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Legal question

Tam

Well-known member
I heard this story and I want your reaction, a guy inherits a piece of land and the title is signed over and registered at the County Land office. He pays the taxes on the total piece of land for 50 years, his family take over the property and pay the taxes for an additional 10 years and continues to pay without question.

NOW here is the puzzling part the State government steps in and challenges the family's ownership of a certain lot number. This lot number is not listed on the title as the land description is not by lot but by sections, of which the lot number would be included.

If the County where the title is on file and the taxes are paid and family take the property to be that owned by said family does the State have the right to take the family to court and question ownership? And if the land in question is taken from the family by the State should the family have the right to sue the County for the taxes they have paid for 60 plus years and court cost to defend their property ownership challenge?
 

Lonecowboy

Well-known member
Every state is different- In MT I believe it is that if you pay the taxes for 7 years that property becomes yours.

there should be an acerage ammount listed on their tax bill, and that is how many acres they own.

what claim does the state think they have a piece out of the middle?
 

Tam

Well-known member
From what I understand according to the county clerk records/tax records the family owns the whole section. I'm not sure what the State is thinking but I'm wondering is if there has never been a challenge to the ownership of the land after 60 plus years of paying the taxes, should the State have a claim and if they do then shouldn't the County that collected the taxes be held responsible for any legal fees to defend the landowner?
 

Tam

Well-known member
Larrry said:
In most cases it's yours but you do have to do the proper filing to acquire deed

The deed was acquired 60 years ago when the father inhereited the land from his aunt. It has been registered with the county ever since and taxes have been paid ever since.
 

Triangle Bar

Well-known member
I don't know about MT but in CO lot numbers are secondary descriptions. Section, Township, & Range are the primary property descriptions. I would think if the folks owned the entire section without exceptions, they would own it regardless.

Sounds like more corrupt gov. employees grabbing with both hands.
 

I Luv Herfrds

Well-known member
Yes here it needs to be listed as Township, range, section and in some of ours it will list Sec. 12 1/4 SSW.

Had the state years ago try to move a section line to include a developed spring on our property into school trust fund land. Hubby's grandfather pulled the deed listing the spring and the filed water rights on it.
And he also pulled the survey that was done in the county way back when.
The state guys quietly left.
We still have our spring.
 
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