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 Victoria County has put your name on a tax lawsuit, the confusion that comes with it is normal, especially in families where the property has been passed down through several generations.
Often the first contact is a constable or sheriff’s deputy at the door with a citation and an Original Petition. Being served in person is unsettling, and a lot of people assume it’s something more serious than it is. 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 usual cause is a gap in probate. When an owner passes away without probate, 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 go unpaid long enough, the suit is filed and the county researches the family tree to name the living heirs.
In Victoria County, taxes run through the Victoria County Tax Assessor-Collector (115 N. Bridge St., Victoria, TX 77901; 361-576-3621), property values are set by the Victoria Central Appraisal District, and the case is on record with the Victoria 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 the rest of the family to agree.
A couple of questions we hear a lot in Victoria County:
I’m just one of many cousins. Is my share even worth selling? It can be. Even a smaller share has value, and selling it gets your name off the lawsuit and puts money in your hands instead of leaving you tied to the property.
Can I find out who’s been paying the taxes all these years? Yes. Payment history on a property is part of the public record, and the county can help you see what’s been paid and what’s still owed.
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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