Detailed Answer

Short answer: Paying overdue property taxes on inherited land in Connecticut does not automatically make you the legal owner. Payment may protect the property from municipal tax enforcement, and it may give you a claim for reimbursement from the estate or the person who actually holds title, but title transfer must follow the deed and probate processes. You may need to take additional legal steps (probate administration, quiet title, reimbursement claim, or recorded agreement) to secure ownership or a recorded interest.

How ownership and taxes interact in Connecticut

In Connecticut, title to real estate depends on the recorded deed and the chain of title, not on who pays property taxes. Municipalities have statutory rights to collect unpaid property taxes and may place a lien on the property for those taxes. Paying property taxes will satisfy that municipal claim, but it does not create or change the deeded ownership.

For the official text of Connecticut statutes, see the Connecticut General Assembly’s statutes page: https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/. For probate procedure and court contact information, see the Connecticut Judicial Branch probate pages: https://www.jud.ct.gov/ProbateCourt/.

Typical situations and practical effects

Estate in probate but deed not yet transferred: If the decedent’s estate is in probate and the executor/administrator has not yet transferred title, paying taxes can protect the property from tax enforcement or municipal foreclosure while probate proceeds. You should get a receipt and confirm with the town tax collector that your payment is applied to the tax account.
Heirs or beneficiaries not on deed: Beneficiaries named in a will or under intestacy are not legal owners until the executor or probate court issues a proper instrument (deed or order). Paying taxes does not substitute for probate procedures or a deed.
Someone else legally owns the property (deed in their name): If a third party appears on the deed, paying taxes will not extinguish that person’s title. You may have a claim for reimbursement or an equitable lien against that person if you paid taxes expecting an ownership interest or under an agreement—but you will likely need a court action to enforce that claim.
Preventing tax sale or foreclosure: Paying back taxes will stop a town from continuing collection actions for those unpaid years and may prevent a tax sale or foreclosure for nonpayment. Confirm whether penalties and interest apply and whether additional municipal procedures (like lien certification or foreclosure) are pending.

What payment actually gets you

When you pay past-due property taxes you normally receive a receipt and the municipality will remove or satisfy its lien for the period you paid. Practical outcomes include:

Eliminating the immediate municipal enforcement risk for the years you paid.
Creating documentary evidence (receipts) that you paid taxes, which supports any later reimbursement or equitable claim.
Potentially giving you an argument for equitable relief (reimbursement, lien, or credit) if you can show you paid to preserve the property for beneficiaries or under an agreement.

Common legal routes to protect your position after paying taxes

Ask for a written agreement: If you and other heirs or the titleholder agree, record a signed written agreement (for example, an acknowledgment of your payment and a promise to reimburse or convey interest). A recorded memorandum can preserve notice for future buyers.
Reimbursement from the estate: If the property is part of an estate, file a claim in probate for reimbursement of the taxes you paid with proof (receipts). Probate law controls distribution and creditor claims; consult the local probate court.
Quiet title or declaratory relief: If ownership is disputed or unclear, you may need to file a quiet title action to establish legal title or a partition action if co-owners disagree.
Equitable lien or unjust enrichment claim: If you paid taxes under circumstances that make it unfair for the titleholder to keep the benefit (for example, you paid taxes to preserve the property for the estate), a Connecticut court may recognize an equitable lien or order reimbursement. You will need evidence of payment and the circumstances.
Adverse possession (rare and fact-specific): Connecticut recognizes adverse possession, but the requirements are strict (continuous, hostile, and open possession for the statutory period). Simply paying taxes while not in possession rarely satisfies adverse possession requirements.

Practical steps to take right away

Get written receipts for every tax payment from the town tax collector. Ask for an account statement showing the paid periods and remaining amounts.
Check the deed and run a title search (county land records) to confirm who is on title and whether the property is encumbered by liens.
Check the probate case for the decedent (if any). If the estate is open, file a claim for repayment of the taxes you paid or ask the executor/administrator to reimburse you.
Contact the town tax collector or assessor to confirm whether a tax lien or pending foreclosure exists and whether your payment cleared any municipal action.
Consider a written agreement with other heirs or the title owner acknowledging your payment and spelling out reimbursement or conveyance terms; get it recorded if appropriate.
Consult a Connecticut attorney experienced in probate or real property disputes if the amounts involved are significant or other parties dispute your claim.

When to hire an attorney in Connecticut

Consider hiring an attorney if:

There is a dispute over who holds title.
A municipal tax sale or foreclosure is imminent.
You paid a large amount and need to recover it from an estate or another person.
You want to obtain a recorded interest (deed, lien, or quiet title) based on your payment and the facts are contested.

An attorney can evaluate whether you have a viable equitable lien or reimbursement claim and can guide you through probate or civil actions in Connecticut courts.

Helpful resources

Connecticut General Assembly — statutes and code: https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/
Connecticut Judicial Branch — Probate Court information: https://www.jud.ct.gov/ProbateCourt/
Your town’s tax collector or assessor’s office (contact information is on the town’s municipal website).

Helpful Hints

Always get and keep written receipts for tax payments. Receipts are your strongest evidence of payment.
Do not assume payment equals ownership. Title follows the deed and probate orders, not tax payments.
If you expect reimbursement or title, record a written agreement and consider recording a notice in the land records to preserve your claim.
Act quickly if the town threatens tax sale or foreclosure — those procedures have tight deadlines.
Run a title search early to discover mortgages, liens, or a recorded owner you might not expect.
If the estate is open in probate, file a timely claim for repayment with supporting documentation.

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice about a specific situation in Connecticut, consult a licensed attorney.