Abandoned Property?
I have located a piece of property which has been abandoned. The owner is deceased. The taxes have not been paid and the property has never switched hands to a relative. Can this property be bought before it is scheduled to sell at a tax sale? Any sites, info, risks? Thank you 
At least in FL, the property owned by an individual (not owned by a trust) must go through probate before a property can be sold. Who are you going to buy it from? Is the dead man going to sign the dead? Someone has to be given the authority to convey the propety and only the court can give that authority. If FL it takes about 3 weeks if there was a will, or it is pretty cust and dry (surviving spouse) and the relatives are all cooperating. If you have to hunt down distance relatives that all have equal say in the matter the probate could take month. And probats cost about $600 for the easy ones.
Brenda
well, The thing is the property has been vacant since 1987 and no one has done anything with it. I got curious and this is when I found out that the owner was deceased. She was not married and had no children. I would think that by now something would have been done. However the court records show that she is still the owner. Could I go and get a tax certificate for this property or possibly a tax deed? Confused.
Try looking up the adverse possession statute in your state.
Thank you so very much for the information. I am very cautious about all of this and do not want to get myself in a bind. You have been very helpful!! I wish you the best.