We moved to this state in the summer of 2009. We purchased a home in the last week of December 2009.
We had everything done by the book as regards title search and liens before we bought it. We even
purchased title insurance as part of the sale.

About a year later we started receiving notices from the city that we owed property taxes on the home
for the years 2006-2009. I think they have now decided to put a lien on the property for those old
taxes. The amount owed is around $1,400.00.

I do not want to give in to them & their bullying tactics because they did not do their proper
paperwork. I had paperwork sent to them from the title company proving to them that a proper
title search had been done. It's the principle of the matter for me. I do not owe them money for
another persons lack of payment.

Would I be better off just paying the taxes, or should I contact a lawyer?

Thanks in advance! :)

Contact your title insurance company.  This is precisely what you paid them for.

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This 100%  

Yep.  They can hire a lawyer to deal with it if necessary.

For a small amount the Title Insurer may just pay the bill.

Yep.  Either the city screwed up and didn't file a lein or the title insurer didn't do a proper search.

I do note, however, that the title insurer may have an out; they only insure matters that are part of the public record.  If the city has a legit, unrecorded lein the insurer may be able to avoid covering it.  You'll then need to duke it with the city on your own (or rather, your lawyer's own).

 

The Title company, or your lawyer, would also tell you if there was a  statute of limitations on the claim for back taxes.

This is probably a good guess.  In the dozens of times I've dealt with title insurance, I've never seen them pay a penny.z

What did your purchase agreement cover for taxes?

One property I had covered taxes for the remainder of the year. Another one said the taxes for the first 5 months were not paid (they paid every 6 months there). All of this was disclosed in the contract.

I have always seen taxes prorated between the buyer and seller down to the day of settlement.

What is the lien for?
Some cannot be extinguished and live forever until paid.