Heirs property and land are a very important part of our community. At the Treasurer's Office, we want to do everything we can to assist you because preserving family land preserves legacies and oftentimes history.
For those who are reading this article and are not aware, heirs property is land and any associated dwellings that are jointly owned by descendants of a deceased individual whose estate was not handled in Probate Court. A descendant is defined as anyone related by blood.
So, how can we help you preserve your family land? First and foremost, through information and support. At the Treasurer's Office, we are the experts in taxation and our team is here to provide you with all of the information you need to make informed decisions about your family's property.
All heirs of a property are owners whether they are specifically listed on the tax records or not. Beaufort County does not keep track of which properties are heirs property but indicators such as HRS, HEIRS, and other notes in the owner name may be included in the tax records.
Helpful Hints!
Receiving or paying a property tax bill does not change ownership rights and does not make an individual an owner nor does it give an existing owner greater rights than another.
The other way we can support you is through our partnerships, by connecting you with resources and organizations that will help your family work towards a clear title for your property. We work closely with the Penn Center and the Center for Heirs Property Preservation. Both organizations, along with others, specialize in assisting heirs property owners.
Historically, heirs have sometimes used the delinquent tax auction as a method of obtaining a title, or ownership, of a family property. It has been a tradition at the tax sale for an heir to announce to their fellow bidders that they are bidding on heirs property, as an appeal to the other bidders to not bid against them. While we value this tradition and recognize its importance, it is just a tradition. It isn't based on a law or policy that can be enforced by the Beaufort County Treasurer’s Office. So if you're considering using the tax sale to resolve your land's title, we recommend seeking expert guidance before choosing this path.
Helpful Hints!
If you're experiencing difficulty paying your property taxes, the Penn Center recently created a program to assist you. Please contact their team for more information or to donate to the program.
Want to learn more about the taxation process and heirs property? We've created this informational video just for you.