How to Claim Abandoned Property in Fort Worth, TX: Turn Lost Assets Into Cash

Fort Worth is literally sitting on MILLIONS of dollars in unclaimed property that could belong to you right now! Yep, those forgotten bank accounts, old paychecks, utility deposits, and even entire houses that owners just walked away from. Texas has its own rules about what happens to abandoned stuff, and these rules can work in your favor if you know how to work the system!

Check out this whole guide to learn more!

What Are the Types of Unclaimed Property in Fort Worth

Fort Worth residents lose track of valuable stuff ALL THE TIME, and it’s actually insane what ends up abandoned.

Personal Property is the easy money. They can be:

• Forgotten bank accounts worth hundreds or thousands
• Final paychecks from old jobs
• Utility deposits when you switched providers
• Insurance payouts that beneficiaries never claimed
• Security deposits from old apartments
• Court settlements when lawyers can’t find their clients

These are real cash just sitting there waiting for you to claim it online. Real Property is the big leagues. These are actual houses and land you can claim through adverse possession.

For example, run-down houses with overgrown yards that have been empty for years or vacant lots where owners died without heirs. Also included in these are properties abandoned during foreclosure when banks never completed the process. These take 10 years of continuous occupation to claim, but you could literally get an entire house for free.

If you’re sitting on a property you’re no longer using, don’t let it go to waste like many abandoned homes in Fort Worth. Texas Cash House Buyer can help you sell it for cash and turn that hidden value into real money today.

How Does Property Become Abandoned in Texas

Property doesn’t just suddenly become abandoned. Texas law has SPECIFIC rules about when stuff officially gets the “abandoned” label. The most common scenario happens when people move apartments and forget to tell their bank. The account sits untouched for three years, and suddenly it’s legally dormant.

The bank tried reaching you at your old address and letters came back undelivered. They followed all required notification procedures, so they HAVE to hand your money over to the state. Death creates lots of abandoned property situations that families don’t even know about. Bank accounts, insurance policies, investment accounts, and safe deposit boxes all sit there when family members don’t know they exist or can’t prove they’re entitled to inherit them.

These accounts can sit dormant for decades before someone stumbles across them and realizes they just hit the jackpot.

Texas Property Code Chapters 72 to 76

Texas Property Code Chapters 72 to 76 are the RULES that make all this abandoned property stuff possible and protect your rights as the owner. Chapter 72 covers personal property like unpaid wages and utility deposits. Chapter 73 handles abandoned property at banks and credit unions. Meanwhile, Chapter 74 outlines how the Texas Comptroller processes claims and delivers money back to rightful owners.

Chapter 76 deals with property held by local governments like the City of Fort Worth’s own stash of unclaimed funds. These laws exist to protect both you and the companies holding your stuff. Companies can’t just keep your money forever, and you get multiple chances to claim what’s yours before it goes to the state.

The state will act as the middleman. They will hold everything safely until owners show up with proper documentation to prove ownership.

Can You Claim Abandoned Personal Property in Fort Worth, Texas?

YES! Claiming abandoned personal property in Fort Worth is totally legal and happens every single day.  The Texas Comptroller’s office processed over $308 million in claims just last year alone. That’s actual money going back to real people who found forgotten accounts, old paychecks, insurance payouts, and utility deposits they didn’t even know existed.

Most personal property claims are simple. You just search online databases and find your name or deceased family members’ names. You then submit some basic documentation to prove identity and wait for a check to arrive in the mail.

The state actually WANTS to give your money back because holding onto it costs them administrative fees.

Steps to Claim Abandoned Personal Property in Fort Worth, Texas

Ready to find your money? Most claims get processed within a few weeks. Yes, you could be holding a check in your hands before the month is over!

Step 1: Search ClaimItTexas.gov Database

Hit up ClaimItTexas.gov and start searching for your name! Search your current name, maiden names, that weird nickname your boss used to call you, and any variations of your name that companies might have on file. Also, search old addresses where you used to live or work. Some companies are terrible at updating their records. Search deceased family members because you might be entitled to inherit their unclaimed property.

Step 2: Check Texas Comptroller Records

The Texas Comptroller maintains this massive database of all unclaimed property in the state. This includes everything transferred from banks, employers, insurance companies, and other businesses that couldn’t track down the owners.

Don’t just search for yourself, though. Look into deceased family members like parents, grandparents, siblings, and spouses because they might have left behind unclaimed property that you’re legally entitled to inherit.

