Bill > SB600

This bill modifies Texas property law to provide additional protections and procedural requirements for partition actions involving heirs' property, which is real estate owned by multiple co-owners, typically inherited through family connections. The bill introduces several key provisions: it requires detailed petition requirements for partition actions, mandates comprehensive citation and notification processes for all potential property owners, establishes a mandatory settlement conference to encourage cooperative resolution, and creates a right of first refusal for heir cotenants who reside on the property. Specifically, the bill requires plaintiffs to provide extensive information about property ownership, post a conspicuous sign on the property, and ensure all potential owners are notified of the partition action. It also prohibits non-heir cotenants holding less than 50% of a property's interest from initiating a partition action for ten years after acquiring their interest. Additionally, the bill creates a new subchapter establishing notice and purchase rights for heir cotenants when a non-heir cotenant wants to sell their interest, giving residential heir cotenants the first opportunity to purchase the interest at the proposed sale price. The Office of Court Administration is also tasked with creating a standardized "Heir's Bill of Rights" form to help property owners understand their legal rights in these proceedings.

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https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB600