RulesofCivilProcedure.com Civil Procedure · Every State

Rule 112.Parties to Actions Against Unknown Owners or Claimants of Interest in Land

Last amended January 1, 1988 · Last verified June 28, 2026

In one sentenceRule 112 has known land claimants named and cited individually, while unknown claimants under a conveyance may be joined and cited by publication under a class designation.

Full Text of Rule 112

Text size

In suits authorized by Section 17.005, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, all persons claiming under such conveyance whose names are known to plaintiff shall be made parties by name and cited to appear, in the manner now provided by law as in other suits; all other persons claiming any interest in such land under such conveyance may be made parties to the suit and cited by publication under the designation "all persons claiming any title or interest in land under deed heretofore given to _________________ of _________________ as grantee" (inserting in the blanks the name and residence of grantee as given in such conveyance). It shall be permissible to join in one suit all persons claiming under two or more conveyances affecting title to the same tract of land.
End

Plain-English Summary

Rule 112 organizes the parties in suits about land claimed under a conveyance, authorized by Section 17.005 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code. Every claimant whose name the plaintiff knows must be named and cited as in an ordinary suit. All other persons claiming an interest under that conveyance may be made parties and cited by publication under a class designation — “all persons claiming any title or interest in land under deed heretofore given to [grantee].” Claimants under two or more conveyances affecting the same tract may be joined in one suit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are unknown land claimants sued in Texas?

Under Rule 112, known claimants are named and cited individually; unknown claimants under the conveyance may be joined and cited by publication under a class designation.

Can claimants under different conveyances be sued together under Rule 112?

Yes. Rule 112 lets a plaintiff join in one suit all persons claiming under two or more conveyances that affect title to the same tract of land.

What class designation does Rule 112 use for unknown land claimants?

The citation addresses them as “all persons claiming any title or interest in land under deed heretofore given to [grantee]”, naming the grantee and residence as the conveyance states them.

Source & verification. Rule text and the official Notes and Comments are reproduced verbatim from the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure (Tex. R. Civ. P. 112), published by the Texas Judicial Branch (txcourts.gov). Promulgated by the Supreme Court of Texas. The plain-English summary is original and draws on official sources. Last verified June 28, 2026. · Official source
Also known as: unknown owners of landclaimants of interest in landcitation by publicationTRCP 112