Expert: Dick Dennis - 4/23/2008

Question
My husband inherited a mobile home and some land in town. (Texas)  It has been owned by him since the mid '80s and he has been paying taxes on it since then.  He has an opportunity to sell the land and trailer for $7500.  The problem is that when we went to obtain a copy of the deed to the land we found that there is not a deed.  We cannot find any record of a clear deed for the past 75 years. The sale of the property is going to fall through if we cannot produce proof of ownership. How do we go about obtaining clear title to the property?  My husband is afraid that hiring a lawyer will use up too much money from the sale.

Answer
In Texas, Anne, you may use a title company (I am sure your sale is being handled through a title company some how, some way). When you do the sale, just make sure there is a title company there to check out your property's info. If you have been paying the taxes all these years, you do have the property's identification. Therefore, the title company can indeed help you. I do wish you well.

Dick Dennis