Step 3: Contact the City of Fort Worth Unclaimed Property Division

Fort Worth keeps its own separate stash of unclaimed property that NEVER makes it to the state database! Call them at 817-392-2451 or shoot an email to Accountspayable@fortworthtexas.gov and ask if they’ve got anything with your name on it.  They process claims super quickly, especially for amounts under $100 that they handle directly without all the state bureaucracy.

Step 4: File Required Documentation for Personal Property

Of course, you need to prove you’re actually entitled to the money! Most claims just need basic stuff like your driver’s license, Social Security card, and anything that connects you to whoever was holding your money. If you’re claiming inherited property, you’ll need death certificates, wills, probate documents, or proof of your legal relationship to the deceased owner.

Step 5: Complete the Personal Property Claims Process

Submit your claim online and then be patient in waiting.  Most claims get approved within 90 days. Once they approve your claim, you’ll get a check mailed to your current address. Opening that envelope is one of the most satisfying feelings in the world!

While you’re reclaiming forgotten cash and assets, why not take it a step further? If you’ve got an abandoned house or land just sitting there, reach out to Texas Cash House Buyer to turn that into money quickly, easily, and without the hassle.

Can You Claim Abandoned Real Property in Fort Worth, Texas?

Interestingly, yes, you can actually claim abandoned houses and land in Fort Worth, but it’s a completely different process than claiming personal property! You have to have adverse possession, which basically means you can legally take ownership of real estate that someone else has abandoned. Texas requires 10 years of continuous occupation before you can claim adverse possession.

The process is totally legit but way more complicated than clicking a few buttons online to claim a forgotten bank account. You’ll need to actually live in or use the property openly, pay property taxes if they’re owed, and maintain the property. You basically act like you own it for a full decade before you can file a legal claim.

What is Adverse Possession in Texas?

Adverse possession is the legal way of saying that if you don’t use a property, you can lose it. People hear about it and think they can just squat in any empty house and magically own it after a few years, but that’s not how this works at all. Texas created adverse possession laws to prevent land from sitting unused forever when owners disappear, die without heirs, or just abandon properties.

The courts take these claims seriously and will examine every detail of your occupation to make sure you actually met all the legal requirements. You’d better have your documentation ready to prove you’ve been there continuously. You should have also paid taxes, made improvements, and basically acted like the property was yours for the entire 10-year period!

When You Might Have an Adverse Possession Claim

You’ve Been Using Property with Unclear Ownership

Maybe your family has been using a piece of land for decades, but nobody can find the actual deed, or the property got passed down through generations without proper paperwork. If you’ve been openly using and maintaining property for over 10 years while the “real” owner has been MIA, you might have a legitimate adverse possession claim brewing!

You’ve Been Maintaining Property the Owner Abandoned

Sometimes neighbors start taking care of abandoned properties just to keep the neighborhood looking decent. Things like mowing the grass, fixing broken fences, or keeping squatters out. If you’ve been doing this for 10+ years on a property where the owner completely disappeared and stopped paying taxes, you might actually own it now under adverse possession laws!

You Inherited Property with Boundary Disputes

Family property can get messy when boundaries aren’t clearly marked and different relatives have been using different parts of the land for years. Suppose you’ve been exclusively using a section of family property for over a decade while other family members ignored it. In that case, you might be able to claim ownership of that specific area. This is even if it wasn’t technically “yours” in the original inheritance.

You’ve Been Paying Taxes on Property You Don’t Technically Own

Sometimes people end up paying property taxes on land they don’t actually own because of clerical errors, boundary confusion, or family misunderstandings. If you’ve been paying taxes and using property for 10+ years thinking it was yours, you might be able to make it officially yours through adverse possession!

If you’ve been using or maintaining property in limbo for over a decade, you could have a valid adverse possession claim. If you’re ready to move on, you can sell your house fast for cash in Fort Worth and other cities in Texas with the help of our team, which understands these unique situations.

Steps to Claim Abandoned Real Property in Fort Worth, Texas

If you think you might have an adverse possession situation brewing, here’s how to turn that decade of property use into actual legal ownership.

Step 1: Document Your 10+ Years of Continuous Use

You need to prepare every shred of evidence that proves you’ve been using this property for over a decade! Look for utility bills in your name, tax payments you’ve made, and photos showing your improvements over the years. You should also show receipts for repairs or maintenance and anything else that shows you’ve been treating this place like it’s yours. You need to prove you’ve been there regularly for the entire 10-year period without any major gaps that would reset your clock.

Step 2: Gather Evidence of Open and Notorious Possession

You need to prove that your use of the property was so obvious that anyone paying attention would have noticed you were there! Collect photos showing visible improvements you made, witness statements from neighbors who remember you being there, and mail delivery records. You should show permits you pulled for work on the property and basically anything that shows your presence was unmistakable. The whole point is that if the real owner cared about their property, they definitely would have seen what you were doing and said something about it.

