It has been brought to our attention that some homeowners in Galveston County received solicitation letters for a homestead application filing service. There is no filing fee for a homestead exemption application and homeowners can file the application themselves, but homeowners who do not know this may believe that they need to pay to use this service to complete the process.
Similarly, filing service companies send letters to business and trademark owners notifying them of upcoming deadlines and fees due to government agencies. These companies often operate under a name that sounds like an official government office, so it is easy to believe these letters require a response and payment. Often solicitation letters contain a notice that the company is not an official government agency, but it is not always easy to find or understand, especially if the letter looks like an official document.
Not all letters like these are solicitations or scams. Government agencies do send legitimate notifications and ignoring them can result in penalties like late fees and terminations, so it is important to read each letter you receive to determine whether it is legitimate. If you are unsure, please contact the attorneys at Waldron & Schneider for assistance. We can advise you regarding whether the fees or deadlines are accurate and whether you need to respond to the letter or if an alternate, more affordable method is available.
The legal information in this blog entry is not intended to be a substitute for seeking personalized legal advice from an attorney licensed to practice in your jurisdiction. Further, nothing contained in this article is intended to create an attorney-client relationship with any reader. This article and website are made available by Waldron & Schneider for educational purposes only and to give basic information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. By using this website you understand that there is no attorney client relationship between you and Waldron & Schneider. The article and website should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state. For more information or questions you can contact us and one of our attorneys will be in touch soon.