Unpaid Taxes and Owner Passed Away

[Lisa Jones]

Hello,

I want to make sure I have no other options. There's a vacant lot that has had taxes unpaid for at least 7 years. Value wise I'm not concerned at this point. The problem is that the owner passed away years ago. She had multiple kids and her kids have since had kids. I spoke to one of owner's grandkid which was originally helping pay the taxes and maintaining the lot. She mentioned she does not want to deal with the family because of past issues and no one is willing to sit and discuss the sale of the land. Something to that effect. 

Is the only solution to go to probate? Which if I'm not mistaken could cost thousands and take a lot of time. Or maybe adverse possession, but then I run the risk of someone coming back to claim the land?

Other than that, the property will just continue to go to the tax certificate sale every year, until someone actually sends it to auction, correct? I don't think any of the investor really care for the land bc it's small and so much is owed in back taxes. But I have family members in the area and would like to utilize that land for something. 

Please help.

Thank you for taking the time to read  :)

[Ned Carey]

@Lisa Jones unless and until the title is transferred to the heirs you always have to go through the estate to buy property from someone who is deceased. If no estate has been set up than one needs to be opened. Then you still have to deal with the heirs to get them to agree to sell.
 

      the property will just continue to go to the tax certificate sale every
year, until someone actually sends it to auction, correct?

Well the exact process depends on the state. Generally "the tax certificate sale" IS an auction. This is generally going to be the most practical way to acquire the property in this situation. However if the property is desirable there will be competition at the auction. At the very least you have to wait until it goes to auction which could be years depending on the state.

IF the property already has gone to auction and someone has bought a tax deed or tax lien, potentially you could buy the deed or lien from them.

Yes adverse possession is a possibility but that can have problems itself. In Maryland it takes 20 years to claim adverse possession.  Good luck.