Please, please please go and seek legal help with all of this.  Transfers of real property are very important transactions. You have already laid out money and purchased the tax deed but it really needs to be read by an attorney in your area and then you need to make sure that the next step you take is a legal one.  You do not want the deed signed by the land owner to be set aside after you have spent more money like for improvements on the property.  Deeds should be prepared by those that know how to do it.  It is not a waste of money if you are covered in the end.  Good luck to you.