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 Jim Wells 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 Jim Wells County, the Jim Wells County Appraisal District (1600 E. Main Street, Suite 100, Alice, TX 78332; 361-668-9656) sets property values and also collects the property taxes, and the lawsuit is on record with the Jim Wells County District Clerk. The Jim Wells County Tax Assessor-Collector’s office (601 E. Main Street, Suite 175, Alice, TX 78332) can help with general questions. 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 Jim Wells County:
The original owners were grandparents I barely knew. Why am I on this? Heirship is based on legal descent, not how close you were. If you’re a descendant and probate wasn’t done, the county can list you as an heir.
Can I sell my share without the rest of the family? Yes. Your share is yours to sell on its own. You don’t need the other heirs to agree or take part.
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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