After a person dies, real property is immediately owned by the heirs-at-law if there is no will or by the beneficiaries in a will if the person left a last will and testament. Tex. Estates Code ยงยง 101.001(a), 201.001, 201.002, 201.003. Many properties that are inherited by heirs or given to devisees under a will […]
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Hard Money Lenders and Homestead Property
Texas has strong protections from the forced sale of homestead property; however, there are some limited exceptions for certain types of liens that do attach to homesteads. It is well settled that non purchase money loans from hard money lenders will not attach to homestead properties in Texas. If unable to qualify for a home […]
Read more...Limitations For Contribution Claims Between Co-Owners
Co-tenants in Texas that bring partition suits often have claims for reimbursements that may include insurance premiums, repairs, improvements, rent and taxes. In many situations, one co-owner of real estate has paid expenses or collected rent for the property for years and sometimes decades. These claims for reimbursements are typically pleaded as a claim for […]
Read more...Disclaimers of Real Estate in Texas
There are situations where a person does not want to take title to real estate passed to them by will or inheritance. Some examples might include low value properties with large tax or assessment obligations, properties encumbered by substantial liens, or properties with large environmental risks. Other reasons for wanting to disclaim real estate might […]
Read more...When a Texas Property Manager May Be Liable for the Debts of the Property Owner
Property managers routinely contract for services to properties on behalf of the owner. Commercial real estate projects including apartment complexes, retail centers, and office buildings need a variety of services for things such as landscaping and janitorial. Service agreements are often signed and orders are placed without much thought as whether the property manager has […]
Read more...Suits in Texas For Real Estate Commissions
There are many types of oral contracts in Texas that are legally binding and enforceable under the law. For example, a homeowner might make an agreement with a landscaping service for weekly yard maintenance without any documentation. This is an example of a binding and enforceable agreement, and failure of the homeowner to render payment […]
Read more...Liability Between Co-Borrowers on a Note
A person who signs a note and promises to pay a certain sum is known as a maker on the note or payor. It is not uncommon in Texas for there to be multiple makers known as co-borrowers or co-makers on a note. While it is well known that co-borrowers are jointly and severally liable […]
Read more...Partition of Homestead Property in Texas
Partition is the division of land where property is divided (partition in kind) or sold (partition by sale). It is well known in Texas that co-owners of real estate have an absolute right of partition. Spires v. Hoover, 466 S.W.2d 344, 346 (Tex. Civ. App. 1971), writ refused NRE (July 28, 1971). However, does the […]
Read more...Gifts and Transfers of Real Estate Between Spouses
Spouses often have various reasons for transferring real estate between themselves. Reasons may include asset protection strategies, tax record preferences, a desire to make a gift, or a bona fide purchase between spouses. Below is a discussion of methods of transferring real estate between Texas spouses. Separate Property to Community Property Converting separate real estate […]
Read more...Texas Certificate of Merit
Tort reform in Texas has made it critical for plaintiffs to ensure that all threshold requirements are met before filing lawsuits against certain professionals. Failure to comply with certain conditions precedent may have dire consequences. Texas law requires a plaintiff to file a certificate of merit contemporaneously with a lawsuit against certain licensed or registered […]
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