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Advice for dealing with neighbor fence disputes and dangerous tree limbs

Q: When we bought our home 33 years ago, we installed a privacy fence on the property line of our backyard. About 10 years later, our neighbor...

latest 10

Ronald Lipman

Can AI replace a Texas legal advice column? Here’s my take

Texans can ask Grok or Perplexity anything in seconds. But when the question involves Texas probate quirks, local judges or the realities of family...

26.11.2025 4

Ronald Lipman

Do I need a separate tax return for my revocable trust?

A revocable trust is only as good as its funding. Texas law requires trust property to create one, and your probate-avoidance plan should cover the...

19.11.2025 7

Ronald Lipman

Can your spouse sell everything without your consent?

A neighborhood in suburban Houston is seen in this file photo. Married couples often assume shared finances mean mutual decisions, but as one...

12.11.2025 4

Ronald Lipman

Who is responsible for bamboo spreading between Texas neighbors?

Bamboo may look peaceful, but it can turn into a legal tangle when it crosses property lines. In Texas, there’s no law written for bamboo, yet...

05.11.2025 30

Ronald Lipman

Why your hospital won’t let you take Uber after a colonoscopy

Hospitals require you to get a ride home after a colonoscopy because the sedation they use, typically midazolam or propofol, impairs your judgment...

29.10.2025 80

Ronald Lipman

When a stray golf ball hits a car in Texas, who pays?

A golfer picks up his ball marker during the final round of the Houston Open golf tournament in 2022 in Houston. Under Texas law, you can be liable...

22.10.2025 50

Ronald Lipman

What to do when a loved one goes to prison and their bills keep coming

Being sentenced to prison does not eliminate a person’s financial responsibilities. Rent, mortgage payments, utility bills, loan payments, and taxes...

15.10.2025 80

Ronald Lipman

How to remove your name from a mortgage without refinancing

Parents can exit a family mortgage by forgiving the loan and releasing the lien. A home under construction at the Magnolia Ridge subdivision is shown...

08.10.2025 20

Ronald Lipman

What type of lawyer gives advice to unmarried partners living together?

Q. What type of lawyer specializes in advising women who are living with a significant other (but not yet married) regarding various legal matters,...

01.10.2025 3

Ronald Lipman

A coworker's cologne gives me an allergic reaction. What are my legal options?

The judge's gavel and scales as a symbol of the judiciary and justice. Q. I filed suit in a small claims court against a business. In their answer,...

23.09.2025 4

Ronald Lipman

Probate case has been going on for 5 years. Can I change attorneys?

The judge's gavel and scales as a symbol of the judiciary and justice. Q. What does it take or what is the process for the executor of an estate to...

17.09.2025 4

Ronald Lipman

Should heirs get inheritance before or after you die? Two reasons to wait.

The judge's gavel and scales as a symbol of the judiciary and justice. Q. I have a mutual fund account that I want to leave to my youngest grandsons,...

02.09.2025 5

Ronald Lipman

Texas law on credit card surcharges and utility yard repairs explained

The judge's gavel and scales as a symbol of the judiciary and justice. Q: I received an invoice for services rendered (over $20,000), and I wanted...

27.08.2025 3

Ronald Lipman

Why avoiding probate may leave your heirs with big headaches

The judge's gavel and scales as a symbol of the judiciary and justice. Q: I am retired and unmarried, and I have three children who live in other...

20.08.2025 3

Ronald Lipman

Debt judgment in Texas? Here’s what assets remain protected

Debt judgment in Texas? Here’s what assets remain protected. Q: What assets are protected from seizure by collection agencies that have purchased a...

13.08.2025 5

Ronald Lipman

Can Texas HOAs block home sales to rental companies or require occupancy proof

Texas HOAs can block home sales to rental companies or require occupancy affidavits if their rules explicitly allow such actions. Q: Can a Texas...

06.08.2025 8

Ronald Lipman

Are salons responsible if your coat is stolen during an appointment?

Salons and hairdressers are usually not liable for stolen coats unless they take direct responsibility for the item. Q: My wife went to a hair salon,...

30.07.2025 20

Ronald Lipman

Trusts or gifts: What’s the best way to pass assets to your heirs?

There are benefits and drawbacks of using trusts versus outright gifts when passing assets to your children or grandchildren. Q: We are considering...

23.07.2025 4

Ronald Lipman

New tax law sets estate tax exemption at $15M, ends future uncertainty

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act recently passed by congress raises the estate tax exemption to $15 million per person and makes the higher limit...

16.07.2025 3

Ronald Lipman

Can I loan my car to a family member if I stop driving?

You should first check with your insurance company to be sure your policy covers additional drivers. It may be necessary to add your relative to the...

