Property Access and Hindrance Inquiry

Q: We bought some acreage, but a small sliver of land where the entrance lies is not included. The county clerk advised us to contact the title company to add that land to our title because it would cause a hindrance if someone acquires the land and restricts access to our property's entrance. What should we do?

A: The county clerk's office is correct that you do want to purchase the sliver in front of your property to keep from being land locked if there wasn't an access easement as part of the purchase when you purchased the 10 acres. The county clerk's office is incorrect in telling you that no one owns the property though. A piece of property always has an owner even if it is the State of Texas back to the original land grants.

Did you receive an title insurance policy or obtain a survey when you purchased your 10 acres? These items might help you determine if you are for certain land locked. A survey might even tell you who owns the one acre sliver of land so you can approach them about purchasing the property. Another option is to approach them and request an access easement over the one acre of land to yours so that should it be sold to a third party you are no longer land locked.