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.

Whether you are contemplating the possibility of divorce or you are currently divorced and having challenges with child custody, a family law attorney in Texas may be able to help.  When there is a conflict between spouses in a divorce, and when there are minor children involved, legal issues can become complex and adversarial. That’s why an experienced family law attorney is someone you should turn to for help. The Hixson Law Firm of Texas has over twenty years of experience in working with family law matters and will use its skill and expertise to be your voice in your family law conflicts.

What Family Law Attorneys Do

Family law attorneys are knowledgeable in the area of the law that deals with interactions between family members and spouses. The state of Texas is stricter than some other states in its laws that regulate marriage, abortion, and other similar matters. So if your divorce is in Texas, it’s important to have an attorney who understands Texas laws. Family law attorneys handle matters of child custody and support, adoption, and alimony. In cases of abuse, they also handle protective orders and injunctions. When you are going through a difficult divorce, having competent and experienced legal representation is crucial. The Hixson Law Firm of Texas and its legal professionals will be your advocate during this tough time.

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

If you’re thinking about a divorce, call to schedule a free consultation with a family law attorney in Texas today. Don’t try to go it alone, especially since your spouse probably already has an attorney who will defend their rights. The expert legal staff at the Hixson Law Firm understands all legal aspects of divorce, and we are dedicated to fighting for your rights. We serve the cities of Mansfield, Arlington, and Grand Prairie, Texas, and will evaluate your unique case to represent you effectively.  Call us at (817) 261-5000 and let us guide you through this legal journey.

Unfortunately, many marriages end in divorce in Texas. When this occurs, you need an experienced Texas divorce lawyer from Hixson Law Firm to represent you. This is an emotional time, and you need someone that is level headed to ensure your legal rights are protected and to guide you along the way. Every divorce is different, and we can take the necessary time to evaluate your situation to offer our expert legal advice. We try our best to get to terms that are fair and equitable for both parties.

Texas Divorce Laws

In order to file for divorce in the State of Texas, either spouse must be a resident for at least six months before filing. They also must have resided in the count that the petition is being filed for at least 90 days. The petitioner must give notice to the other spouse. If they don’t answer within 21 days from being served, the case is default. This is usually a 60-day waiting period from the date the petition is filed before a judge grants the final divorce decree in Texas. This isn’t required if the court finds someone guilty of domestic violence or there’s an active protection order against the other party.

A divorce can be granted if the marriage is a conflict of personalities, adultery has occurred, there’s been cruelty, one spouse commits a felony, or abandonment has occurred for at least one year. A divorce order will include information about child custody, support, assets division, and more.

Call to Schedule a Free Consultation with a Texas Divorce Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one is contemplating divorce, Hixson Law Firm can help. Our experienced divorce legal team can answer your questions about the legal process and laws in Texas. We serve all of Mansfield, Arlington and Grand Prairie, Texas. Call us today to schedule a free legal consultation at (817) 261-5000. We are ready and willing to serve you and your family.

Parents of minor children who are getting divorced or were never married must work out a legal arrangement that works best for the children. This usually means that the noncustodial parent must pay child support to the person who holds custody. With the help of our Texas family lawyer, you can ensure that you and your children’s legal rights are always protected. At Hixson Law Firm, we have years of experience and the necessary resources to help you to get the results that you need for your family. A change in financial support is known as child support modification.  

Child Support Laws

Your child support order in Texas is only eligible for modification only if one or more of the following applies to the situation:

• The monthly amount of the child support order differs by $100 from the amount that would be awarded or 20%
• The order was last modified or established more than three years ago.

Also, a modification only applies if the noncustodial parent’s income has increased or decreased. And they are legally responsible for other children and/or the child, or children’s insurance coverage has changed in some way. In order to execute child support modification, an in-office negotiation or a Child Support Review Process must be done. A court hearing may also occur. Informal agreements do not change the amount. This is only done by one of the two options above.

How Do I Modify My Child Support Order?

First gather all relevant information, including name and address of the other parent, copy of the original support order and the name and addresses of the child or children involved in the original order. With the help of our family lawyer, you can file a petition for child support modification. If the court rules in your favor, the modification becomes effective the date that the original petition was filed.

Call to Schedule a Free Consultation with a Texas Family Lawyer Today

If you’re interested in learning more about child support modification, call our experienced legal team today. The Hixson Law Firm serves the cities of Arlington, Grand Prairie and Mansfield, Texas. To schedule an appointment for a free consultation with a professional Texas family attorney, call (817) 261-5000 today.