A Missing Chain of Title

– Blizzard and Zimmerman Attorneys

Securing Historic Texas Family Land and Protecting Future Generations

When it comes to estate planning and probate, no two cases are the same - especially when historic land and future tax concerns are involved.

Attorney Sydney Key recently guided a Texas family through a complex probate matter that not only preserved their family ranch but also safeguarded it for generations to come.

Family Land LLC setup to preserve family ranch

The Challenge: A Missing Chain of Title

This case involved family land dating back to original Texas land grants.

Because the property had been passed down informally through the generations, no official chain of title records could be located.

Without a clear legal description of the property, the probate process risked stalling, leaving heirs unable to claim a clean title.

The Breakthrough: History Meets Law

Attorney Key discovered that the family had preserved original grant documents, proudly displayed in their homes.

These historic records provided the missing legal descriptions needed to establish ownership.

By carefully blending historical evidence with modern probate procedures, Sydney Key successfully proved the chain of title and secured the family’s rightful claim to their land.

Looking Ahead: Protecting Against Inheritance Taxes

Beyond probate, this family wanted to ensure their ranch would remain in the family without undue tax burdens. Sydney Key helped establish a Family Ranch LLC, a smart estate planning strategy designed to provide structure, protect assets, and minimize potential gift and inheritance taxes for future generations.

Services

Wills
Probate

This case highlights two important estate planning lessons:

1. Preserve family history.

Even old documents and keepsakes may hold vital legal value.

2. Plan for the future.

Legal strategies like LLCs and trusts can protect your family from costly inheritance issues down the road.

With the right guidance, Texas families can honor their past while securing their future.

Attorney Sydney Key works tirelessly to achieve the greatest possible results for each of our clients and their families. This is one of her successful results, settlements, and verdicts. Every case and client is unique and depends upon the individual facts and circumstances of each case. Clients may or may not obtain the same or similar results in each case.

More Cases
When Life Feels Overwhelming, the Right Advocate Can Change Everything Case study →
Divorce and Probate Case