Virginia: Paying Back Taxes on Inherited Land When You Are Not on the Deed
What happens if you pay delinquent taxes on inherited land but your name is not on the deed? Short answer: Paying the back taxes can protect the property from tax sale and may give you a claim for reimbursement or an equitable lien, but payment alone does not transfer legal title. To become the recorded […]
Read article →Finding Heirs and Property Ownership After a Grandparent Dies — Virginia
How to learn who the rightful heirs are and who owns property after a grandparent dies (Virginia) Short answer: Start by confirming whether your grandparent left a will and by checking probate and land records at the local Circuit Court. If there is a will, the named personal representative (executor) generally handles distribution. If there […]
Read article →Recovering Surplus Funds After a Tax Sale in Virginia
Detailed Answer Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice. This article explains the typical Virginia process to recover funds left over after a property sells at a tax sale. Consult the local treasurer and, if needed, a licensed Virginia attorney about your specific situation. What are "surplus funds" after a […]
Read article →Virginia: How to Ask the Court to Reconsider Letters of Administration and Remove an Administrator
If another person already has been appointed personal representative, but you are the sole heir, how to ask the Virginia circuit court to revoke those letters and appoint you Detailed answer — step-by-step under Virginia law If someone else has already received letters of administration (now called letters testamentary or letters of administration/personal representative in […]
Read article →Challenging an Administrator Who Closed a Joint Bank Account in Virginia
Detailed Answer This article explains what to do if an estate administrator closed a decedent’s joint bank account without notifying heirs, under Virginia law. It summarizes the legal principles, practical steps, and common court remedies you can pursue. This is general information only and not legal advice—consult a Virginia attorney to apply the law to […]
Read article →Virginia — How to Review and Correct Missing or Incorrect Probate Filings in a Parent’s Estate
Practical steps to review and fix missing or incorrect probate filings in Virginia Short answer: You can inspect the estate file at the circuit court where your father’s estate was administered, review the docket and documents, then ask the personal representative to correct errors or, if necessary, file a petition in circuit court asking the […]
Read article →How to Challenge a Grandparent’s Appointment as Estate Administrator in Virginia
Detailed Answer — What to know and what to do under Virginia law This section explains, in plain language, how someone with a legal interest can challenge the appointment of an estate administrator for a grandparent in Virginia. This is an overview only — it is not legal advice. Who may challenge the appointment? In […]
Read article →Fixing Errors in Virginia Probate Paperwork: What to Do When Heirs Are Listed Incorrectly
Fixing Errors in Probate Paperwork in Virginia: What to Do When Heirs Are Listed Incorrectly Short answer: If probate paperwork in Virginia lists the wrong siblings (or other heirs), act quickly. Start by contacting the circuit court clerk who handled the probate, explain the error, and ask how to file a correction (often an affidavit […]
Read article →Virginia — How probate transfers real property title under a will
How probate works in Virginia to transfer title to real property under a will Detailed answer — how the probate process moves real estate title in Virginia This explains, in plain language, how a person named in a will can use the Virginia probate process to transfer the decedent’s real property into the name of […]
Read article →Virginia: Can You Challenge an Administrator’s Claim to Ownership of Inherited Real Property?
Can I challenge an administrator's claim to ownership in the real property I'm entitled to inherit? Short answer: Yes — in Virginia you can challenge an administrator’s claim that they own real property that you believe you are entitled to inherit. The probate process gives the administrator certain powers to collect, manage, and protect estate […]
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