Denton Texas Legal Blog

As one of the millions of Americans across Texas and the United States who must abide by the rules of a condo or homeowner’s association, you may have certain guidelines governing you with regard to painting, maintenance and so on. You may, too, have had some type of disagreement with your HOA at some point or another, whether it be about parking, tree branches, fencing or what have you. At Kelsey, Kelsey & Hickey, PLLC, we recognize that fighting your homeowner’s association is often an uphill battle, and we have helped many Texas homeowners involved in HOA disputes pursue solutions that meet their needs.

According to U.S. News & World Report, about 72 percent of people who live within condo or homeowner’s associations have experienced issues at some point that they found difficult to resolve. While it can prove difficult for a homeowner to go toe-to-toe with an entire board and find success, there are certain steps you can take while preparing to fight your HOA that may make you more likely to find a favorable solution.

People who have lost a close friend or loved one may feel overcome with emotion. In addition to dealing with the loss, there is the task of organizing the estate left behind by the deceased. This can be a daunting process, and it is usually led by estate administrator or executor of the estate. In some cases, the deceased will name someone they wish to act as an estate executor in his or her will. However, if an executor is not named, the court may appoint someone to carry out the tasks delegated to that position. What exactly does an estate executor do?

The executor must gather up critical documents, including the death certificate, life insurance policies, trust documents and the last will and testament. They must also gather together all of the deceased’s property and assets and have them valued. This value is the estate’s worth, and the administrator may have to pay certain bills, taxes, funeral expenses and other expenses out of this fund. Executor’s are responsible for protecting the estate while it is going through the probate process or paperwork is being processed. Once the value of the property is assessed and all of the expenses are taken care of, the remaining property and assets are distributed to the beneficiaries named in the will. The executor may have to locate these heirs to alert them of their inheritance.

One of the first decisions you have to make when starting a business in Texas is which business form you will use. There are a few options, and each one has specific requirements, benefits and characteristics. According to the Texas Secretary of State, there are five main business form options.

A common choice, if you are opening a business on your own, is a sole proprietorship. The main requirement is one business owner. You also carry the business liability as a personal liability.

When the government decides that it wants to use your Texas property, it will invoke eminent domain to acquire it from you in exchange for what the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution calls “just compensation.” However, you might not agree with what the government says your just compensation should be. By finding out what the fair market value of your home is, you can make the case for a fairer price for your property.

As FindLaw explains, the fair market value of your home is a key factor in determining the valuation of your home. Fair market value is what people would reasonably consider a piece of property to be worth. For the purposes of eminent domain, fair market value would produce the amount that the government would be willing to compensate the property owner for.