Legal Question in Real Estate Law in West Virginia

Land sold for taxes

There is a 50 acre parcel of land in West Virginia that has been in my family for over 100 years. It was willed to my mother and her 2 brothers (all living) when my grandmother passed away. The oldest brother was responsible for paying the taxes, which he did for about 15 years.

Last year, the oldest brother realized he had not received a tax bill in about 4 years. He called the tax assessors office in WV and was told that the land had been sold for back taxes in 1999. The reason he was not receiving the tax bill was that the mailing address had been changed to an address in Iowa. We don't know anyone who lives in Iowa. The appraiser's office evidently does not keep records of who makes address change requests.

We feel the county should know who changed the address, and should have made an attempt to find the rightful owners when they were getting no response from the Iowa address.

Is there anything we can do? The land has more sentimental value than market value.

Thank you for your help.

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