Guide for homeowners
You got court papers about your house. What now?
If you’re here, it’s probably because a stranger served you papers saying someone wants to take your house over an unpaid tax bill. We know how scary that is. If you want help understanding the papers, talk with us. If you don’t know how this started, read what a Maryland tax sale means for your house. If you got a notice before these papers, read what that notice meant.
What happened?
The lawyer suing you is named in the court papers you got. They are asking a judge to let them take your house because your tax bill has not been paid. You can still pay what you owe and keep your house, but you must act quickly before they get the property forever.
Save all your papers.
Keep every court paper and communication from the lawyer. If something is hard to understand, we can review it with you.
Now that there is a case, the amount you owe will include some of the investor’s court costs and lawyer’s fees. It can keep going up. If a fee seems too high, we can help you check it to make sure it is fair.
How much do you need to pay?
We can help you find out how much to pay to keep your house and end the case. If you’d rather do it yourself, call the lawyer named in the papers or the County Tax Office. Ask how much you owe, what each fee is for, and where to pay. Your old bill may not show the full amount.
What can you do?
You can reach out to us so we can help you figure out the next step. If you want to redeem on your own, call the County Tax Office or the lawyer, ask for the full amount you owe, and pay it quickly. If you can’t afford to redeem, there are other options. We can help you look for a loan to pay what you owe. Or we can help you find someone to buy the house, so you have a chance to get money for it instead of losing it.