Ms. Rayo came to Lone Star Legal Aid following the death of her husband, facing a complex web of legal and financial uncertainty. Her husband had been the sole owner of their home and the only person listed on the mortgage and utility accounts. As an elderly, Spanish-speaking widow, she was navigating grief, paperwork, and the risk of losing access to her home and essential services.
LSLA first assisted Ms. Rayo in confirming her rights under a Transfer on Death Deed (TODD), which her husband had properly executed and recorded before his passing. She had already filed the required affidavit of death, but was unsure whether her mortgage company had recognized her as a Successor in Interest (SII). Attorneys Lauren Masullo and Rosaelena Rodriguez reviewed her documents and verified that she had submitted the necessary acknowledgment form and received confirmation of her status as SII—resolving any remaining questions about her legal authority over the mortgage.
To preserve her property tax benefits, LSLA prepared a new Homestead Exemption Application in Spanish after confirming that the existing exemptions—homestead and over-65—were still listed under her late husband’s name. The attorneys compiled a complete packet with supporting documents and a pre-addressed envelope, and explained her legal right to defer property taxes in the future, an important protection for low-income seniors once a mortgage is paid in full.
Shortly thereafter, Ms. Rayo reported a utility disconnection due to an unpaid balance on the electricity account, which remained in her husband’s name. The bill had grown while she was temporarily staying with her daughter during a period of illness. Concerned about cancellation fees and her ability to open a new account, she sought assistance in restoring service. Using LSLA’s Spanish-language translator service, the attorneys contacted the electricity provider’s bilingual operator and confirmed that the account could be canceled without full payment of the outstanding balance. Ms. Rayo was eligible to establish a new account with a different provider.
Within two days, electricity was restored through a new account with TXU Energy. LSLA provided a list of alternative electricity providers from PowerToChoose.org, explained the process for disputing utility charges with both the company and the Public Utility Commission of Texas, and supplied a Critical Care eligibility application in both English and Spanish to help prevent future disconnections.
LSLA was able to address and tackle each legal issue—from mortgage access and property tax continuity to utility restoration; Ms. Rayo is now legally recognized as the owner of her home, has uninterrupted access to essential tax benefits and utilities, and remains safely housed with greater financial and legal stability.
Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy for low-income populations by providing free legal education, advice, and representation. LSLA serves millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines, who live in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties in Southwest Arkansas. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at www.lonestarlegal.org.
Media contact: media@lonestarlegal.org