09.07.2025 10

Ronald Lipman

What to know before naming a charitable foundation as your beneficiary

What to know before naming a charitable foundation as your beneficiary. Q: I am a single woman, never been married and have no children and currently...

02.07.2025 6

Ronald Lipman

What to do if an executor delays probate and withholds information

What can be done if an executor delays probate or withholds estate information, including when to hire a probate litigation lawyer? Q: My mother died...

25.06.2025 40

Ronald Lipman

A neighbor's tree hangs over their carport. How can they protect their property?

Most companies that trim trees will want to have their workers climb the tree, and that means they may need to enter your neighbor's yard. Q: Our...

18.06.2025 20

Ronald Lipman

Can an HOA track down the owner of a foreclosed townhouse?

The new owner of a property in Harris County needs to submit Form 25.25(b)RP (called Request to Correct Name or Address on a Real Property Account)...

11.06.2025 5

Ronald Lipman

Can a contract be terminated when weather clouds satellite TV reception?

Every time a thunderstorm passes through, satellite service is lost. Can the contract with the provider be cancelled? Q: I recently signed a contract...

04.06.2025 10

Ronald Lipman

Texas car sold to New Yorker, now tickets are coming in

Signs advising drivers of congestion pricing tolls near the exit of the Lincoln Tunnel in New York. Q: Last September, I sold a car to a New York...

28.05.2025 4

Ronald Lipman

The benefits and pitfalls of signing a prenup later in life

Thinking of signing a prenup later in life? There are benefits and pitfalls. Q: I've been thinking about asking my girlfriend to sign a prenuptial...

21.05.2025 4

Ronald Lipman

Steps for a non-citizen Texas property owner who needs a will

A non-resident property owner should be careful to coordinate their Texas will with estate planning documents signed in the person’s country of...

14.05.2025 6

Ronald Lipman

When a revocable life estate deed doesn't carry homestead benefits

Not only could an owner cancel the revocable life estate deed, but they could remove residents or even sell the home and pocket the proceeds. Q: I...

07.05.2025 3

Ronald Lipman

Are retirement and real estate assets projected from judgment in accident case?

Q: If I cause an automobile accident and the victim is awarded a judgment against me that insurance doesn’t cover, are my retirement accounts and my...

30.04.2025 9

Ronald Lipman

Turning 18? Time to think about medical directives, wills.

It is a good idea to sign a Durable Power of Attorney, Medical Power of Attorney, Directive to Physicians and HIPAA release after one turns 18 years...

23.04.2025 20

Ronald Lipman

Condos: HOA fees, property taxes, homestead and the over-65 exemption

The Allen condo tower on Allen Parkway near downtown Houston. Owners can claim the Texas homestead exemption and the over-age-65 exemption on a condo....

16.04.2025 5

Ronald Lipman

Need to change estate documents? Here's what to know.

A change to a will or revocable trust can be made by making a codicil or an amendment, or by rewriting the document entirely. Q: In what...

09.04.2025 5

Ronald Lipman

What to know about Texas' over-65 homestead exemption

Only one spouse needs to be 65 years of age or older to be eligible for the Texas over-65 homestead exemption. Q: My wife turns 65 this year, but she...

02.04.2025 30

Ronald Lipman

Some Texas counties offer steps to protect against title theft

Some Texas counties offer free notification services which alert you to any activity involving your property title. Q: I am a retired 74-year-old...

26.03.2025 4

Ronald Lipman

What can be done when a neighbor's dog is a nuisance?

If actions to quiet a neighbor's barking dog don't work, you can sell and move to a quieter home. Q: The neighbor who lives behind our house has a...

19.03.2025 4

Ronald Lipman

A city owned tree is next to my property. Who's liable if it falls on my home?

Complications arise if a city owned tree falls on someone's home. Q: We live in a townhome community in Texas. There is a large tree in the...

12.03.2025 10

Ronald Lipman

Overcoming obstacles for diminished value claim on leased car

A diminished value claim after an accident is tricky because you don't own the vehicle, the leasing company does. Q: My leased car had only 900 miles...

05.03.2025 10

Ronald Lipman

My Texas will lists the wrong county of residence. Will that cause problems?

Q: My wife and I live in Harris County and we had our wills prepared by an attorney who resides in a different county. He apparently used some other...

26.02.2025 3

Ronald Lipman

Insurance company made a mistake. How much interest is due on reimbursement?

Is it reasonable to ask the insurance company to fairly compensate my mother for the money she lost over a mistake that was fully theirs? Q: My...

19.02.2025 30

Ronald Lipman

How to bow out of your role as executor

If you've been asked to be an executor for someone, you don't have to accept. And giving up the post is simple. Q. My aunt is a widow, has no...

12.02.2025 9

Ronald Lipman

Her husband was sent to prison, does he still owe child support payments?

