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 a family property in Kaufman County has pulled you into a tax lawsuit, you’re not the only one caught off guard. As the area around Forney, Terrell, and Kaufman has grown, a lot of older family property has resurfaced in these cases, often with heirs who didn’t know they were involved.
For many people, the first contact is a constable or sheriff’s deputy at the door with a citation and an Original Petition. Having someone hand you legal papers in person is unsettling, and it’s easy to assume the worst. In these matters it’s usually just the standard way a civil case over unpaid property taxes begins. It isn’t a criminal charge, and it isn’t a scam.
The cause is usually a gap in probate. When an owner passes away and no probate is filed, their interest passes to the next of kin under Texas intestacy laws, while the county’s records still list the original owner. When the taxes fall behind, the suit is filed and the county researches the family tree to name the living heirs.
In Kaufman County, taxes run through the Kaufman County Tax Assessor-Collector (100 N. Washington St., Kaufman, TX 75142; 469-376-4690), property values are set by the Kaufman County Appraisal District, and the case is on record with the Kaufman County District Clerk. All of it is public and can be confirmed before you make any decision.
From there, people generally resolve the lawsuit with an attorney, look into a payment arrangement, or sell their portion, which takes them out of the lawsuit without needing everyone else to agree.
A couple of questions we hear a lot in Kaufman County:
There are several of us, and one brother handles everything. Can I sell my share on my own? Yes. Your share is yours to sell, whether or not another family member has been the one managing things.
Will I owe taxes on the money I get for my share? That depends on your situation, and we’re not tax advisors, so it’s best to check with a tax professional. What we can say is there’s no cost to you to get an offer or sell your portion.
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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