Businesses often make use of outside professionals, also known as consultants, to provide expert advice and opinions to improve a company’s operations. Many consultants are former employees who may prefer a more flexible job description or who may wish to focus on more than a single project. They may also be independent contractors who provide […]
Author: Philip Silberman
Texas Employment Agreements
Most employment relationships in Texas are not expressly defined in a written agreement. Employees and employers generally have the right to end employment “at will,” as they choose, if that choice is not based on illegal reasons, such as race, age, or gender discrimination. Even though written employment agreements are not required by law in […]
Texas Distribution Agreements
When a company creates a product for sale, that company must determine the best way to distribute that product. Some companies choose to sell products themselves, but many companies work with people outside of the company to sell the product. Known as distributors, these companies work independently, sometimes buying products to sell with a markup […]
Survivorship Agreements for Real Estate in Texas
One of the biggest legal myths in Texas is that jointly owned property automatically goes to the surviving co-owner upon one owner’s death. Once a joint owner (co-tenant) of property dies without a will, Texas intestacy law governs the distribution of the deceased owner’s interest in the property. One of the easiest ways for co-owners […]
Texas Assumption Deed of Trust
A deed of trust in Texas transfers title of real property in trust and is often used as part of a real estate transaction that includes a Warranty Deed with a Vendor’s Lien and a Promissory Note. It functions in a way similar to mortgages used in other states. As the title indicates, in a […]
Owelty of Partition Deeds in Texas
Co-ownership of property provides many advantages for owners if everyone agrees about the shared property and its use. When relationships, finances, or other factors change, however, co-ownership may no longer be the best option. Fortunately, Texas laws provide several options for opting out of co-ownership without great difficulty or cost. One such option is an […]
Partition Deeds in Texas
Joint ownership of land is common throughout Texas. Since relationships and situations can change, though, Texas law provides a way for joint owners to voluntarily divide the property. Let’s say, for example, that siblings are named co-owners of land that they inherited from their parents. Perhaps the arrangement works well until one sibling wants to […]
The Purpose of the Railroad Commission of Texas
The Texas Railroad Commission, also known as the Railroad Commission of Texas, performs an essential role in Texas, but its title is deceptive. Created in 1891 when the cattle industry was a dominant force in our state’s economy, the TRC at that time regulated the railroads which brought Texas cattle to markets across the country. […]
Bills of Sale in Texas
Having written documentation that verifies the change of legal ownership is always a smart idea. A written record that details the transfer of personal property is also known as a bill of sale. In Texas, a bill of sale is not legally required; however, creating or obtaining one is a valuable way to verify a […]
Changes to Filing the Texas Homestead Exemption
Texas homeowners have always had a homestead exemption available to them for their primary residence. This exemption helps to lower property taxes for homeowners by excluding a portion of the appraised value of the home from its taxable value. For example, an exemption of $25,000 from a home’s taxable value is available from most Texas […]