Going to prison does not automatically put child support payments on hold, but the terms can be adjusted by a court. Q: I'm told that I can purchase...

05.02.2025 5

Ronald Lipman

About to list your home for sale? Be careful about spending on repairs.

Q: My husband and I own a $600,000 home free and clear, and we intend to sell it this year. The home is in good condition but does need a few repairs...

29.01.2025 7

Ronald Lipman

You've heard of a prenup, here's when to consider a postnup

Prenups are common. The way to make sure assets you purchase after marriage are separate property is to sign a marital property agreement, also known...

22.01.2025 10

Ronald Lipman

Tax season is coming. Here's how long you need to maintain records

You should keep copies of all records relating to your income tax returns for as long as they may be relevant to the IRS in determining how much tax...

15.01.2025 9

Ronald Lipman

New Year is a good time to think about updated estate planning documents

Make a New Year’s resolution to find an estate planning attorney to review your existing documents and advise you on the best path forward. Q: We...

08.01.2025 3

Ronald Lipman

What you need to know about gift and estate taxes heading into 2025

The amount of tax-free money you can give or leave to someone upon your death is increasing in 2025. Q. Are the gift and estate tax laws going to...

01.01.2025 5

Ronald Lipman

How to revive an HOA struggling to stay alive

Reviving a homeowners association takes communication and transparency — and some legal guidance. Q: Our Homeowners Association president resigned,...

25.12.2024 9

Ronald Lipman

Steps to take once your mortgage has been paid off

There are several steps to take once your mortgage has been paid off. Q: My grandson had Guaranteed Asset Protection insurance coverage on his car...

19.12.2024 20

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Advice for dealing with neighbor fence disputes and dangerous tree limbs

Ronald Lipman

Can AI replace a Texas legal advice column? Here’s my take

Ronald Lipman

Do I need a separate tax return for my revocable trust?

Ronald Lipman

Can your spouse sell everything without your consent?

Ronald Lipman

Who is responsible for bamboo spreading between Texas neighbors?

Ronald Lipman

Why your hospital won’t let you take Uber after a colonoscopy

Ronald Lipman

When a stray golf ball hits a car in Texas, who pays?

Ronald Lipman

What to do when a loved one goes to prison and their bills keep coming

Ronald Lipman

How to remove your name from a mortgage without refinancing

Ronald Lipman

What type of lawyer gives advice to unmarried partners living together?

Ronald Lipman

A coworker's cologne gives me an allergic reaction. What are my legal options?

Ronald Lipman

Probate case has been going on for 5 years. Can I change attorneys?

Ronald Lipman

Should heirs get inheritance before or after you die? Two reasons to wait.

Ronald Lipman

Texas law on credit card surcharges and utility yard repairs explained

Ronald Lipman

Why avoiding probate may leave your heirs with big headaches

Ronald Lipman

Debt judgment in Texas? Here’s what assets remain protected

Ronald Lipman

Can Texas HOAs block home sales to rental companies or require occupancy proof

Ronald Lipman

Are salons responsible if your coat is stolen during an appointment?

Ronald Lipman

Trusts or gifts: What’s the best way to pass assets to your heirs?

Ronald Lipman

New tax law sets estate tax exemption at $15M, ends future uncertainty

Ronald Lipman

Can I loan my car to a family member if I stop driving?

Ronald Lipman

What to know before naming a charitable foundation as your beneficiary

Ronald Lipman

What to do if an executor delays probate and withholds information

Ronald Lipman

A neighbor's tree hangs over their carport. How can they protect their property?

Ronald Lipman

Can an HOA track down the owner of a foreclosed townhouse?

Ronald Lipman

Can a contract be terminated when weather clouds satellite TV reception?

Ronald Lipman

Texas car sold to New Yorker, now tickets are coming in

Ronald Lipman

The benefits and pitfalls of signing a prenup later in life

Ronald Lipman

Steps for a non-citizen Texas property owner who needs a will

Ronald Lipman

When a revocable life estate deed doesn't carry homestead benefits

Ronald Lipman

Are retirement and real estate assets projected from judgment in accident case?

Ronald Lipman

Turning 18? Time to think about medical directives, wills.

Ronald Lipman

Condos: HOA fees, property taxes, homestead and the over-65 exemption

Ronald Lipman

Need to change estate documents? Here's what to know.

Ronald Lipman

What to know about Texas' over-65 homestead exemption

Ronald Lipman

Some Texas counties offer steps to protect against title theft

Ronald Lipman

What can be done when a neighbor's dog is a nuisance?

Ronald Lipman

A city owned tree is next to my property. Who's liable if it falls on my home?

Ronald Lipman

Overcoming obstacles for diminished value claim on leased car