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 Duval County has ended up in a tax lawsuit with your name on it, the questions that come with it are 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 Duval County, the taxes are handled through the Duval County Tax Assessor-Collector in San Diego (361-279-3322), property values are set by the Duval County Appraisal District (100 West Gravis, San Diego, TX 78384), and the case is on record with the Duval 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 Duval County:
There are a lot of us in the family now. Can I sell just my share? Yes. Each heir holds their own share and can sell it independently, no matter how many relatives ended up with an interest.
Honestly, I want nothing to do with that property. Can I 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.
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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