Q: I own the land, but a house was already there when I purchased the land. Who owns the house?
I purchased a property in the land tax sale. I have paid all the taxes up and have my deed. There is a house on the property that was not assessed during the land sale. The people who live there have a deed for the vacant lot next to mine, but the house they live in is on the land that I purchased. Is the house mine?
A: Probably not. They probably own both tracts by adverse possession under color of title. You should have performed a title search prior to purchase. And tax sales are notorious for sometimes conveying nothing, as there are no real covenants of title. With tax sales, you always need a competent attorney. Here these possessors may have lost the land from non-payment of taxes, and now you must eject them, unless a tax statute puts you in possession. Actions for Ejectment are expensive and very difficult.
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.
