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 San Patricio County has ended up in a tax lawsuit with your name on it, the questions that come with it are normal. A lot of people we hear from didn’t know they were connected to the property at all.
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 people frequently 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 San Patricio County, taxes run through the San Patricio County Tax Assessor-Collector (400 West Sinton Street, Sinton, TX 78387; 361-364-9373), property values are set by the San Patricio County Appraisal District, and the case is on record with the San Patricio 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 San Patricio County:
I’m one of several cousins and we don’t all agree. Can I still sell my piece? Yes. Your share is yours to sell. You don’t need the other cousins to agree for you to sell your own portion.
If a relative wants to keep the property, does my selling ruin that for them? No. You’re only selling your share. The relatives who want to hold onto their portions keep them, and they can deal with the rest as they choose.
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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