Q: Can property be sued in Texas without suing the owner?
I've been told that my property is being sued for taxes, but that I am not being sued so I don't have a defense (I don't actually owe taxes). It also appears in a related subject that when enforcing a mechanics lien that I can get a judgment against an owner of property or the property itself, implying that I can sue the property only? I do know that when police departments seize property through property forfeiture that they only sue the property, so their seems to be some basis to suing property only. I thought property forfeiture was the exception to the rule that only live people have rights. Correct?
A: No property cannot be sued. Only people can be sued. A taxing authority can sue everyone with an interest in real property seeking to foreclose on the real property subject to the unpaid taxes but without seeking a monetary judgment against those people. Those defendants may not personally owe the tax but the land in which they have an interest can be sold to pay the taxes.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
