01How it is defined in LeadCounty
Latest transfer is a death-related deed (affidavit, certificate of transfer, transfer on death, executor, administrator, fiduciary, heirship).
02How many are on the list today
Inheritance deed is on file in 44 of 99 counties this week. The most are in Franklin County, OH (21,776), El Paso County, TX (13,304), Lucas County (Toledo), OH (12,179); the typical county has 3,304. In the latest full week Butler County, OH recorded the most (52).
| County | On the list | Latest week | 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County, OH | 21,776 | 33 | 1,950 |
| El Paso County, TX | 13,304 | 50 | 2,552 |
| Lucas County (Toledo), OH | 12,179 | 34 | 1,265 |
| Stark County (Canton), OH | 10,022 | 33 | 1,329 |
| Lorain County, OH | 9,577 | 30 | 1,407 |
| Butler County, OH | 9,358 | 52 | 1,221 |
| Hidalgo County (McAllen), TX | 8,252 | 12 | 721 |
| Clermont County, OH | 5,841 | 0 | 699 |
| Hamilton County (Cincinnati), OH | 5,636 | 19 | 895 |
| Lake County, OH | 5,046 | 0 | 0 |
| Bergen County, NJ | 4,734 | – | 230 |
| Clark County (Springfield), OH | 4,648 | 19 | 540 |
03Why it matters
Heirs often live elsewhere, share the house with siblings, and did not plan to own it. Most decide within a year whether to keep, rent or sell.
04Where it shows up in public records
Recorded deeds at the county recorder or clerk; the deed type gives the inheritance away.
05How to find inheritance deed in 3 steps
- Step 1, find the record: recorded deeds at the county recorder or clerk; the deed type gives the inheritance away.
- Step 2, match it to the property: join the record to the parcel by its parcel number and the owner's name and address, so you know which house it belongs to.
- Step 3, add a second reason: stack inheritance deed with another list to see which owners have more than one reason to sell. LeadCounty does steps 1 and 2 for every property each week.
06How we count it
LeadCounty counts inheritance deed from each county's own records and shows the number for every county in the table above, refreshed weekly. A county that does not publish the record shows no count rather than a guess.
07How to use it
- Reach out in the first months after the deed, with patience.
- Stack with out-of-state owner and vacant signals.
- Lead with help: the family may still be grieving.
08Best stacks with inheritance deed
One list gives you a reason; two or three lists together give you owners with several reasons at once. The stacks that work best with inheritance deed:
- Inheritance deed + out-of-state owner: the owner lives in another state and manages from a distance.
- Inheritance deed + likely vacant: the house is probably empty and costs money every month.
- Inheritance deed + tax delinquent: tax is past due, a dated and money-based sign of pressure.
