Waco Legal Blog
What are the three phases of condemnation proceedings in Texas?
In the United States, the government has the right to take private property for public use. This is known as the right of “eminent domain.” In Texas, private entities may also be able to exercise the right of eminent domain if the project is deemed to fall under the...
When the executor of an estate doesn’t perform their job
Being the executor or administrator of an estate is a thankless job. Although sometimes the deceased individual leaves a financial pittance or extra assets for the executor, many times it is a duty performed out of a sense of obligation rather than for compensation....
The process for challenging a will
A will is meant to reflect the final wishes of the deceased, and to give legal power to those wishes. Since the deceased is no longer around to testify, a court takes the will as the voice of the deceased. Unless a court finds that a will has not satisfied all its...
Top concerns to address when negotiating an oil and gas lease
The oil and gas industries play an unquestionable role in the financial success of the state of Texas and many people who live here. The ability to extract crude oil and gas resources and then refine them and sell them to companies and individuals generates a lot of...
When a trustee puts personal gain before the trust’s interests
The trustee who manages the major decisions and transactions for a trust has an obligation to the trust itself, the testator who created the trust and the beneficiaries. They should always put the best interests of the trust before their own personal interests. This...
Has your aging loved one named a guardian in their estate plan?
People planning for their golden years want to age gracefully and spend as much time as possible as healthy, thriving adults after retirement. That leads them to plan for a best-case scenario that involves independent living and travel. Unfortunately, for some people,...
What should you do if you discover serious construction defects?
Construction and home building are trades governed by both state rules and best practices in the industry. Professionals have an obligation to create structures that are safe and functional for the people who hire them, as well as to comply with terms set in the...
Options for resolving a boundary dispute
History is full of stories where countries go to war over borders, and it still happens today. Landowners are also often dead serious about their property lines. Regardless of the size of the parcel, any perceived encroachment can be a source for anger and annoyance...
I received a ‘right-of-entry’ request – what should I know?
You’re sitting at home, doing whatever you please, when there is a loud knock at the front door. You go to open it, and standing on the other side is a government official holding a document. The worker hands you the paperwork. It’s a right-of-entry request, part of...
What to do if you are not in the will?
Parents will often have a difficult time discussing the details of their will, trust or estate plan. So it may be a few words along the lines of, “you and your brother will split everything after your mother dies.” That is often all the information that a family...
