Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Louisiana

My grandmother had property willed to her by a friend and she owned her own home. She died and left all the land to her son and granddaughter. Her granddaughter was murdered by her husband and she was survived by three children. My dad has been paying the property taxes on the property since the death of his niece which is about 25 years now. Can my dad have all the property transferred into his name and give the property to his children?


Asked on 4/01/10, 11:50 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Adam Lambert The Law Office of Adam S. Lambert

Paying the property taxes and caring for the property all these years still would not automatically divest the other heirs of their rightful inheritance. However, your father would be entitled to reimbursement for all the taxes, lawn care, and other expenses of maintaining the property all these years. In other words, if he owns 50% and the three of them own 1/6 each, he could demand that the three of them reimburse him for their 50% of the expenses for all these years, which could likely come up to 50% of the value of the property. When faced with that bill, the other co-owners would likely be willing to sign what we call quitclaim deeds to the property and reliquish their shares.

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Answered on 4/13/10, 5:42 pm


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