How Do I Find Out What’s Owed on an Inherited Property?

Note: BCP Real Estate is not a law firm and its employees/owners are not acting as your attorneys. The information contained on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter.

Before making any decision about an inherited property, it helps to know the real number: what does it actually owe? A lot of heirs operate on guesses, and the truth is usually different. Most of this is information you can get directly.

Start with the property taxes, the most common source of trouble. The county tax assessor-collector can tell you the current amount due, including the base taxes plus the penalties and interest that have built up, so ask for the total payoff as of a specific date, since it changes over time. The appraisal district can confirm the assessed value and any exemptions. If the account has already gone to collection, the law firm handling it can provide the figure including collection costs. It’s also worth checking for other claims, since a mortgage or other recorded lien can be attached too, and those show up in the county property records kept by the county clerk.

Once you have the real total, the picture comes into focus. You can compare what’s owed against roughly what the property is worth to see whether there’s meaningful value above the debts. That single comparison often answers the keep-or-sell question on its own, and lets you decide from facts rather than fear.

A couple of quick questions:

Why does the payoff amount keep changing? Because penalties and interest keep accruing on delinquent taxes, so the total grows over time. Ask for the payoff as of a specific date, and remember acting sooner keeps the number smaller.

How do I know if there’s a mortgage or lien besides the taxes? Recorded liens, including mortgages, generally appear in the county property records kept by the county clerk. Checking there alongside the tax records gives you the full picture.

If you’re looking to remove yourself from a lawsuit and get paid for your interest, no cost to you, call or text us at (469) 708-8003 for an offer today.