Category: Firm News
How adequate compensation is determined in eminent domain claims
There are three bedrocks for property owners with regards to Texas eminent domain laws. First, the condemner must be authorized in its use of eminent domain. Second, the land in question can only be seized for public use. And third, the property owner must receive “adequate compensation” for the land. That final piece will be…
Pushing for better terms in an oil or gas lease on your land
When you own acreage in Texas, unless you actively farm the land or raise cattle, it may be little more than extra space for you to walk on or what you perceive as a long-term investment. However, some people have the ability to capitalize on land that they would otherwise not use by signing an…
What are the three phases of condemnation proceedings in Texas?
In the United States, the government has the right to take private property for public use. This is known as the right of “eminent domain.” In Texas, private entities may also be able to exercise the right of eminent domain if the project is deemed to fall under the umbrella of “public use.” Once the…
The process for challenging a will
A will is meant to reflect the final wishes of the deceased, and to give legal power to those wishes. Since the deceased is no longer around to testify, a court takes the will as the voice of the deceased. Unless a court finds that a will has not satisfied all its formal requirements, it…
When a trustee puts personal gain before the trust’s interests
The trustee who manages the major decisions and transactions for a trust has an obligation to the trust itself, the testator who created the trust and the beneficiaries. They should always put the best interests of the trust before their own personal interests. This obligation, known as a fiduciary duty, serves as a protection for…