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 property in Titus County has put your name on a tax lawsuit, the confusion is understandable. Many of the people we talk to didn’t expect it, whether the property was inherited or one they’ve co-owned for years.
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.
A common 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 everyone with an interest.
In Titus County, taxes run through the Titus County Tax Assessor-Collector (110 South Madison Street, Suite A & B, Mount Pleasant, TX 75455; 903-577-6712), property values are set by the Titus County Appraisal District, and the case is on record with the Titus 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 Titus County:
There’s a co-owner listed I don’t even recognize. Does that stop me from selling my share? No. You can sell your own share regardless of who else is on the lawsuit, including a co-owner you don’t know.
I own part of this with someone else, not inherited. Can I still sell my share? Yes. A co-owner can sell their undivided interest in a property, the same way an heir can sell theirs.
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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