I actually hired an attorney who told me the new owner is responsible/liable for the tree, not me...

I also do contract for deed, low closing costs but I strongly suggest you close a CFD at an attorneys office (gives feeling of official and legal,,, which it is).Have a written contract for performance, quartlerly inspections and penalties if no work or poor quality.The summary is:  these rarely work out. 

My question is, once i send him the AOC and get it back with his signature, do i then tell him to wire half of the assignment fee to attorney here in state before proceeding forward.?

My concern is that the attorney who is advising him is the same one who works with the shady investor...

You probably need to ask an attorney.

Because the IRS attorneys only want to go forward with cases that are a slam dunk, black & white win for them.

I have friends from their but I would definitely get the India equivalent of an attorney for advice. 

I'd rather rip off the bandaid, and pay the $1k to an attorney for removal, so it stops messing with my psyche.

Hi @Charlie MacPherson, I don't have a specific private money strategy for you, though I would counsel that once you have a decent proposal/informal deal idea worked out, the next most critical piece will be getting a sit down conversation with yourself, your client, and your client's bankruptcy attorney.

As always, please confirm anything I (or anyone else on BP) says with your attorney (and perhaps a CPA).I'd definitely double-check with the HML to see if they're okay with you receiving secondary financing.