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 Val Verde 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 Val Verde County, taxes run through the Val Verde County Tax Assessor-Collector (309 Mill Street, Del Rio, TX 78840; 830-774-7530), property values are set by the Val Verde County Appraisal District, and the case is on record with the Val Verde 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 Val Verde County:
Honestly, I want nothing to do with that property. Can I just get out? Yes. Selling your share is a straightforward way to remove yourself from the property and the lawsuit, and get paid for your interest in the process.
Do I need to round up the rest of the family first? No. You can sell your own share without gathering or coordinating with the other heirs.
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.
Leave a Reply