As the 89th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature draws to a close, I thought it might be interesting to provide a legislative report covering significant bills impacting real estate matters in Texas. Senate Bill 17 SB 17 is one of several measures introduced this session aimed at restricting certain types of foreign ownership of …
Continue reading “Real Estate Matters In The 89th Regular Session”
My Mother has always stressed the importance of water conservation to my family. As long as I can remember she said “Water is the most precious resource and we are going to run out.” There is a case before the Texas Supreme Court that could dramatically change ground water rights in Texas. So, in this …
When assisting families with real estate that has belonged to a family member, commonly there are questions about siblings which were either adopted, stepchildren or children from outside the marriage. Therefore, in this week’s column I will explain how each of these scenarios may affect inheritance rights. The inheritance rights of adopted children are protected …
Continue reading “INHERITANCE RIGHTS OF ADOPTED, HALF-BLOOD AND STEP CHILDREN”
If you are considering selling or buying real estate, or getting a divorce, drafting a Will or even forming a corporation, you will find advice at just about every stop you make. Co-workers may have said “You don’t need to hire an attorney. You can do it yourself.” Let me caution you to think very …
There is no escaping death. However, how you organize your affairs can make life much easier for your loved ones. The reality is,less than half of all Americans have even the most basic estate planning documents. As a result, they voluntarily give up their freedom to decide what will happen to their assets when they …
Social security cards, birth certificates, marriage licenses, tax papers — we all have a number of documents in our home that it is important to keep safe. Unfortunately, I have had several clients with unexpected disasters like floods and fires or simply misplacing these items in a messy room. In Texas, we are subjected to …
Many families deal with loved ones who have unexpected events in life that lead to incapacity. Whether it is a fall, heart attack or some other medical emergency, you should be prepared. Therefore, in this weeks’ column I will discuss planning for incapacity and explain the alternatives. What does the term “incapacitated” mean? An adult …
A transfer on death deed transfers an interest in real property from the owner to a designated beneficiary(ies) effective at the transferor’s death. This was established in 2015 by the 84th Legislature and is addressed in the Texas Estates Code §114.051. Originally, the State adopted promulgated forms for these deeds. However, in 2019, the 86th Legislature removed …
Many clients have asked me how to insure that a bank account or investment account passes to a particular person (spouse or child) without having to wait until a Will is probated. First, I would like to remind you that the amount of time its takes to probate an estate in Texas depends to a …
Continue reading “Joint Accounts with Right of Survivorship”
Many folks decide to go into or open a new business everyday. It is part of the American culture to be an entrepreneur. While it is wonderful to “be your own boss,” it does come at a cost and with risk. Following fast on the heels of a decision to go into a particular kind …
