Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Pennsylvania

i have owned a propert since 1972 when mother switched it over to me for right of surviour she passed away in 1992 and i add my husband on the property we have been paying the taxes on this property since 1972 the back property is missing on the current deed but we have all deeds sice the land before the properties were build its a double block with the house on the back. the house in the back some where in 1949 that peoperty is not on the next deed. But it is referenecd in the taxes and the question i can sell the double block without a prblem the back house they say this was a mistake, some say it was taken hostile. how can i sell the property? i researched i have all the deeds regarding this property. all previous lawyers have passed away. What can i do?


Asked on 5/25/11, 11:24 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Rachel Hunter

No one is going to want to buy this property with a problematic deecd. You need to see a real estate litigation attorney in the county where the land is located to bring what is called a quiet title action.

To have obtained land by "adverse possession" you (and your predecessors) would have to have been possessing the land for 21 years. Your use has to have been without permission of the property owner and has to be obvious to anyone that the land is occupied and in use.

It would be worthwhile to bring copies of the deeds to the lawyer and let him or her review. It may be a simple drafting problem and a quiet title action could fix it but its hard to say.

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Answered on 5/25/11, 4:47 pm


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