Many of you know that my son, Jacob, was fortunate enough to be one of Texas A&M University’s mascot, Reveille’s caretakers last year. I am an Aggie, Class of ‘88, and thought I knew a lot about Aggieland,, but my appreciation for Reveille and her care grew watching Jacob compete and then care for her. …
Passwords! If you are like me, you hate getting notices you must update or change your password. With the digital world we live in, it seems like we have a million passwords. Electronic passwords are a relatively new concept, but a reality in today’s world. When I was a kid I could remember 100 phone numbers and call …
When planning for retirement, an often overlooked consideration is the cost of long-term care. The principal sources of payment for long term care are personal savings/income, Medicaid, and long-term care insurance. Texas Health and Human Services Commission records indicate the sources of payment for nursing home care nationwide are: Medicaid 52% Private Pay …
We Americans relish our freedoms. We want to live how we like, spend our hard-earned money on what we want and carry automatic rifles if we so desire. And we resist when the government tries to interfere with our lives. However, less than half of all Americans have even the most basic estate planning documents. …
As we watch the Houston Astros approach the end of the regular season, folks in Washington D.C. are talking about two significant changes that could affect us all. Senator Bernie Sanders has sponsored the 99.5 Percent Act (99.5% Act) and the Biden Administration is working on the Sensible Taxation and Equity Promotion (STEP) Act. While …
Continue reading “Don’t Look Now, but its Estate Tax May be Changing”
An area of law I am often questioned about revolves around building, replacing and maintaining fences. So I thought it would be an excellent subject for a column this week. Texas law does not require neighboring landowners to share in the costs or future maintenance of a boundary fence, unless a landowner has agreed to …
In the past, a common method of seller financing was through a Contract for Deed. In this transaction the seller and purchaser enter into an agreement that the purchaser will make payments over time and once a certain amount is paid the seller will deed the property to the purchaser. If you have previously or …
You would not believe what I have found right here in Walker County, Texas with regards to property records. Hand written, homemade, or instruments that have nothing to do with what they state they are, all purporting to convey property. Just this week, I had a family trying to refinance their property. Issue was, a …
On June 4, 2021, Governor Abbott signed House Bill 365, which modified the Farm Animal Liability Act (FALA) to ensure that it does apply to working ranches and in situations involving injured ranchers and ranch hands, among other changes. All ranch owners should pay careful attention to the changes which modify the scope of application …
The information in this column is not intended as legal advice but to provide a general understanding of the law. Any readers with a legal problem, including those whose questions are addressed here, should consult an attorney for advice on their particular circumstances. Just this past week our community lost another young soul. Please remember …
