Real Estate, Probate and Family Law Blog

Real estate is one of the most valuable assets that people own during their lifetimes.  The ownership of real estate encompasses many legal issues that can often become complex or can be a source of conflict. Buying or selling a home or land involves written contracts and multiple parties, and doing these things without the proper legal representation can lead to trouble.  If you have questions about real estate legal issues, the Hixson Law Firm of Arlington, Texas can answer them and will give you the legal advice you need.  With over twenty years of experience serving clients, we offer the most up-to-date real estate legal resources to meet your needs and we fully understand all real estate law.

Commercial and Residential Real Estate

The areas of commercial and residential real estate are very different from one another.  In commercial real estate, buyers of buildings are generally looking for valuable property that they can rent to tenants who will use it as office space or to conduct business activities. Contracts exist between the building owner and the tenant, or business owner, and business owners must take care that the agreements do not interfere with their businesses. Residential real estate involves buying a home or investing in a property to rehabilitate it so that it can be resold as a home or apartment. Real estate investors must be careful to draft contracts that create realistic terms they can meet.  For any of these issues, it’s essential to hire an expert real estate lawyer. A legal professional from the Hixson Law Firm of Arlington, Texas can ensure that your legal real estate contracts are solid.

Call to Schedule a Free Consultation With a Texas Real Estate Lawyer Today

If you are buying or selling property or have questions about real estate issues, call to schedule a free consultation with a Texas real estate lawyer today. The Hixson Law Firm will discuss your issues with you and give you legal guidance you can trust. We serve the cities of Mansfield, Arlington and Grand Prairie, Texas, and we are dedicated to serving you. Call us at (817) 261-5000 and let us bring clarity to your real estate questions.

When you have questions or doubts about the legal ownership of a deed, a real estate deeds lawyer in Texas may be helpful to you. It is not wise to trust a real estate agent with matters concerning deeds or legal real estate contracts because they are often motivated by the desire to sell a property or profit in some way. Instead, a real estate deeds lawyer does not have an agenda regarding the deed of a property and will objectively represent your legal interests. The Hixson Law Firm of Texas has experienced legal professionals whose knowledge of real estate law will serve you well if you have concerns regarding the true ownership of a real estate deed.

Types of Real Estate Deeds

There are several kinds of real estate deeds, but perhaps one of the most common is the warranty deed.  This type of deed states that the grantor, or person owning the property, is actually the real owner and has the right to convey, or transfer, the property to a grantee, or person buying or receiving it.  The property is free of liens and is fully conveyed, and the grantor, upon conveying the property, gives the grantee the right to convey it later if he wants to, with everything being free and clear.  Another type of deed is the quitclaim deed, which conveys the property rights to a grantee without giving them the title.  If you need to have a deed reviewed or have questions or conflicts about a real estate deed, the best place to turn is to an expert firm like the Hixson Law Firm of Texas. Our legal staff will give you reliable legal guidance you can count on.

Call to Schedule a Free Consultation with a Real Estate Deeds Lawyer in Texas Today

If you have a questionable deed that is in need of legal review or if you want to draft a real estate deed, call to schedule a free consultation with a real estate deeds lawyer in Texas today. The Hixson Law Firm has over two decades of experience serving the real estate needs of clients like you. We serve the cities of Mansfield, Arlington, and Grand Prairie, Texas, and will answer all your real estate deed questions. Call us at (817) 261-5000 and let us help you.

If you’re a property owner, you may one day be surprised to find out that someone else claims that some of your property is theirs. When someone questions your ownership of land, buildings or other property, you need expert legal counsel to discern where the property boundaries truly lie. Especially in cases of older homes or land that has been around for a long time, issues may come up as to ownership or location of a boundary.  When this occurs, hiring a skilled legal professional like someone from the Hixson Law Firm of Mansfield, Texas is essential. We will use our knowledge and experience to help you settle your property title disputes in Mansfield TX.

Types of Title Disputes

The real estate title is what gives the owner of a property the right to live on it or use it as he chooses within the limits of the law. People buy title insurance to ensure that the property title is free and clear, but sometimes disputes may still arise. With older properties, it may later be discovered that there is an easement, or agreement to allow another person to use a part of the property for his own reasons. There may also be a land boundary that no one seems to know about. A good title dispute attorney can trace the records back to the original agreement and help the property owners to resolve the conflicted issue. The Hixson Law Firm of Mansfield, Texas will evaluate your case to find a fair solution to the problem.

Call to Schedule a Free Consultation with a Title Dispute Attorney in Mansfield, Texas Today

If you’re concerned about real estate title issues, call to schedule a free consultation with a title dispute attorney in Mansfield, Texas today. The experienced legal professionals at the Hixson Law Firm understand the complexities of real estate law and have the resources to determine where the true boundaries of your property lie. We serve the cities of Mansfield, Arlington and Grand Prairie, Texas, and we are eager to serve you. Call us at (817) 261-5000 and let us help you settle your title dispute.

