Note: BCP Real Estate is not a law firm and its employees/owners are not acting as your attorneys. The information contained on this website is provided for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter.
This is a frustrating spot. The county sends one tax bill for the whole property, and it expects the whole thing paid. So when a co-owner won’t or can’t chip in, you’re left choosing between covering their share yourself or watching the account go delinquent and put everyone at risk.
It’s a built-in weakness of shared ownership. Each heir holds an undivided share, which gives everyone the same stake but no easy way to force another co-owner to pay. You can keep the taxes current out of your own pocket, but that doesn’t automatically shrink the non-paying owner’s share or grow yours. And if no one covers it, the unpaid taxes build penalties and interest and can lead to a lawsuit that names all the heirs, including the ones who were trying to do the right thing.
If you’re tired of carrying co-owners who won’t pull their weight, you don’t have to keep doing it. You can talk to an attorney about your rights to recover what you’ve paid, or you can simply step out: sell your own share, and you’re no longer exposed to the unpaid taxes or the lawsuit. The non-paying owners keep their shares and their obligations, while you walk away clean.
A couple of quick questions:
If I’ve been paying all the taxes, do I own more of the property? Not automatically. Paying more than your share may give you certain rights to seek reimbursement, which an attorney can explain, but it doesn’t change the ownership percentages on its own.
Can I get out without chasing the others for their share? Yes. You can sell your own interest without settling up with anyone first. Selling removes you from the property and the lawsuit; what the others owe stays with them.
If you’re looking to remove yourself from a lawsuit and get paid for your interest, no cost to you, call or text us at (469) 708-8003 for an offer today.
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