Opinion ID: 1763371
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Holder Status

Text: We next consider whether the county clerk is a holder of the abandoned funds and thus a proper party to this suit. [3] The Property Code requires a holder of property presumed abandoned to comply with the procedures of Chapter 74. See TEX. PROP.CODE § 72.001(d). A holder is a person who is (1) in possession of property that belongs to another, (2) a trustee, or (3) indebted to another on an obligation. See TEX. PROP.CODE § 72.001(e). The county clerk argues that, although he is responsible for maintaining cash bail bond records and has certain duties to disburse the bond money, he is not a holder of the bonds because he does not personally have physical possession of the funds and lacks the authority to transfer them to the State. We disagree. Section 117.052(c) of the Local Government Code provides that the clerk is responsible for registry funds, which includes cash bail bonds. TEX. LOC. GOV'T CODE § 117.052(c)(6). Section 117.0521 states that a clerk acts in a custodial capacity in relation to registry funds. TEX. LOC. GOV'T CODE § 117.0521. Finally, section 117.052(a) requires the clerk to place money deposited into the court registry in the county's depository if the clerk is to have legal custody of the money for more than three days. TEX. LOC. GOV'T CODE § 117.052(a). We hold that the county clerk's statutory custody and control over cash bail bonds confers holder status on the clerk. [4] We now direct our attention to the 1997 amendment's effect on the clerk's duties to report and deliver abandoned cash bail bonds to the comptroller.