Inherited land needs an extra layer of due diligence because the person showing you the property may not yet have legal authority to sell it.
Family agreement and legal authority are not the same thing.
Start with the registered owner
Run the official search.
If the title is still in the name of a deceased person, ask your advocate what succession process has been completed and who is legally authorised to deal with the estate.
Ask for the succession documents
The relevant documents depend on the stage of the estate.
Your advocate may need to review the grant, confirmation and any orders or transmission documents that establish who can transfer the land.
Do not rely only on a letter from family members.
Multiple beneficiaries create extra questions
Where several people inherit property, establish:
- who received the specific parcel
- whether the land has been transmitted
- whether subdivision is required
- who must sign
- whether there is a pending dispute
One beneficiary taking you to the site does not prove that person can sell the whole parcel.
Check for court disputes
If there is known conflict within the family or estate, ask your advocate to investigate before you pay.
A cheap price is not compensation for buying into unresolved succession litigation.
Verify the physical parcel too
Succession documents do not replace ordinary property checks.
Still verify:
- title
- boundaries
- access
- occupation
- charges or restrictions
- rates or rent
Put authority before deposit
Do not pay a large deposit first and ask whether the seller had authority later.
The person receiving the money and signing the agreement should have a legal basis to transact.
For the broader transaction checks, see our property due diligence checklist and land sale agreement guide.