Q: Are you responsible for taxes on a property that is willed to you before you take ownership of the deed?
My grandaughter was given a property by my late brother. The estate is finally being finalized after a period of 1 1/2 years. My granddaughter is being asked to pay the back property taxes on these 18 months even though she still as to this date has not received the deed. She is expecting to get the deed this week. Are the taxes her responsibility or the responsibility of the estate?
A: North Carolina is a bit strange when it comes to inherited real estate. Usually there is no deed from the estate. Your granddaughter has owned the property since the date of death and the estate has had the right to recoup the property to pay bills if necessary. While different facts and circumstances may apply, your granddaughter is probably the current owner of the property and responsible for the taxes and upkeep costs on the property.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
