My grandmother and her brother sold a house they inherited (no will, original owner was their mother). The property was never formally probated before the sale. The home closed in October 2025 through a title company, and funds were initially distributed to my grandmother and her brother. Before the sale, the buyer/title side was aware that another family member (their nephew) was living in the home. My grandmother specifically asked if his signature or involvement was needed, and she was told it was not required to proceed with the sale.
After closing, the title company contacted them and said the funds needed to be returned, stating there was an issue related to the nephew’s claim. The money was sent back with the understanding it would be properly redistributed. Now months later, the funds are still being held in escrow because the nephew (who is likely also an heir through his deceased mother) is refusing to cooperate and is trying to negotiate for more money.
Questions:
Is it normal for a title company to close and distribute funds, then later reverse it due to a missed heir?
What responsibility does the title company have if they advised that the nephew’s signature was not needed?
What typically happens when one heir refuses to cooperate after closing?
Does this require probate or court intervention to force distribution?
Should we be contacting a real estate attorney or probate attorney at this point?
Trying to understand the most realistic next steps and whether something was mishandled during the transaction. Thank you.
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source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/1suqvai/looking_for_guidance_on_a_real_estateinheritance/
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