Q: My mother has been taking care of some rental property for a man who is now deceased. What can she do to take ownership?
She lives in Maine, has been paying the taxes on the property and isn't sure if the deceased man has any family.
A: I am sorry, but I do not think your mother has any right to take ownership based on her paying the taxes on the property. If she is interested in finding out who owns the property now, then she should check the local registry of deeds records to see if the deceased man owned the property in only his name or jointly with someone else. If he owned it jointly with someone else, then his interest in the property will typically pass to that other person automatically upon his death. If he owned it in only his name, then she will need to find out if the man died with a will and, if so, what the terms of that will provide with respect to this property. If there was no will, then she will need to find out if he has any relatives, because Maine’s intestate succession laws will determine who owns the property after his death.
Tim Akpinar agrees with this answer
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.