When it comes to your livelihood, you want to ensure that someone you trust has the ability to make decisions for you when you cannot. Power of attorney directives are a great estate planning tool that lets you have a say in who controls your future. At Hixson Law Firm, our professional estate planning lawyer can help you to draft legal agreements that help you to ensure that your wishes are followed. There are two types of power of attorneys: medical power of attorney and durable power of attorney.

About Medical Power of Attorney

Known as an advanced health care directive, this legal document has two parts. The first is a living will, which outlines your health care and treatment decisions. The second is a health care or medical power of attorney that appoint someone to make decisions for you when you cannot. This person becomes the health care agent. They represent you when your health prevents you from making your own decisions. Their job is to voice out the thoughts expressed by the patient. If you want to ensure that your living will and/or medical power of attorney works best, you should consider speaking to our experienced estate planning lawyer.

Durable Power of Attorney

This legal document has your signatures as well as instructions relating to your decisions. This document also prepares for an event, which may lead to incapacitation. The contents of the document will state when an appointed representative will step in. A licensed doctor must certify that you are indeed physically and mentally incapacitated.

Schedule an Appointment to Discuss Power of Attorney Documents Today

If you’re interested in learning more about a power of attorney, Hixson Law Firm can help. Our experienced estate planning lawyer can help you to make important decisions about your future. The Hixson Law Firm serves the cities of Arlington, Grand Prairie, and Mansfield. Call us today to schedule a free legal consultation at (817) 261-5000.

Seldom does anyone want to think about the fact that none of us will live forever. Even so, it’s possible to get a little more peace of mind when you know that your final affairs are all taken care of and that you’ve provided for those you love. Unfortunately, however, when care is not taken to plan an estate or draft a legally sound will, complications can arise after a death, and the plans you made may not be carried out as you wanted them to be. That’s why the smart thing to do is to hire a Texas family law attorney to draft your final will and testament and to plan your estate. The Hixson Law Firm of Texas and its expert legal staff are prepared to help you take care of this matter and will treat you with respect and compassion.

Importance of Planning Your Estate

If you want to avoid the complexities of probate court or conflicts that may arise between beneficiaries after you pass away, the importance of planning your estate cannot be overemphasized. A professional estate planning attorney can help you to outline your plan for how your assets will be distributed among your beneficiaries and creditors, and can put this into the legal language that needs to go on your official will and testament. You will feel better knowing that the matter is taken care of and that disputes are unlikely to arise. The Hixson Law Firm of Texas has over two decades of experience in the area of family law and estate planning and will ensure that your final documents are legally sound.

Call to Schedule a Free Consultation with a Family Law Attorney in Texas Today

If you are ready to draft your last will and testament or to plan your estate, call to schedule a free consultation with an estate planning attorney in Texas today. The Hixson Law Firm offers you legal guidance you can rely upon, and we’re here to answer all your questions. We serve the cities of Mansfield, Arlington, and Grand Prairie, Texas, and we are ready to serve you.  Call us at (817) 261-5000 and let us help you make your estate plans.

The death of a loved one is a challenging time during which many legal matters must be settled. If the loved one, or decedent, made a will, the will should name an executor or person who is in charge of distributing all of the decedent’s assets among the beneficiaries. However, if the decedent also had debt or owned real estate that had liens on it, or if there’s conflict among the beneficiaries, a Texas probate attorney can give you professional help with the estate. The Hixson Law Firm of Arlington, Texas and its professional legal staff can help you figure out the complexities of probate law and get the estate settled in a way that’s fair to everyone involved.

Types of Probate

When settling some types of property, probate isn’t always necessary. For example, a life insurance policy can be paid without probate. However, for most estates, it is wise to go through probate court to make sure all debts are paid and the settlement of the estate is solid. In Texas, there is a four-year statute of limitations on probate cases. An estate can be settled independently, in which case the executor doesn’t need to be very involved with the probate court, or dependently, in which case there’s more court supervision.  In either case, an expert probate attorney can help you, the executor, to sort out the settlement of the estate. The Hixson Law Firm of Arlington, Texas, will give you the legal guidance you need to get this done so that there won’t be questions down the road.

Call to Schedule a Free Consultation with a Texas Probate Attorney Today

If you have lost a loved one and need help with settling the estate, call to schedule a free consultation with a Texas probate attorney today. The legal professionals at the Hixson Law Firm can help you figure out the value of the estate and deal with any debts or other matters that need settling. We serve the cities of Mansfield, Arlington and Grand Prairie, Texas, and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the probate process. Call us at (817) 261-5000 and let us help you to effectively settle your loved one’s estate.

It’s enough of a pain when your car breaks down, and you need to tie up time and money getting repairs.  But when the mechanic is dishonest and tells you that you need repairs that are not necessary, or when the cost estimate is inaccurate, there’s even more pain. Although you might feel like you’re totally at the mercy of the mechanic, it doesn’t have to be that way. A mechanics law attorney in Texas can help if you’ve been treated unfairly by a mechanic. The Hixson Law Firm of Texas understands the laws and regulations that affect car repairs and auto shops in Texas. Our expert legal staff will help you get justice if your mechanic has violated these laws.

