Detailed Answer
If you need to confirm who legally owns a portion of land that belonged to your grandfather in Arizona, start with a focused title search at the county level. The most important first step is to locate and examine recorded public documents for the parcel: deeds, transfers, and any probate filings that show how the property changed hands after your grandfather’s death.
Why begin with county records?
- Recorded deeds and related instruments (warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, releases) show official transfers of ownership.
- The county assessor and county recorder maintain the property’s parcel number, current owner name(s), legal description, and recorded chain of title.
- If your grandfather’s interest passed through probate or a court order, those filings are public records at the county probate court (see Arizona probate rules and resources).
Practical first-step checklist
- Identify the parcel. Get the street address, assessor’s parcel number (APN), or legal description. If you don’t have those, use the property address or the grandfather’s name to search.
- Search the county assessor. Look up the parcel to find the current owner name(s), parcel ID, assessed value, and tax history. Most Arizona counties have online assessor search tools.
- Search the county recorder/registrar of deeds. Pull the deed history (chain of title). Start with the deed that shows how the grandfather took title, then follow subsequent recorded instruments to the present owner. Look for deeds, probate orders, affidavits of heirship, trust-related recordings, or lien releases.
- Check probate and estate records. If the grandfather died owning the property, the transfer may have occurred through a probate case. You can search county probate filings or visit the courthouse. For general probate guidance, see Arizona Courts’ self-help resources: https://www.azcourts.gov/ (search “Probate”).
- Look for trusts, LLCs, or corporate ownership. The property might have been placed in a trust or transferred to an LLC—those transfers sometimes appear as deeds conveying title to a trustee or entity.
- Consider a title company or attorney for complicated issues. If recorded documents are unclear, if there are competing claims, or if transfers were informal (e.g., no recorded deed, affidavits only), hire a title company to run a full title report or a licensed Arizona real estate attorney to advise on next steps.
Key Arizona law resources
- Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 33 (Property): https://www.azleg.gov/arsDetail/?title=33
- Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 14 (Probate and Estates): https://www.azleg.gov/arsDetail/?title=14
- Arizona Courts — self-help probate information: https://www.azcourts.gov/
Helpful Hints
- Start online. Many Arizona counties let you search assessor and recorder records by name, address, or parcel number. This saves an initial courthouse visit.
- Gather documents you already have. Old deeds, mortgage statements, tax bills, or letters from a title company can provide legal descriptions or parcel numbers.
- Focus on the chain of title. Ownership questions are usually resolved by following recorded transfers from the earliest relevant deed forward to the present.
- Watch for probate paperwork. If the property transferred after your grandfather’s death, the probate case or a recorded order will often explain who inherited the interest.
- Be careful with informal claims. Family memoranda or home conversations do not transfer legal title unless a valid deed or recorded instrument exists.
- Order a preliminary title report. A title company can report recorded liens, encumbrances, and the recorded owner, and may reveal issues that need legal resolution.
- Survey or boundary evidence. If your question involves only part of a parcel (a portion of the land), a current survey and the legal description are essential to determine whether a separate interest exists.
- When in doubt, consult a lawyer. Complex disputes (disagreements among heirs, missing deeds, claims of adverse possession, ambiguous descriptions) usually require a licensed Arizona attorney and possibly a quiet-title action in court.
Next actionable step: Locate the county where the land sits and perform an online search at that county’s assessor and recorder websites for the parcel using name, address, or APN. If you prefer, contact a local title company or an Arizona real estate attorney and ask for a preliminary title search.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney in Arizona.