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.
If you’ve been handed papers over a property’s unpaid taxes, the phrase “Original Petition” is probably right there on them. It sounds formal and intimidating, but it’s a standard document, and knowing what it is takes a lot of the fear out of it.
An Original Petition is simply the document that starts a lawsuit. In a property tax case, the taxing entities, such as the county, school district, or city, file it to begin collecting delinquent taxes on a specific property. It lays out who is suing, the property involved, the taxes claimed to be owed, and what the entities are asking the court to do. It usually arrives with a citation, the official notice telling you the suit exists and that you have a limited time to respond. Your name appears as a defendant because you’ve been identified as an owner of the property, often as an heir, which is why people are frequently surprised to see themselves listed alongside relatives.
The important thing to understand is what the petition is after: the property and the taxes tied to it, not you personally, and not your freedom. It’s civil, not criminal. Once you know that, the document becomes a problem to manage rather than a catastrophe. You can respond through an attorney, address the taxes, or, if it’s an inherited interest you’d rather be free of, sell your share and remove your name from the case.
A couple of quick questions:
Does being named in the petition mean I personally owe the taxes? The suit is primarily aimed at collecting against the property, and you’re named because you hold an interest in it. An attorney can explain how it applies to you, but selling your share removes you from the case.
If I sell my share, does my name come off the petition? Selling your interest ends the ownership that made you a party, and a buyer experienced in these cases handles stepping into your position, taking you out of the matter going forward.
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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