From Tax Lien to Tax Deed

1. Property sold at tax sale

2. Tax lien purchaser hires United Tax Sale Services, Inc.

3. United Tax Sale Services, Inc. submits county form 137b, reimbursement for title search and costs of giving notice.

4. If the property is redeemed, tax lien purchaser is issued a refund of the bid amount, plus interest, 137b costs, and any subsequent taxes paid by the purchaser and submitted for reimbursement on form 137b.

5. If the property is not redeemed, the tax lien purchaser has 90 days to file a petition for tax deed. A $300 attorney fee paid directly to counsel must by paid prior to petitioning for a deed. Customers reserve the right to petition pro se or hire counsel of choice.

6. After a petition is filed, the court has 60 days to order the county auditor to issue a tax deed

7. Upon receipt of the order, the tax sale buyer has 150 days to pay the property taxes that have accrued subsequent to the tax sale, file a sales disclosure with the County Auditor, and record the tax deed

COMMON QUESTIONS

Does your fee include all expenses necessary to obtain title to the property? Our fee covers all requirements to be eligible to apply for a tax deed. If the property is not redeemed, there is a $300 attorney fee to apply for a tax deed. In addition, the county recorder will charge $25 to record the tax deed.
Do I get clear title to the real estate? A tax deed does convey "clear" title, with some exceptions. The most common are municipal liens for mowing, sewer services, trash pickup, boarding, demolition. If you decide to sell the property, real estate transactions in Indiana are generally settled by title insurance companies, most of which in the past would not insure tax-deed real estate without completion of another title clearing process called a quiet title action. However, today there are a number of title companies offering to insure tax-deeded real estate, making the quiet title process unnecessary.
If the property redeems, will I get all my money back? United Tax Sale Services, Inc. fee is reimbursable to the tax lien purchaser as "title search" and "costs of giving notice" under county form 137b. If a person seeks to redeem the real estate, they must pay these costs in addition to the delinquent taxes, interest, and penalties. The county treasurer should include the refund in the redemption check made payable to the tax lien purchaser.

Important Disclaimer: United Tax Sale Services, Inc. is not a law firm, does not engage in the practice of law, and does not charge or collect attorney fees.