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 Maverick 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 Maverick County, the Maverick County Tax Assessor-Collector’s office in Eagle Pass (830-773-9273) handles the taxes, property values are set by the Maverick County Appraisal District (2243 N. Veterans Blvd., Eagle Pass, TX 78852; 830-773-0255), and the case is on record with the Maverick 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 Maverick County:
Most of my family is out of town or across the border. Can I just handle my own part? Yes. You don’t need the rest of the family. You can sell your own share on its own, no matter where the other heirs are.
I’ve been burned before and I’m cautious. How do I know this is real? Healthy caution makes sense. You can confirm the lawsuit with the Maverick County District Clerk and the taxes with the county, all public record, before dealing with anyone.
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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