Current Events > Does anyone know how to obtain abandoned property?

(+) Yeah! (+)

There's a house connected to our property. It had an elderly couple living there. But the husband died like 17 years ago, and the wife went into a nursing home. She passed away about 12 years ago.

Their house has just been sitting there, vacant for all that time. My parents still take care of the yard like they did for the lady before she was moved.

It'd would be very nice to be able to buy it. So, we contacted their children. None of whom claim or want the property. They all said that the nursing home owns it now. So we contacted them and they said that's not true, that her one son paid for her to stay and the house was never included in any way.

So we went to the court house, and they claim the deed in the couple's name, despite them both being dead for so long. They just said to contact the family,which we've already done.

Dad says he has squatter's rights since he's been keeping the yard in shape. Mom says since it's abandoned we just have to pay the taxes and it'll be ours... But is there actually a legal way to claim it?

I'm not inclined to rely on squatter's rights and a deed appearing from thin air from paying taxes. So... Does anyone know anything about this type of situation?

Think you just have to pee on it

find a lawyer

R1masher posted...

Think you just have to pee on it

Of course! Wish I had known that a decade ago.

Frolex posted...

find a lawyer

Hm. That's an idea, I'll definitely consider that option. I'm just afraid of what they'd charge for info, that might be as useless as what the courthouse said.

I believe lawyer consults are by the hour and you can probably find the rates for local ones easily enough

look up adverse possession laws in your state. You will need a lawyer, it will costs thousands. Probably $5-10k if no one disputes your parents adverse possession claim. If someone disputes it, double or triple that amount.

stuff like paying property taxes will help your claim, assuming no one is currently paying.

The only good advice anyone here can give you is to contact a real estate lawyer. This process is going to cost you money, and it's going to cost more if anyone tries to contest it.

Will_VIIII posted...

I believe lawyer consults are by the hour and you can probably find the rates for local ones easily enough

I guess that's probably the best option. I was just hoping there was a more direct and easier way. One that didn't require extra payments for info.

Thanks though, it's appreciated. Will discuss this with my family and see how they want to go about it.

Norman_Smiley posted...

look up adverse possession laws in your state. You will need a lawyer, it will costs thousands. Probably $5-10k if no one disputes your parents adverse possession claim. If someone disputes it, double or triple that amount.

stuff like paying property taxes will help your claim, assuming no one is currently paying.

Oh... Yeah, we don't have that kind of money. I didn't think it'd cost near that much.

I guess it'll just stay as is then. Thanks.

Ryvell posted...

The only good advice anyone here can give you is to contact a real estate lawyer. This process is going to cost you money, and it's going to cost more if anyone tries to contest it.

That's quite disappointing, but understandable. This has been really informative.