Deceptive Practices Mechanics May Use

By law, you are entitled to an honest estimate and to have the work done within a reasonable amount of time that’s mutually agreed upon. Mechanics may not dishonestly tell you that you need work that does not need to be done. They can’t make unauthorized repairs and then hold you financially liable for them. If you believe this has been done to you, you are protected by UDAP laws, or Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices Statutes. If you believe you’ve been deceived or dealt with dishonestly by a mechanic, hiring a mechanics law attorney can get you the legal recourse you need. The Hixson Law Firm of Texas will be your advocate and defend your rights in your mechanics law case.

Call to Schedule a Free Consultation with a Mechanics Law Attorney in Texas Today

If you believe you have been treated unfairly by a mechanic, call to schedule a free consultation with a mechanics law attorney in Texas today. The Hixson Law Firm offers you the latest and best in legal representation when you’ve been deceived, overcharged, or have had ineffective repairs from a dishonest mechanic.  We serve the cities of Mansfield, Arlington and Grand Prairie, Texas, and we are eager to serve you, too. Call us at (817) 261-5000 and let us help you get fair treatment from your auto mechanic.

Laws are set up so that public safety is protected, and citizens are obligated to not jeopardize that safety. Sometimes, however, people are negligent, and their behavior results in harm to others. If this has happened to you, you have the right to file a civil lawsuit. By doing this, you may be able to get compensation for the damages that were done to you. A civil law attorney can help you to file this type of lawsuit in the state of Texas. The Hixson Law Firm of Texas and its professional legal staff are dedicated to giving you a voice. We will evaluate your case and determine whether you can obtain legal compensation.

How a Civil Lawsuit Works

Civil law is a different area of law than criminal law. You need not be working in the area of law enforcement to bring a civil lawsuit against someone.  Anyone may file a civil lawsuit if there has been negligence of some kind. The first step is to file a complaint with a court. Once that is done, the discovery process starts. During Discovery, the defendant, or person being sued, and the plaintiff, or person filing the suit, gather evidence to support their side. For example, if the lawsuit is regarding a personal injury caused by some defective product, the plaintiff will gather medical records of treatment for the injury. A legal professional from the Hixson Law Firm of Texas can plead your case in court and help you win compensation for damages caused to you by the defendant.

Call to Schedule a Free Consultation with a Civil Law Attorney in Texas Today

If you have been harmed by the negligence of another, call to schedule a free consultation with a civil law attorney in Texas today.  Let the Hixson Law Firm help you hold those who have harmed you accountable for their actions and give you a legal voice. We serve the cities of Mansfield, Arlington and Grand Prairie, Texas, and we are dedicated to representing you.  Call us at (817) 261-5000 and let us be your advocate.

Ultimately, taking the time to prepare with a thought-out estate plan that consists of a will or a living trust is one of the best things you can do for your family. Professional Texas attorneys such as John Hixson have been helping families do that for years in Arlington and the surrounding community. This helps your loved ones to grieve without having to make important decisions or deal with lengthy paperwork at a difficult time.

Understanding The Differences Between Wills & Trusts

One main difference between wills and trusts in Texas is that one goes into effect after someone dies and the other takes effects as soon as it is created (a trust). A will is a legal document that directs who will receive property at someone’s death. It also appoints a legal representative to carry out the wishes of the will. While a trust is used to begin distributing property before death, at death or even after. A trust is a legal arrangement through which one person or institution such as a bank or law firm, known as a trustee, holds the legal title to property for someone else known as a beneficiary. A trust typically has two beneficiary types: one that receives income from the trust throughout their life or another that receives whatever is left after the first set of beneficiaries pass on.

A will covers any property that is only in the beneficiary’s name when they die. It doesn’t cover anything in a trust or in joint tenancy. A trust, however, covers only property that has been transferred directly to the trust itself. Also, a will passes through probate. That means that a court oversees that the will is valid and the property is distributed accordingly. A trust passes outside of probate, so a court isn’t required. This saves both time and money for living family members.

If you or a loved one need help with wills & trusts in Arlington or the surrounding communities, call 817-261-5000 today to speak to a professional estate planning attorney.

A will, also known as a last will and testament, helps to protect both your family and your property. A will can be used to:

• Name an executor, the person who is responsible for carrying out your wishes
• Name a trusted person to manage property that you leave to minor children
• Name a personal guardian to care for your minor children
• Leave property to people/organizations

Will preparation by a professional wills & probate Texas attorney helps to ensure that you and your family are prepared for the worst. It is one of the most selfless decisions you can make for your family as they are given time to grieve when it is needed and not to resolve your loose ends.

What happens if I die without will preparation in Texas?

In the state of Texas, if you die without a will, your property is distributed according to state intestacy laws. This means your belongings go to your closest relatives starting with your spouse or children (if applicable). If you have neither, then your grandchildren or parents get your property. The list continues until the court is able to find living relatives to give your things to.

A professional wills preparation lawyer will work with you to prepare your will perfectly. They will ensure that everything is thought of when it’s most important. You will be protected when you need it most. Professional will preparation is more than just paperwork, it is years of experience analyzing situations to advise you on the best way to accomplish your wishes.

If you or a loved one need help with will preparation from a professional attorney in Texas, call 817-261-5000 today.