Step one: find out how the land was titled.
Look at the last recorded deed. The county recorder in the county where the land sits can tell you what's on record, and most Utah counties let you search online. How the deed was written decides what happens next.
- Joint tenancy with someone still living. The survivor usually owns it already. Under Utah law, the survivor records an affidavit with the county recorder that describes the land, cites the deed that created the joint tenancy, and attaches a copy of the death certificate.
- Owned by a trust. The successor trustee can usually sign the deed. The title company will ask to see the trust or a certificate of trust.
- Owned by the person alone (with or without a will). The land normally has to go through a Utah probate case before anyone can sign a deed, even if the rest of the estate was handled in another state.
Step two: get the paperwork in one place.
Gather the death certificate, the will or trust if there is one, the last deed, and any property tax notices from the county. Back taxes are common on inherited land because the bills keep going to someone who has passed away. Unpaid taxes don't stop a sale. They are paid off from the sale price at closing.
Step three: sell without traveling.
When you sell to a direct buyer like us, the sale runs through a Utah title company. You sign the purchase agreement electronically, and the title company mails you the closing documents to sign in front of a notary near you. We pay the title and closing costs, and there are no agent commissions.
If probate is needed first, you can still sign a purchase agreement now. The closing is simply scheduled after the personal representative is appointed and can sign.
Questions about your own land? Call or text (801) 441-0224, email [email protected], or use the form below. — Coby Reid, Bojiki LLC
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Sources: Utah Courts: Small Estates · Utah Code 57-1-5.1 (joint tenancy affidavit)