Types of Deeds and Title to Real Estate
Title versus deed: what's the difference? Ownership of different kinds of property is documented differently. A car has one title document that is on file with the state; it shows who the current owner is, and
Transferring Real Estate to Spouses
You’re newly married, and in love. You expect to spend the rest of your life with your new spouse, and want to share everything with them. Perhaps you have been more successful, or more fortunate
Real Estate Title and Probate: Do You Need a Will?
Probate is the legal process by which property belonging to a deceased person is transferred to their heirs. Most property can be transferred by will, but if there is no will, the decedent’s property transfers
Five Ways to Create Title Problems in Real Estate
Real estate is land and anything permanently attached to the land. So a house is real estate, but so is the tree in the yard, the fence, the driveway, and the covered patio you added
Buying Real Estate without a Deed
A real estate deed is the document that conveys title to real estate - similar to a car title. However, since real estate lasts much longer than a car, title to real estate can become
Ten Reasons to Have a Lawyer Prepare Your Mechanic’s Lien
If you’re in business, sooner or later, someone will fail to pay you for your services. The good news is that if you’re a contractor, it’s possible to get security for that unpaid debt, even after the
Basic Bankruptcy for Creditors
It happens sometimes - one of our customers files bankruptcy. What does this mean to you as a creditor? Your first notice that this has happened is probably either going to be a verbal notice
A Layman’s Guide to Summary Judgments
Getting Out Before Trial One of the questions I am often asked is whether there is any way to avoid trial, in a case that cannot be settled, or which for some reason you don’t
The Texas Usury Trap
It seems like every month I see invoices that say “1.5% interest per month on unpaid balance”;“Interest will be charged at 18% on accounts over 30 days,” “Accounts not paid in 30 days are subject
Litigation Basics for Clients (Part 1 of 3)
PART 1: Greetings - You Have Been Sued You’ve been operating a business successfully for years, and one day a constable knocks at your door,and serves you with a lawsuit. He hands you a stack
Litigation Basics for Clients (Part 2 of 3)
PART 2: What Happened? Discovery & Mediation In most cases, after an answer is filed, both sides need to do “discovery” before the case is ready for trial. Discovery is just like it sounds -
Litigation Basics for Clients (Part 3 of 3)
PART 3: Trial - Your Day in Court Most cases in Harris County are tried within 6 to 18 months of the time they were filed. While this sounds like a long time, it