The family business often fails after the retirement or death of the founder. Numerous factors account for this, but it is essential that when making your estate plans you and your College Station estate lawyer include a process for maintaining the business succe...
It is common knowledge that just over half of all marriages today end in divorce. Other individuals lose their spouses through death. The result is that remarriage has become very frequent. Getting married a second time, however, can be ...
If you are a private real estate investor, you may for a variety of reasons need to consider an alternative method of financing a purchase. While bank and credit union loans are by far the mainstay of financing real estate, there are options. It is importan...
If yours is a small business operating in Texas, you may be of the assumption that you do not need to carry workers' compensation insurance. While this is to some extent true, you need to tread lightly, for you can find yourself in legal diff...
Estate Planning for Your Pet For many people, a pet is a member of the family. As such, they have a concern about the welfare of their dog, cat, horse, etc. in the event of their death. Planning for the care of your pet is a specialized area of estate law. Your Bryan estate attorney ...
Directives to Physicians and Family or Surrogates An important document for anyone to have is an Advance Directive, more formally known as a Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates. No one knows when an accident will leave a person incapacitated and unable to make healthcare deci...
Whether yours is a partnership, limited liability company, sole proprietorship or corporation, the notion of having indebtedness that is greater than your assets can be very disturbing. However, with the work of a College Station busines...
Probate can be a long and arduous process. Beneficiaries may be left waiting for an extended period of time before assets in an estate are released by the probate court for distribution, thus causing undue hardship. If you are concerned about a lengthy probate you ...
The Fair Credit Reporting Act Established in 1970, the Fair Credit Reporting Act was created to regularize agencies that issue reports about consumers. The reasoning was that setting up legal guidelines for reporting of credit and other types of information would help ensure accuracy. As ...
Charitable Planning Many people give to charities in their lifetime, and are interested in planning to leave money to certain charities they value upon their death as well. Charitable planning allows you not only to leave a bequest to a charity, but may also save considerably on capital g...
One of the attractions of limited liability corporations is that they are less rigid and formal than their corporate counterparts. That said, there are certain formalities to which the LLC must adhere in order not to be brought into question by the SE...
Because a contract is a legally binding instrument, by design you aren't allowed to simply walk away from one without penalty. However, there are exceptions to this, but it is in your best interests to work with a College Station business lawyer if you dec...
Placing a loved one in a nursing home is a challenging decision often made during a medical crisis or due to declining independence. To ensure quality care, it’s crucial to evaluate facilities for Medicare/Medicaid acceptance, proximity for visits, specialized care capabilities, cleanliness, staff training, and references. Personal visits and online resources like Medicare.gov or U.S. News can provide valuable insights. If abuse occurs, contact law enforcement immediately, and seek legal guidance for Medicaid planning or elder law advice.
Even where a will is admitted to probate in an effort to settle the decedent's estate, an interested party may bring a challenge to the validity of the will or its specific provisions. One basis to contest a will is a claim of undue influence.
When you decide to purchase real property for your business, it is important to have a clear understanding of what is necessary before you proceed. Preparedness is the key to a successful real estate purchase. Because the purchase of commercial property ...
Covenants are promises made between the business and the bank in a loan provided by the latter. When you negotiate a loan with a lending institution, the loan agreement will include both affirmative and restrictive financial covenants. It will be useful for you to wo...
Disability Planning It is in the best interests of anyone setting up an estate plan to include provisions for disability. You can never be sure that you won't become disabled at least temporarily, and even a few months in a nursing home can jeopardize the financial well-being of the major...
Whether you are looking to sell or purchase a business, it is essential that you understand how to estimate the value of the company. Ask too high a price and you may find that no one is willing to purchase; asking too low a price, conversely, can mean that you do not...
It is important that you determine whether any easements exist on real property that you intend to purchase. Easements are very common, and the existence of one does not necessarily mean that you should not buy the property, or that its value is ...
The duty of a fiduciary is often referred to as the highest duty under the law. When a trustee, executor or administrator is named to an estate, that person should be of utmost integrity and trustworthy to the fullest degree. A breach of fiduciary duty can cause...
Charitable giving is an option to consider if your estate is sizable enough to worry about federal estate taxes, but even if it is worth substantially less your estate may have to pay other kinds of taxes, such as for capital gains.
The determination of heirs becomes an issue if a person dies without a will or if the will has been revoked or annulled (“intestate as to the person”) or if a person dies without including a specific asset in an otherwise valid will (“intestate as to property.”) ...
Whether there is potential that you will become disabled later, or you have a special needs child or spouse, it is important to make plans for taking care of these needs. There are a number of tools to choose from in special needs planning, and your Bryan estate...
As a business owner or investor, acquiring real estate is a significant decision that needs to be handled with care and with consideration to the financial implications. A College Station real estate attorney will provide you with specialized legal representat...
The title search is a very important part of any sale of property or mortgage. Lenders almost universally require a title search, which is an examination of records kept at your county office to determine the title history of the property in question. Your real e...