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.
A common reaction we hear when we reach out to people about tax lawsuits goes something like this:
“I have nothing to do with that property.”
“I didn’t even know I was an owner.”
“I haven’t been to that house in twenty years.”
It’s a fair reaction. Most people have no idea they’re tied to a property, let alone listed as a defendant in a lawsuit over it. So how does this happen?
When a property owner passes away and no probate is filed, ownership of the property typically passes to the next of kin through Texas intestacy laws. That part happens automatically, whether or not anyone in the family realizes it. A grandparent, parent, aunt, or uncle passes, and their share quietly flows down through the family tree.
Years later, when the property goes into tax delinquency, the county begins searching for the people responsible for the taxes. They start with the names on the deed. Then they research who would have inherited based on the family tree. Eventually, they identify the living heirs and add them to the tax lawsuit as defendants.
By the time the paperwork shows up, you might be hearing about a property you never lived in, never visited, and didn’t know you partially owned.
It can feel unfair, especially when other family members were closer to the situation than you were. But once your name is on the lawsuit, the county can keep coming back to you for the taxes until something changes.
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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