An executive statutory analysis of non-judicial remedies under Texas Property Code § 93.002, Forcible Detainer practice in Harris County Justice Courts, and high-stakes lease damage recovery in the Texas District Courts. 1. The Commercial vs. Residential Divide Under Texas Law In Texas, commercial tenancies are fundamentally distinct from residential rentals. While residential tenants are
The objective of all of the rules of evidence is to try to make sure that the information admitted into evidence at a trial is reliable. The first way we do that is that we swear the witness to “tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” The problem is that
Residential rental properties can be a great investment, or a continuous headache, depending on these factors: Location, Location, Location There’s a reason that real estate professionals talk about location - and it’s because real estate can’t be moved! If a property is on a lakefront or next to a paper mill, these are not
Owning rental properties can be an excellent investment - at least it feels that way when property values are rising and you have a good tenant who pays the rent on time and takes care of the property. However, even with a good property, well maintained, and stringent tenant screening procedures, unexpected things can
Many people are confused about the differences between an LLC (limited liability company) and a corporation. Corporations have been around for hundreds of years, but limited liability companies are a relatively new type of entity - prior to 1988, it was unclear how such entities would be taxed, so few states enacted laws allowing
Most of us got title insurance on our homes at closing, but many people (including many Realtors) do not understand what title insurance is, how it works, or what is covered. In short, title insurance insures that you have good title to the property you just purchased, and the cost of the premium is
LLC to Protect Personal Assets Many people wonder whether they should operate their business as an LLC or corporation, specifically in order to protect their assets from potential exposure for business debts. While this is one of many good reasons for forming an entity, the answer as to whether it will effectively protect your assets
Shell Companies - Definition Alter Ego Liability & Shell Corporations I sometimes hear people refer to a business as a “shell company.” This is an informal term, not a legal one, but is usually used to refer to a company that has a valid charter from the state, but has no assets, and may not
How To Resolve A Business Dispute There are various ways of resolving your business dispute when negotiations have broken down. Business Mediation Mediation is a formal settlement discussion. Each party sits with own their attorney, separate from the other side, and a trained mediator goes back and forth between the parties to try to negotiate
How To Collect Debt Effectively One of the unfortunate truths about running a business is that not all of your customers pay their bills. Besides the occasional legitimate dispute - products or services not ordered, not delivered, or that were defective, some people seem to make a habit of slow-paying or no-paying any invoice they