What to Do If You Inherited Land in Tennessee
Inheriting land can feel like a gift — or a burden.
Maybe it was passed down from a parent or grandparent. Maybe it’s a parcel you’ve never even seen. Either way, if you’ve recently inherited land in Tennessee, you probably have questions:
What are my options?
Do I need to pay taxes?
Can I sell it?
How do I know what it’s worth?
This guide will walk you through what to do when you inherit vacant land in Tennessee — and how to sell it easily if you don’t want to keep it.
👋 Inherited land you don’t want to deal with? We’ll buy it directly — no agents, no fees, no pressure. Request a cash offer here.
Step 1: Figure Out What You Now Own
Start with the basics. You’ll want to gather:
The county and parcel number (APN)
The acreage and zoning
Whether it has road access, utilities, or structures
The tax status (any unpaid taxes or liens?)
You can usually find this through the county assessor or trustee’s website. If you're unsure, we can help you look it up.
💡 Don’t worry if the land is overgrown, landlocked, or hasn’t been touched in years — we work with all types of parcels.
Step 2: Understand the Legal Situation
Was the land passed to you through a will, probate, or deed transfer?
This matters because:
If probate hasn’t been completed, you may not be able to sell just yet.
If you received it via quitclaim deed, there may be title issues to resolve.
If there are multiple heirs, all parties typically need to agree to sell.
Every situation is a little different — but we’ve worked with them all. If you inherited land in Tennessee and aren’t sure where you stand, we can help point you in the right direction.
Step 3: Decide If You Want to Keep It
Ask yourself:
Do I live near the land?
Do I plan to use it (build, develop, hold)?
Is it costing me money each year in taxes or fees?
Am I emotionally tied to it — or just keeping it out of guilt or habit?
Many people hold onto inherited land simply because they don’t know what else to do with it. But if it’s not serving you, selling can free up time, money, and mental space.
Step 4: Explore Selling Options
Here are your choices:
✅ Sell to a direct land buyer (like Fourth Soil)
No commissions
No cleanup required
Fast closing — even with probate or title issues
We pay all closing costs
🕰 List with a realtor
Could get a higher price — but slower process
Most realtors don’t specialize in rural land
Still may require prep work and cleanup
🚫 Do nothing
You’ll keep paying taxes and holding liability
The land may depreciate in value, especially if it’s in a low-demand area
Why Many People Choose to Sell
Here’s what we hear most often from people who inherited land in Tennessee:
“I don’t live anywhere near it.”
“I’m tired of paying taxes on something I’ll never use.”
“I want to avoid a family dispute with co-heirs.”
“It’s just sitting there doing nothing — and I could use the cash.”
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. That’s exactly why we built Fourth Soil — to help people like you move on from land you no longer want or need.
What If There Are Complications?
No problem. We work with all kinds of inherited land situations, including:
Probate not yet completed
Multiple owners/heirs
Back taxes or liens
Undeveloped parcels
Title issues
We’ve seen it all — and we’ll do the heavy lifting to help resolve it.
What Selling to Fourth Soil Looks Like
You tell us about the land
(Parcel number, county, size — that’s it)We research it and send a cash offer
No obligation. No fees.You decide if it works for you
We handle everything
Paperwork, title company, and closing — often in under 3 weeks.
Final Thoughts
Inheriting land in Tennessee doesn’t mean you’re stuck with it forever.
If it’s something you want to hold onto — great.
But if it feels like more of a burden than a blessing, there’s an easy way out.
🎯 Want to turn your inherited land into cash — without the stress?
👉 Request a free, no-pressure offer here. We’ll take care of the rest.
