Are You an Heir to a Texas Property? How to Find Out

Sometimes people learn — through a relative, a letter, or just a hunch — that they might have inherited part of a property in Texas, often from a grandparent or distant relative they barely knew. If that's you, here's how to find out whether you're really an heir.

Step 1: Identify the deceased owner and the property

You'll need the name of the person who passed and, ideally, the address or county of the property. County appraisal district and deed records (public) show who's on title.

Step 2: Figure out if there was a will

If there was a will, it names who inherits. If there wasn't (intestate), Texas law decides the heirs based on family relationships — spouse, children, grandchildren, siblings, and so on.

Step 3: Trace the family tree

This is where it gets tricky. You have to establish the chain of relationships from the deceased owner down to you — births, marriages, and deaths along the way. Obituaries, vital records, and genealogy databases are the usual tools.

Step 4: Confirm and document it

To actually claim or sell an interest, your status as an heir has to be documented for a title company — often through an affidavit of heirship or probate.

We can do this for you, free

Tracing heirs and building the family tree is exactly what we specialize in. If you think you might be an heir but aren't sure, tell us what you know below — the relative's name, the property, anything — and we'll research it at no cost and tell you what we find. If you do have a share, we can explain your options, including selling it for cash.