Over 3,200 Uninherited Properties in Taiwan's Changhua County Risk Auction

A significant amount of property in Taiwan's Changhua County, valued at approximately NT$3.2 billion (US$98 million), is facing potential auction due to unresolved inheritance claims. As of 2026, 3,286 land parcels and 113 buildings have not undergone the necessary inheritance registration, prompting the Changhua County Government to place them under official management.

According to Article 73-1 of the Land Act, if ownership transfer due to inheritance is not registered within one year, the land administration agency will publicly announce the heirs to apply for registration within three months. If heirs fail to comply, the properties will be listed and managed by the agency. This management period lasts for 15 years, during which heirs can still complete the registration process.

The Changhua County Government has emphasized that if inheritance registration is not finalized within this 15-year management period, the properties will be transferred to the National Property Administration under the Ministry of Finance for public auction. Any proceeds from the auction that remain unclaimed by heirs for over 10 years will ultimately revert to the national treasury.

To address potential complications, such as difficulties in coordinating numerous heirs or completing estate distribution, the county's Land Administration Department advises that some heirs can represent the entire group to apply for joint ownership registration. Subsequent agreements can then lead to property division. The department also reminded the public that current civil law grants equal inheritance rights regardless of gender, with exceptions only for inheritance systems during the Japanese colonial era. Individuals receiving notifications about uninherited property are urged to promptly handle estate tax procedures with the National Taxation Bureau before proceeding with inheritance registration.