Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Texas
Well I was recently served and informed I along with my mother and my fathers estate, are being sued by the county. We are being sued for back taxes on a property, dating back to when my dad passed in 1998, at which time I was 10 years old. The only info I know of the property is that it once belonged to my grandfather. I need to "answer" but have no clue where to begin. I'm also curious as to if my siblings and I should be named in the lawsuit if my mother is still living? I also want nothing to do with the property, is it possible to relinquish all of my rights to the property and let it be sold for the taxes owed via auction?
1 Answer from Attorneys
The taxing authority doesn't know who owns the property. As a result, they usually sue everyone they can find. They almost always sue the property "in rem" which means that they are only going after your interest in the property (if any). Without researching the title, I can't tell you what you own. If you don't want the property, you can call the attorney handling the lawsuit and tell them. You can sign away your rights to your share.
My suggestion is that you get with the family on this, as you may be able to sell the property for more than the taxes and make a few dollars off of it.
Dave
http://leonlaw.com