Step 3: Prove Hostile and Exclusive Use

“Hostile” just means you were using the property without the owner’s permission, not that you were being mean to anyone! Gather evidence that shows you were making decisions about the property independently, like changing locks, posting signs, or excluding others from using the space. You need to prove you weren’t sharing control with anyone else and that you were acting like the property was 100% yours to use however you wanted.

Step 4: Research the Property’s Legal Status

Search the Tarrant County records and figure out who’s supposed to own this property and whether there are any liens, mortgages, or other legal complications that could mess up your claim. Check if property taxes have been paid and by whom, look for any foreclosure proceedings or estate issues, and basically map out the property’s legal history. This research helps you understand what you’re up against and whether your claim has a realistic chance of success.

Step 5: Hire a Real Estate Attorney

This is not the time to try DIY legal work. Adverse possession cases are complicated, and you only get one shot to get it right! Find a lawyer who specializes in real estate law and has experience with adverse possession claims specifically. They’ll review your documentation and tell you honestly whether you have a winnable case. Handle all the court filings that need to be perfect or your claim gets thrown out.

Step 6: File Your Claim in Tarrant County Court

Your lawyer will file a lawsuit asking the court to officially recognize your ownership of the property based on adverse possession. This involves submitting all your evidence, potentially going to trial where you’ll need to prove every element of your case, and convincing a judge that you’ve met all the legal requirements. If you win, the court will issue an order that officially transfers ownership to you.

Usual Challenges When Claiming Abandoned Property

Claiming abandoned property isn’t always smooth sailing, and there are some pretty common issues that may stress you out! Knowing these potential pitfalls can save you months of headaches.

Issues with Personal Property Claims

The biggest headache is usually proving you’re actually entitled to the money. Sometimes the state database has outdated information or the property was filed under a name variation you didn’t think to search for. Documentation requirements can also be a pain, especially for inherited property, where you need death certificates or wills that might be decades old.

Challenges with Real Property Claims

Real property claims are way more complicated! The biggest challenge is proving continuous occupation for the full 10-year period. Any significant gaps reset your clock back to zero. Property ownership disputes are another problem. And don’t forget about the financial burden of maintaining a property for 10 years, including paying back taxes and making repairs.

Claiming abandoned property can come with frustrating delays and legal hurdles, but if you’ve held on this long and are ready to move forward, you can sell your home for cash in Dallas and nearby cities in Texas and finally put the stress behind you.

Tax Implications and Responsibilities

Nobody loves taxes, but you really need to understand the tax implications because the IRS and Texas want their cut of whatever you claim!

• Property Tax Obligations for Real Property: If you’re going the adverse possession route, you better be prepared to deal with property taxes! You become responsible for ongoing property taxes even though you don’t officially own it yet, which means you’re paying taxes on someone else’s property for up to 10 years.
• Income Tax Considerations for Both Property Types: Any abandoned property you successfully claim counts as taxable income in the year you receive it! For personal property, you’ll get a 1099 form, and for real property, you could owe income tax on the fair market value even though you didn’t receive any cash.
• Transfer Tax Requirements: Don’t forget about transfer taxes and filing fees that come with officially transferring property ownership. These costs can catch people off guard!

Work with Cash Buyers for Abandoned Properties

Truth be told, the easiest way to deal with abandoned property you’ve claimed through adverse possession is to sell it quickly to a cash buyer. Cash buyers can close fast without the complications of traditional financing, which is especially helpful if you need money to pay the income taxes on your newly acquired property. They typically buy properties as-is, so you don’t have to worry about making expensive repairs before selling!

Key Takeaways: How to Claim Abandoned Property in Fort Worth, Texas

As we’ve shared in this blog, claiming personal property and real property are completely different processes. Personal property claims through ClaimItTexas.gov are quick and easy. You could have a check in weeks by searching for forgotten bank accounts, old paychecks, and utility deposits. 

Real property claims through adverse possession take 10 years of continuous occupation, but could net you an entire house if you’re willing to commit to the long haul. Both types of claims have tax implications you need to plan for, so you need to factor in income taxes on any money or property you receive. If you successfully claim real property through adverse possession and want to cash out quickly, sell to Texas Cash House Buyer at (817) 587-8108. They buy properties as-is with fast closings!

Selling your home doesn’t have to be stressful. If you want a fast, fair cash offer and someone to take care of the process for you, call us at (817) 587-8108. We’ll make it easy.