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Ronald Lipman

Ronald Lipman

Houston Chronicle

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Overextended on credit card debt? Risks when minimum payment are unmet

If you stop making minimum payments, the credit card companies will likely attempt to collect from you either by using bill-collection firms or by...

latest 4

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

What's the best way to track down a missing heir to an estate?

My niece moved out of her apartment, her cell phone is no longer in service. How can I locate her so she can claim her inheritance? Q: Why is it...

03.12.2024 20

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Are folks liable when son lives in Florida, his car insured by parent in Texas?

A parent in Texas kept an adult son's vehicle on their auto insurance. The son caused an accident in Florida where he lives, and the parent wonders...

26.11.2024 6

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

My relative died. How do I stop automatic deductions from their accounts?

The first step in ending recurring charges on a dead relative's accounts is to contact the financial institutions and credit card companies to let...

19.11.2024 7

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Does a move to cashless society harm low-income people?

There is no federal law that requires a business to accept cash. And as you might expect, neither the State of Texas nor any city in Texas has that...

12.11.2024 6

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Is it safe to assume credit card debt will be wiped out when the borrower dies?

Unpaid credit card debt will not simply disappear. Each unpaid credit card will become a debt of an estate. Q: An 86-year-old friend has a lot of...

05.11.2024 6

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

What can be done about a neighbor's barking dogs nuisance?

Barking dogs are not typically a priority for law enforcement, so don't expect immediate results if you call police to address noise coming from a...

29.10.2024 8

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Changes in tax laws reduce need for creation of trusts

It is very common for wills to be over-drafted. But it’s not necessarily the case that the documents have provisions that are redundant, conflicting...

15.10.2024 7

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Ways to protect assets of a relative with dementia

To protect the assets of a relative with dementia, one may be named agent on a power of attorney or as trustee of a revocable trust to a court may...

08.10.2024 7

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Friend's estate is slow to process inheritance, what can be done?

Distribute money and jewelry should have happened within months of your friend’s death in 2015. Q: A good friend bequeathed $10,000 and some...

01.10.2024 5

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Should you mow an absentee owner's overgrown lawn?

Going to court to force an absentee landowner to mow an overgrown lawn is not a good idea. You could spend thousands of dollars on legal fees with no...

17.09.2024 10

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

My friend named me executor of his estate, can I get out of serving?

The person designated as the backup to you in the will would be appointed to serve if you decline to serve as executor of an estate. Q: Let’s say...

10.09.2024 7

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Steps to take if a neighbor's tree is in danger of falling on your house

You should consider offering to share the cost of removing an ailing tree if it is really that important to you. Q: Our neighbor behind our house has...

03.09.2024 9

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Car rental companies offer insurance coverage, is it worth it?

Your personal auto policy will likely cover rental cars, including liability, collision and comprehensive damages. Q: Is it necessary to pay for the...

27.08.2024 8

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Things to consider when changing your legal signature

Your signature doesn't need to include your full name, and it can be as simple as an “X.”  Q: I've been signing my full name, using longhand...

20.08.2024 5

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Small Claims may not be best place for dispute with insurance company

It may not be worth filing a claim against insurance companies in Justice (Small Claims) Court. Q: I have a $640 claim against two major insurance...

13.08.2024 6

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Can I file a small claims case to get a business to live up to promises?

A business promised to clean gutters but backed out. Justice Court, or small claims court, isn't the venue to try to make a person or company perform...

06.08.2024 30

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

The installer didn't tell me generator needs a new gas meter. What can I do?

Hurricane Beryl knocked out power for more than 2 million CenterPoint customers in July. Getting the company to come out to upgrade gas meters that...

30.07.2024 20

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

When a spouse dies, credit card debt can get messy

Resolving credit card debt after the death of a spouse can be complicated in Texas. Q: My husband recently died. He had some credit cards in his name...

23.07.2024 10

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

He co-signed niece's loan, is he liable if she stops making payments?

Co-signer on a student loan could be forced to repay the entire amount of the loan, plus interest in the event of default. Expenses may include the...

16.07.2024 9

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Does a live-in aide have any property rights if they refuse to leave?

There is little chance a live-in assistant could ever claim ownership through squatters' rights or adverse possession. Q: An elderly friend of mine...

09.07.2024 10

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Our neighbor died. How can we keep squatters from taking over his home?

Neighbors worry squatters may take over late owner's vacant home. Q: An elderly neighbor passed away over two years ago. He lived alone for many...

02.07.2024 7

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

My stepbrother left no will, how can I access his assets?

Options for gaining access to assets when there is no will. Q: My stepbrother died several months ago. He had no will but did own mineral interests...

19.06.2024 10

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Wills can be confusing, here are some tips for understanding them

It is important that you understand what you are signing. Ask your lawyer to review your will with you and sign it only after you are comfortable. Q:...

04.06.2024 10

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Who's responsible for clearing a tree blown into neighbor's yard?

Tree removal of an uprooted tree that went over the fence on Harvard near East 15th on May 17 in the Heights. Q: Our neighbor has a live oak tree in...

