Quiet Title? Good-for-nothing relatives!
I have a client that has paid the taxes on this property for over 10 years. He inherited a share of it when his mother died who also inherited a share of it, along with all of her brothers and sisters, who are all dead now. In all, there are over 130 people who could have claim to a portion of the property, many of which can not be found. My client does not know what to do other than keep paying the taxes. Is there a procedure to quiet title based on his paying the taxes for X number of years? What is it called?
Thanks for your help. 
[addsig]
Not sure about the tax situation but there is something called :
ADVERSE POSSESSION:
A method of acquiring or claiming title (ownership) to a piece of land owned by another by occupying it in defiance of the other's title.
Most jurisdictions have statutes that set out a certain period of time throughout which the person claiming adverse possession must occupy the land before title passes to that person by operation of law.
The only thing is I think the occupant has to have had possession or paid taxes for 20 years...to obtain clear title on it....
Not sure but I think it's a start in your search for anwsers.
Hope this helps.
Clif [ Edited by pbodys on Date 05/03/2003 ]
Thanks, for the rapid reply. Any other thoughts will be appriciated.
I would contact a Real Estate attorney to see if a "Quiet Title" action could be filed.
After the paperwork is filed with the court, all the defendants would have to answer the suit within the specified time period on lose by default.
Then it's just a matter of having the judge rule who is the owner of the property.
State laws vary, so your best advice is to contact a RE attorney where the property is located and go from there.
Best of luck
John (LV)