Probate in Texas

With the influx of people to Texas in the last few years, it occurs to me that many may not be familiar with the system of Probate in Texas.  Probate is one of the most misunderstood words in the legal language, probate is simply the administration of a deceased person’s property or transfer of their …

GET OUT AND VOTE!

My youngest son is attending Texas A&M Univeristy and a member of the Corps of Cadets.  Due to his commitment to Texas A&M, he will not be able to come home and vote on Election Day.  So, he filed out paperwork to mail in his ballet.  I am proud that he values the importance of …

Federal Regulation of Residential Real Estate

Big Brother, Federal Government Regulation, is coming to residential real estate transactions.  This is on the heals of the Corporate Transparency Act (discussed in an earlier column). Issued on February 7, 2024, with a stated purpose of “combat[ing] and deter[ing] money laundering in the U.S. residential real estate sector by increasing transparency, the Residential Rule …

Multiple Party Accounts

I have found it is common for families to use multiple party accounts to assist in paying bills and transferring assets.  Multiple party accounts are important non-probate transfer mechanisms because these accounts are used widely, easy to understand, and inexpensive to obtain.  Therefore, in this week’s column I will discuss three of the most recognized …

The Right to Farm Act

Again, this week I am writing about information that might be beneficial if you have a farm, ranch or rural property for hunting.  Heck, it might even apply if you raise vegetables to sell at the Saturday Farmers Market in front of O’Reilly Auto Parts.  The Texas Legislature addressed a few right to farm topics …