The government is responsible for planning where and how to construct infrastructure for the benefit of the public. Sometimes, the optimal locations for these projects cross through private properties. The government could take these pieces of land using eminent...
Denton Texas Legal Blog
Identity theft – are your parents and grandparents safe from it?
Technology may have improved dramatically over the years, but scammers continue to target older people to commit identity theft. How bad is the identity theft crisis in Texas? According to the Texas Department of Insurance, over 6,700 Texans aged 60 and above reported...
Why you need a title search
When you purchase property, you typically need to pay for a title search. This process searches all the records associated with the real estate to look for liens and confirm ownership. Unfortunately, you cannot assume that the seller has the right to sell the...
How do mineral rights differ from surface rights?
Mineral rights in Texas are the rights of an individual to any oil, gas, mineral and resource deposit below the surface of a certain estate or property. The surface is the real property or visible estate where one would usually build housing or commercial...
How do special needs trusts affect public benefits?
It can be disheartening to have a relative who cannot work due to a disability. Fortunately, your loved one might not be entirely out of luck. According to USA.gov, there are some social programs that provide benefits to individuals who need them. While beneficial to...
What are some signs of a bad nursing home?
There may come a day when you need to put an aging loved one into a nursing home because he or she can no longer live independently. This is a difficult decision for many families, especially since they want to prevent nursing home abuse and neglect. According to the...
How can you include digital assets in your estate plan?
While creating your estate plan, you likely included physical property, such as real estate, family heirlooms and other valuable items. But you may not have made plans for digital items. According to a survey conducted by Caring.com, only 33% of Americans have created...
Top 3 most common trademark legal issues
When you start a business, one of the first things you need to do is come up with a name. However, creating a business name is not always simple due to trademarks, copyright and other legal issues that surround intellectual property. As a word, phrase, symbol or...
Can a property owner refuse to sell to the government?
Texas eminent domain laws allow the government or a private entity with government authorization to take ownership of private property in some circumstances. However, the entity taking the property must meet certain requirements and provide compensation. What happens...
Can you spot the signs of elder abuse?
Elder abuse is the practice of preying on older individuals, usually with the intent of gaining something from them. Spotting the signs of this dangerous practice may help a loved one escape the psychological and sometimes physical torment. The practice of abuse is...