What to Do When Siblings Disagree on Selling Inherited Property? Experts Reveal One Painless Way to Liquidate Assets

Near the Xinzhuang Fuduxin Station in Sanchong, a residential plot of approximately 500 ping (about 1,650 square meters), valued at up to NT$300 million, has become New Taipei City's most valuable piece of real estate left unclaimed due to prolonged failure to complete inheritance registration. Even more striking: this year, the total value of unregistered inherited properties—both land and buildings—in New Taipei City exceeds NT$17.3 billion.

Many people might wonder: "NT$300 million? How could no one claim it?"

The issue is rarely that "no one wants it." Rather, it's because some heirs refuse to act, others are unreachable, and negotiations stall—leading everyone to choose: "Let’s just leave it for now."

But delaying real estate inheritance can be dangerous.

According to Article 73-1 of the Land Act, if inheritance registration is not completed within one year of the inheritance beginning, and after public notice and notification, the property may enter a registry management process.

If inheritance registration remains uncompleted after 15 years of registry management, the property may be legally auctioned off.

The proceeds from the auction aren’t held indefinitely. If unclaimed for 10 years, the funds may ultimately revert to the national treasury.

In other words, even though you think "the house and land are still there," the clock is already ticking on resolving ownership rights.

So why do families with clear assets end up in this situation?

In practice, R-Jie most commonly sees three major obstacles:

1. No one wants to act first

Some want to keep the property, some want to sell, and others want cash. As a result, years can pass with no progress.

2. Heirs are unreachable or overseas

If even one heir remains out of contact or refuses to appear, the entire inheritance process can stall.

3. Fear of inheritance tax leads to inaction

This is a dangerous misconception.

Inheritance tax does not disappear just because registration is delayed.

On the contrary, it may leave the next generation with land but no cash, assets but no ability to pay taxes—forcing them to sell assets urgently.

So what should you do if siblings simply can’t agree?

The most important principle is: "Complete inheritance registration first, then handle family distribution."

Immediately apply for 'co-ownership' registration!

Under current regulations, 'co-ownership' registration does not require signatures from all heirs. Only one heir needs to act as representative, submitting the necessary documents to the land office to apply.

After registration, the family can negotiate asset division. If consensus remains impossible, inheritance division can be resolved through court proceedings.

The key point: don’t let disagreements over "how to divide" prevent you from completing inheritance registration altogether.

Prerequisite for 'co-ownership' registration: inheritance tax must be fully paid.

Prevention is better than cure: 3 proactive steps to prevent inherited assets from becoming state property

To ensure you leave your children wealth—not nightmares—wise parents should take these three steps during their lifetime:

1. Organize property rights in advance

Resolve ancestral co-ownership shares, unregistered buildings, jointly held land, and nominee registrations—don’t leave these issues for the next generation.

2. Create a will + appoint an executor

Legally establish a will. With ongoing reforms in inheritance laws, it’s crucial to re-evaluate existing estate plans.

3. Prepare cash in advance for tax payments

The biggest problem for many families isn’t lack of assets—it’s having "plenty of assets but little cash."

"My house is valuable, but I can’t sell it now."

Therefore, a truly comprehensive inheritance plan goes beyond asset distribution. It includes property rights, wills, tax planning, cash flow, and family coordination.