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.
The moment after you’ve been handed legal papers over a property’s taxes is disorienting, and people often freeze because they don’t know who to even contact. Having a simple order of operations helps you move from panic to a plan. Here’s a sensible sequence.
Before you call anyone, read the papers and note the deadlines. The citation will indicate that there’s a limited time to respond, and that timeframe shapes everything else. Jot down the property described, the parties named, the court, and any case number. Five minutes of careful reading means every call you make afterward is more productive, because you’ll actually know what you’re looking at.
If you want to keep the property or you’re unsure of your rights, an attorney is the call that matters most, ideally one familiar with property tax suits or real estate. They can tell you how to respond, what your exposure actually is, and what clearing the title would involve. Only a lawyer can give you advice about your specific legal situation, so if there’s any chance you want to fight for or hold the property, talk to one before the response deadline rather than after.
It’s also reasonable to contact the taxing authority or the law firm handling the collection, listed on the paperwork, to understand the balance and ask whether payment options exist. And if, after looking at it honestly, you realize this is an inherited interest you’d rather not keep or fund a legal fight over, that’s the point to consider selling your share. A buyer experienced with heir property can talk you through whether that’s a fit. The thread tying all of this together is to act within the deadline. Whoever you decide to call, make the calls promptly, because the one option that always gets worse with time is doing nothing.
A couple of questions we hear a lot:
Should I call the court directly? Court clerks can tell you procedural things like a case number or filing logistics, but they can’t give legal advice or tell you what to do. For guidance on responding, an attorney is the right call; for the balance owed, the taxing authority or its collection firm.
What if I can’t afford a lawyer for a property I don’t even want? Then weigh whether keeping it is worth a legal fight at all. If it isn’t, selling your inherited share is a way out that doesn’t require hiring counsel to litigate, and it removes your name from the suit.
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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