When buying a residential property, you’re not just purchasing the land and the house; you may also want to acquire certain personal items, such as refrigerators. This can be a point of confusion because there’s a legal distinction between real and personal property. Properly addressing personal property in a real estate transaction is crucial to […]
Author: Philip Silberman
When Things Go Missing: Hotel Liability
When you travel, hotels offer a variety of convenient services, including laundry service. But what happens when you send out your clothes and they, along with some valuable items you accidentally left in them, go missing? A common assumption is that the hotel is liable for any and all losses. However, the legal reality is […]
How to Keep Property Ownership Anonymous
In today’s world of online data and searchable public records, many Texans are concerned about privacy—especially when it comes to real estate. While it’s impossible to make property ownership completely invisible, there are a few strategies to help reduce the public footprint of your ownership. Use “Current Owner” on Appraisal Records The most visible source […]
Why Ownership Records at the Appraisal District Don’t Matter
One of the most common misconceptions among Texas property owners is that the local appraisal district determines legal ownership of real estate. While appraisal district websites are often the easiest way to look up property information online, they do not control or verify who legally owns property in Texas. The Role of the Appraisal District […]
The Anticybersquatting Act Explained
In the era of digital real estate, the rush to register valuable domain names has sparked a number of legal issues. Chief among them is cybersquatting—the act of registering, trafficking in, or using a domain name with bad-faith intent to profit from the goodwill of a trademark belonging to someone else. To combat this, Congress […]
How to Notarize: Acknowledgements and Jurats
Understanding the difference between an acknowledgment and a jurat is critical for anyone involved in the execution of legal documents in Texas whether you’re a lawyer, a notary public, or a member of the general public handling your own legal matters. Acknowledgements: Verifying Identity, Not Content In Texas, a notarial acknowledgment is used when the […]
What Are Spousal Homestead Rights in Texas?
When a spouse dies in Texas, the surviving spouse has powerful legal protections that ensure they won’t be forced out of their home even if other heirs (like children from a previous marriage) inherit part of the property. These rights are known as spousal homestead rights, and they reflect long-standing public policy in Texas designed […]
Can You Use Drones to Hunt in Texas?
As drone technology continues to evolve, hunters and landowners in Texas are exploring how these tools might help with tracking or managing wildlife. But before you send a drone out over your lease, be aware that the law in Texas has drawn some firm lines around what is and isn’t legal when it comes to […]
Maximum Interest Rates and Usury in Texas
When it comes to lending money in Texas even for business purposes there are firm limits on what you can charge in interest. While it might be tempting to think that business-to-business lending operates in a “free market,” Texas law sets clear boundaries. Understanding those rules can help prevent costly legal missteps and ensure any […]
Can You Gate Off Your Neighborhood in Texas?
With rising concerns about crime and safety, many Texas homeowners wonder if they can install gates and restrict access to their neighborhoods. While it may seem like a simple solution, the legal and logistical hurdles involved especially when public streets are involved make it a far more complicated proposition. Here’s what you need to know […]