The question is not whether a business can discriminate or not – many do so openly on a regular basis. A women's fitness center discriminates against men who might want to join, while a well-known golf club in Georgia excludes fem...
Every state has rules dictating where an estate may be probated if a person dies within the state, and Texas is no exception. Under Texas law, an estate may be probated in the county where the deceased resided if he or she lived in Texas. If a pe...
Don't feel bad if you've heard of crowdfunding, but you're not really sure what it means. Many of us in the throes of balancing careers and families have little time to keep up with all the latest trends. In this article,...
Whether one is speaking of real estate transactions or estate planning, a grantor is the person who is deeming property to the other, the grantee. A trust or other document may use different language, such as “the party of the first part” and “the party of the second ...
The adoption process in Texas is quite involved. The Texas Department of Family Protective Services, or DFPS, requires that prospective adoptive parents successfully complete several steps in the assessment process before they become eligible to adopt. ...
A contract for deed is one way to sell property to a buyer who doesn't have the money to pay cash and who can't or chooses not to obtain traditional financing. It is a bit riskier for the seller, especially if yo...
In a recent article, we discussed how property gets divided if one or more co-owners want out. If the co-owners can't agree on a solution, one of the co-owners can file a partition action to ask the court to divide the property f...
Owning a parcel of real estate or other property with one or more co-owners is fine as long as all of the owners are happy in that situation. When one person becomes unhappy, however, or simply wants to liquidate the asset, there are basically tw...
In case you haven't heard, the notion of the ‘sharing economy' has graduated from fad status to become a common catchphrase associated with many emerging business models in the United States. Airbnb is one example of a grow...
In a recent article, we wrote about scenarios that frequently lead to probate litigation. Of course, we realize you don't want to make sure your heirs turn to litigation, but quite the opposite. Being aware of poten...
The term “branding” has come into vogue in recent years and can refer to anything from an individual to a business. The naming of a product is one aspect of branding, and indeed one of the more important choices a business owner will make. A College Station bu...
How to Adopt a Child The requirements for child adoptions in this state are designed to ensure that the best interests of the child are served and that both the child and prospective adoptive parents are a good fit. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) sets the ...
We readily admit up front that the title of this article is meant to be tongue-in-cheek. We understand that the last thing you want to do is put your heirs through the anguish of protracted probate litigation – unless deep d...
How Much Is Inheritance Tax? There is much confusion between inheritance tax and estate tax. They are not synonymous. While the federal government used to impose an inheritance tax, it no longer does so, although it does impose an estate tax. Texas, on the other hand, imposes neither an i...
Attorneys perform all kinds of legal services that don't involve going to court, including estate planning, real estate practice and many areas of business law, for example. In a perfect world, we'd still need attorneys to take care of tho...
This question sounds simple, but the answer is not simple. Whether you can stop another business from using your existing business name depends on a variety of factors, but boils down to who has the legal right to use the name.
Finding out your business has been named in a lawsuit can come as a shock, particularly if you've never been in this situation before. Whether the citation came by certified mail, process server or some other means, the first thing to do is ...
First things first. Acting as a personal representative of someone's estate is a big responsibility but remember – if your loved one named you as the executor, he or she must have believed you were capable of carrying out the task.
Fall is in the air, which means the holiday baking season is right around the corner. Thanks to much-needed changes in how Texas regulates the sale of food prepared in home kitchens, those homemade pecan pies and red velvet cakes may be eas...
If you are looking for the best place to park your assets, the good news is there are many types of trusts to choose from and one is probably a perfect fit for your needs. The tough part for individuals is figuring out which typ...
Aside from your home, your individual retirement account (IRA) may be the biggest single asset you own. Contrary to popular belief, however, your IRA isn't likely to pass to your heirs according to the terms of your will. Instead...
Medicaid is a boon for individuals who need long-term health care, but income and assets can affect eligibility. Setting up a qualified income trust (QIT) is an ideal solution for many individuals who find themselves denied Medicaid. A Brazos County trust attorney ...
Operating your own business can be a richly rewarding experience. Small businesses ownership is still among the most sought-after dreams in this country, but in order for the experience to be a positive one, you need to make sure from the outs...
Probate is the process by which the decedent's estate is settled, with all debts satisfied, taxes paid, and the remainder distributed to beneficiaries. The length of time probate might take depends upon a number of factors, as will be seen, but it can be a ra...
A last will and testament may be the first thing you think of in terms of estate planning, but other documents are just as important. In addition to a comprehensive will, your estate plan documents should include, at a minimum, a dura...