In order to gift a house or other real estate to a family member, the current owner of the property will need to sign a Gift Deed to give the property to the family member.
Texas also has no gift tax, meaning the only gift tax you have to worry about is the federal gift tax. The gift tax exemption for 2025 is $19,000 per recipient, which is an increase over the $18,000 mark set for 2024.
You can file for adverse possession in Texas by filing a lawsuit in county court. Successful adverse possession claims are rare, and the evidentiary requirements are substantial, because adverse possession involves a court taking someone's property and giving it to someone else.
Transfers of real property must be in writing and notarized. Deeds should be recorded in the county where the property is located. To ensure a legal change to the property title, you'll want the services of an attorney. A qualified attorney will prepare and file the real estate transfer deed.
Gift deeds in Texas are valid, but there are requirements above and beyond those of a regular deed. A gift deed is a document that transfers title to land. It can be informal, but the grantor's intent must be to immediately divest himself of the property where he no longer has control over the land.