Hoping to purchase tax certificate to acquire property in Florida

[Roderick E.]

Greetings, I am seeking advice on what course of action I should take to acquire a property in Melbourne FL. that was owned by a family member who is now deceased. My cousin who passed away 3 years ago had no will but left behind a brother who has no interest in claiming the property. The mortgage is paid off and the only known lien is the accumulated property tax. 

[Bruce Lynn]

Potentially with no will, it would go to a relative according to Florida State law of intestate succession.  (Intestate means there is no will). It could go to his children, or if no children back to his parents, then branches out from there.   You could buy it from whoever would have the right to sell it....some relative somewhere has the right to sell it.  As part of that process someone should probably pay the taxes current.  Either the seller or you as the buyer.   A title company with a staff attorney should be able to help you determine who needs to sign the deed on behalf of your cousin to give you title if they agree.  

You can read about it here and maybe you can determine who has the right to sell it to you.

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0732/0732.html