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 who the lien holders are. In contrast, title to real estate may be affected by many separate documents, which are filed
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 than they have been, so you own your own home where you are both living, and you want to make
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 by the laws of intestacy, which vary from state to state. In order to determine whether you need a will,
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 last year. Real estate is also called real property; personal property is anything that is not permanently attached to the
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 much more complicated. A lien on a car is shown on the title document, but liens on real estate are
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 work is done. A properly filed Mechanic’s Lien will allow you to foreclose on the property that you provided labor or
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 when you call for payment, or a notice from the court. If you receive a verbal notice, ask for the
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 want to settle. “This is a dumb case - can’t the judge just throw it out?” Like any answer in
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 to a 3/4% monthly service charge”, or similar language. However, the creditor may incur serious penalties if the interest is
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 of papers, including at least a citation and a petition. After your heartbeat returns to normal, you call your favorite