nearly 20 years ago. The Issue is that the seller never took the necessary steps to get the deed transferred over. Therefore, the deed is in the name of the person who has been deceased for 20 years. The seller has been paying property taxes, and is current. What steps can be taken to prove ownership in order to get this sale completed? Would the seller’s time of occupancy be enough to prove ownership? Any insight is appreciated.