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Ronald Lipman

Ronald Lipman

Houston Chronicle

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What to know about Texas' over-65 homestead exemption

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

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Some Texas counties offer steps to protect against title theft

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

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

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

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

Houston Chronicle

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 8

Houston Chronicle

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

Houston Chronicle

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

Houston Chronicle

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

Houston Chronicle

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

Houston Chronicle

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 3

Houston Chronicle

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

Houston Chronicle

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

Houston Chronicle

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

Houston Chronicle

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

Houston Chronicle

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

Houston Chronicle

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

Houston Chronicle

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

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

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...

11.12.2024 6

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 20

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 3

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 4

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 3

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,...

15.10.2024 4

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 10

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...

17.09.2024 3

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 2

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...

03.09.2024 3

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...

27.08.2024 3

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 2

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 4

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...

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 10

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman