Unsecured Property Taxes?

Question

I've received a few letters from the Orange County California Tax Collectors stating that I owe back taxes for Unsecured Property Taxes and I am confused why I'm continually getting them.
The taxes are for a house that my mother owned from 1987-2005 (October), but my mom passed away and we sold the house. But now I keep receiving the letters stating they have reassessed that property for 2003 and 2004 and that I owe a good chunk of money. I also paid some taxes already for the same years after the place sold, but now I'm receiving more.

Can someone explain why I would be receiving this?

Here's a link to the property that is in question.
http://tax.ocgov.com/tcweb/search_addr.asp?streetname=23265%20%20COSO&req_string=23265%20coso%20Mission%20Viejo&t_city=MV&t_page=0

Are unsecured property taxes only for vessels, tractors and such or can it be applied to houses? Also, shouldn't these back taxes be owed by the new owner?

So confused.
Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

I guess if they reassessed the property for the time that your Mom owned it then it's due. From whom it is due from is the question.

(Unsecured simply means that they can't take the property from the current owner for non-payment of the tax.)

Since you didn't own the property then, I can't see how they could send you the bill, however. Your Mom's estate would owe the bill but if it was rendered after the estate was probated there's not likely anything left to collect it from. Normally, they'd be SOL on collection then.

I can only guess but paying the other unsecured assessments may have established your liability for the ones they're billing you for now -- at least in the tax collector's mind. That certainly does sound strange, though. Leave it to CA to come up with something as off-the-wall as that.

Honestly, I'd consult with a local attorney who is versed in CA real estate law and maybe estate law as well. Nothing that weird would ever happen MO, but with CA, you never know. Glad I left!