District of Columbia Tax Sale Litigation
Antonoplos & Associates, District of Columbia Tax Sale Litigation Practice represents individual and institutional investors in matters involving the District of Columbia Tax Sale. Our tax sale attorneys have extensive experience in Title 47 Litigation involving District of Columbia Tax Sale Certificates. Antonoplos & Associates attorneys routinely represent individuals and institutional investors in actions to foreclose rights of redemption on District of Columbia Tax Sale Certificates.
District of Columbia Tax Sale Guide
Following a success bid at the District of Columbia Tax Sale Auction the successful bidder needs to follow a seven-step process in order to perfect title in the property and be able to transfer ownership. The process from start to finish takes approximately 24 months following the Tax Sale Auction.
- Step One: following the conclusion of the tax auction, the successful bidder must pay the balance of the sale price within five (5) business days from the date of the last day of the Tax Sale (also referred to as the final payment date).
- Step Two: Four (4) months following the bidder making a timely final payment the bidder may retain an attorney to initiate a title search on the property. This title search is intended to identify all parties who may have an interest in the property that may be affected by the perfection of title to the property.
- Step Three: Six (6) months following the bidder making a timely final payment the bidder may file a foreclosure action in the District of Columbia Superior Court to foreclose the owner of records right of redemption in the property. The foreclosure action must name the owner of record and all parties having any legal or equitable rights in the property, including lenders, trustees, the mayor and the District of Columbia. In addition, to naming these parties the successful bidder must affect service of process on all named parties with an interest in the property unless the court authorizes some other type of service process. Further, the successful bidder or his counsel must also mail a copy of the complaint to any other identified party who may have an interest in the property. Finally, a copy of the complaint must be physically posted at the property in a visible area and the bidder or his attorney must provide the court with clear photographic evidence in addition to the sworn affidavit of service.
- Step Four: Once served the successful bidder must obtain a judgment from the District of Columbia Court that forecloses all parties right of redemption.
- Step Five: Upon obtaining the judgment, the successful bidder must serve the court order on the District Office of Tax and Revenue and request and pay a tax-sale bill for all outstanding taxes and fees associated with the property.
- Step Six: Once all outstanding accrued taxes on the property have been paid the winning bidder is required to request a tax-sale deed from District of Columbia office of Tax and Revenue.
- Step Seven: Following the issuance of the tax-sale deed, the successful bidder may take the deed which will show them as the owner of record and record it with the Recorder of Deeds. Once on record the successful bidder will be the fee simple owner of the property.
Antonoplos & Associates team of real estate attorneys is ready to assist you with your District of Columbia Tax Sale Litigation. For more information on the District of Columbia Tax Sale Litigation, schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys and check out our blog.