Sec. 51.083.  PATENT ON PART OF A TRACT.  (a)  If an owner or claimant of land whose ownership or claim is shown on the records of the land office desires a patent on a portion of the whole tract, the owner or claimant, with the approval of the commissioner, may file field notes for the portion of the tract on which the patent is desired, together with the filing fee required by law, and may obtain a patent for the portion of the tract after the full price is paid, together with all fees required by law.
(b)  If the ownership of the tract is evidenced by personal transfer, the patent shall be issued to the owner and his assigns, but if the claimant claims title through other evidence than by personal transfer, the patent shall be issued in the name of the person and his assigns who hold title by original purchase or in the name of the person and his assigns who appear on the records to hold title through the last personal transfer.
(c)  If a patent is issued in the name of any person other than the legal owner, the patent and the rights granted in the patent inure to the benefit of the legal owner.
Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2426, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.