28.05.2024 30

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

With no will, can a child from an earlier relationship inherit?

It would be better to plan an estate properly rather than rely on Texas law to divide things up. Q: My brother inherited our mother’s home. He is...

21.05.2024 70

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Is it trespassing when golfers take a shortcut over private land?

The owner of the land posted a "private property - no through traffic" sign at each end of the street golfers had used to access the course.  Q:...

14.05.2024 30

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Does a parent incur taxes when gifting a Roth IRA withdrawal?

Part of a gift from a Roth IRA withdrawal will fall under the $18,000 annual exclusion, meaning that portion of the gift will not be subject to gift...

07.05.2024 50

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Is an out-of-state will valid in Texas?

In Texas it can be more difficult and costly to probate a will which lacks certain Texas statutory language. Q: Is there "will reciprocity" between...

30.04.2024 30

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Is it worth hiring a lawyer to transfer late father's very small bank account?

The cost of filing for probate may cost more than the balance in the account. Is there any other way for my mother to get that money? Q: My father...

23.04.2024 50

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

My brother won't honor terms of our late sibling's will, what can I do?

A person's will dictates how personal possessions and assets are to be distributed, and no surviving family member can say otherwise. Q: Two of my...

16.04.2024 10

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Can I bring my gun when I move to an assisted living facility?

The Texas Health and Safety Code says assisted living facilities have the right to ban weapons. Q: I live in an assisted living facility. The...

09.04.2024 10

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Six kids, two step-siblings: Who's entitled to proceeds from sale of parent's ho

My parents bought a home in 1954 and separated a few years later. My father later married a widow who had two children from a prior marriage. Are they...

02.04.2024 10

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

12 siblings, one farm: What's the best way to handle inherited property?

If the siblings, against all odds, are able to agree they want to keep the farm, they will need to figure out how to co-own it. Q: My mother is 94...

26.03.2024 30

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Why probating a small estate may be prohibitively costly

Under Texas law, when a person dies with a will a small estate affidavit is not allowed as an alternative to probate. Q: My sister passed away and...

19.03.2024 4

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Friend's loan to deadbeat borrower leaves her in a bind

Loan with no contract leaves a friend in a bind when the borrower won't repay. Q: A friend of mine last year loaned a considerable sum to a co-worker...

12.03.2024 7

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Will moving a fence change my property line?

A reader asks if removing a fence will affect his property line. Q: When my house was built in 2007, a chain-link fence was on the property line of...

05.03.2024 20

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Golfing buddy left me $10k; how can I be sure his executor sends it?

A golfing buddy left three friends $10,000 each. They are waiting for the executor to distribute the funds.  Q: My very good golfing buddy passed...

27.02.2024 9

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Mom promised the house, now her husband wants me to pay

I have been living in a house my mother owns for the past 10 years. She has been promising to give it to me, but her new husband talked her into...

20.02.2024 8

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Choosing between probate and an affidavit of heirship

My wife died and left everything to me. Everything has been changed to my name except for our house and one checking account. How best to handle those...

13.02.2024 4

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

How to account for separate assets when getting married

If the spouse who owns the home doesn't want the other spouse to be able to live in the house rent free for life, then the only way around that...

06.02.2024 5

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

My sister took our late mother's savings, what can I do?

It has become evident that my sister, who is also the executor, took most of my late mother's savings before her death. What can I do? Q: My mother...

30.01.2024 10

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Only one way to eliminate financial risk of drunken-driving husband

If a spouse continues to drive after drinking, Uber is one option, but eliminating the financial risk likely comes down to divorce. Q: My husband is...

23.01.2024 6

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Is it legal in Texas to charge credit card 'convenience' fees?

Should I let a restaurant apply a credit card surcharge and later contest it with the credit card company? Q: More and more restaurants and...

16.01.2024 4

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

I inherited a worthless oil well, do I have to pay taxes on it?

It's not worth spending thousands of dollars in legal fees in Kansas to claim a virtually worthless interest in an oil well. Q: My parents died...

09.01.2024 10

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Changes to gift and estate rules coming in 2024

The underlying laws governing gift and estate taxes did not change, but the amounts that can be given away are indexed for inflation and have...

02.01.2024 20

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Revocable trust held at trust company an option for single person

If you are single, you should strongly consider setting up a revocable trust with a trust company designated to serve should you die or become...

26.12.2023 2

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Who inherits when one spouse owns a house and leaves no will?

My sister's husband died without a will. For whatever reason, when the two of them purchased their home well into their marriage, it was titled in his...

19.12.2023 3

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

An aging parent needs will preparation strategies

If your mother wants to save money, she can prepare her own will using one of the new free Texas will forms. Q: My mom is 81 and a Texas resident....

12.12.2023 5

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

My neighbors wants to cut down a shared tree, can I stop...

There is an oak tree half on our lot and half on our neighbor's lot. They want to cut it down at their expense. But we like the tree because it...

05.12.2023 20

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

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