We got a letter last week from the Texas Lands Commission saying that part of our property actually belongs to the Permanent School Fund's land holdings and that they will be out to survey it and SELL it this summer. The tract is 187 acres and cuts right through our property, affecting three other neighboring landowners also. The letter says if we would be interested in BUYING OUR LAND back from them to give them a call! Still can't wrap my head around it.

I'd contact the title company

get a lawyer and fight them... especially if you have been maintaining it over a certian amount of time or paying the taxes......

Damn Matt that sucks ars!! I wish you the best luck on this deal and I would find the best lawyer you can! Man that is a kick to the cods!

Got a lawyer involved that has searched titles and doesn't see anything that shows they actually own the land. He's drafting a letter to them asking them to produce something that shows that they do. Just infuriating and expensive.

That really sux......good luck to you and yours. FIGHT 'EM!!

Thanks Joe. I can't imagine anyone buying the property if this were to hold up because of the shape and the fact that they would be surrounded by pissed of people on all sides, but you never know.

Did you get title insurance when you bought the property?

I wish you the best of luck my friend! I just heard they are putting in a major oil well literally on my bow spot! The best part of the lease with all the cover and some of the oldest oaks on the property!!! Hell, they could drill it 400 yds to the left and not have to touch one tree?? I hope before long we will be up by you?? Its all about the mighty dollar my friend!!!!

Thanks Joe, have they started on the well? They staked an 18K gas well on our property over a year ago, were all gung ho, and then vanished. There's still hope bud! Maybe they'll move along!

hey Tres, how long have you owned the property? It's possible that you acquired title under the doctrine of adverse possession, which requires you to openly demonstrate to the public that you are the rightful owner for a certain period of time ( i cant remember exactly how long)

Also, i'm not sure what affect the claimant being a governmental entity will have, but it's at least something worth asking your lawyer about.

Last part we purchased that would be affected by this was in the 1930's so not sure about insurance, I doubt it.

That would make me angry too! Too bad you can't send the atty fees to the Land Commission office!

Whoa, I feel for ya. Fight them and good luck.

There was a survey done by an oil company in the 1970's and they came back and said they found a piece of land that did not belong to us. My grandfather and his brother, the owners at the time, put a public notice in the paper for I think 3 months, no one claimed it and it was deeded to them, not sure if this is the piece of property in question or not, and if it is I'm not sure how that will pan out.

That really sucks! Fight em and beat em down

Thanks guys, they're going to get a fight!

Check Texas Real Estate laws. I don't know if it's true or not but a real estate agent told me once that if you have property on your property that someone claims, it doesn't matter if they have never fenced it or done anything to it. Also, who has been paying taxes on it for all these years?

i know that if u have been maintaining it and it has been "ur land" by that i mean that u have been using it and what not, then it should be very hard for someone to take it from u. Same thing can happen when people move their fences back a few feet. ill have to ask my dad since the company he works for had to deal with something similiar thta u are dealing with.

We've been paying taxes on it forever. This is not a case of a property line being a little off, this tract they are saying is theirs runs literally right through our property, like a lazy L shape. If it were to sell our property would be cut in two! My guess is a survey was done wrong at some point, all I can think of. Be curious to hear what your dad says Brandon.

BEST of Luck!!!!!!!

Feel your pain, fight them back and protect your land.

Find a title litigator, not a run of the mill bs lawyer.....

Yeah you need some one with experience in the field of land title, or else your lawyer may "contract" one out on his own for advice then you get to pay fees.

But dont get discouraged jut yet this sort of thing happened all the time with survey crews screwing up when I was in excavation. 9 times out of 10 who ever has been paying the taxes and demonstrating ownership wins.

If your dad and uncle adnvertised about it in the paper and no claim was made...THATS THE SMARTEST THING THEY EVER DID!!!! (if you can prove it by old news papers) especially if it was deeded to them. If they try to take it i would have notice sent to the land office of intent to reclaim taxes and upkeep.

If you can do that legally then the taxes and upkeep on the acerage over the last 70+ years would total up to a chunk of change and they may drop it.

Burn em down...