Yearly Archives: 2017
Lien In: A Guide to Lien Categories and Priorities
Spell check is a wonderful tool, especially for attorneys. However, there are some words that attorneys frequently deal with and which often sneak past the spell check filters. One such word is “lien,” or rather, it is the phrase “a lien.” Amusingly, I have seen more than one petition filed with a court, complaining… Read More »
Incentives for Real Estate Development: 3 Key Steps for Texas Tax Abatement
Tax abatement agreements are popular with cities and developers in Texas, and with good reason. Utilizing Chapter 312 of the Texas Tax Code, which allows taxing entities (other than school districts) to limit the property taxes they collect, tax abatements are an excellent way for cities to attract real estate developments that will improve… Read More »
I can’t fly my drone anywhere in Texas?
Flying drones seems like a harmless hobby, but the State of Texas is concerned about the privacy of Texas citizens. Many drones enable you to attach your smartphone to the drone to take video and pictures, or have built-in cameras. Texas drone laws are generally stricter than elsewhere in the country. While many states… Read More »
So You Want To Help The Old Lady?
Issues in municipal government seem to come in waves. Recently the wave issues have been, at the crest, wanting to help citizens using public tax dollars and, in the trough, accepting gifts on the city’s behalf from grateful citizens. What is a public official to do to not violate the law or ethics? The… Read More »
When A River Changes the Course of Real Property
Mark Twain famously quipped “buy land, they’re not making it anymore.” However, whether due to lava flows or receding glaciers, the fact is that Mother Nature is making more land available all the time. Sure, lava flows and glaciers are somewhat uncommon, especially in Texas, but geography anywhere can change by weathering, erosion, or… Read More »
No Solicitors? How Texas Allows Cities to Regulate Door-to-Door Visitors
When it comes to doorbell ringers, a parade of possibilities emerges: fundraisers, salesmen and religious organizations. Businesses seeking to sell home services, such as security or repairs, are typically among the peddlers. Can a city in Texas outright ban door-to-door solicitors? The Texas Local Government Code generally gives municipalities the power to act in a way that… Read More »
Property Tax Payer Empowerment Act of 2017: The World is Watching Austin
If you own real property (real estate) in Texas, you pay taxes to the tax assessor known here as “ad valorem taxes.” Property taxes are always a hot topic and source of complaint or debate, depending on how you interpret the shouting that surrounds the issue. The Texas House recently passed legislation in an… Read More »
To Probate Or Not To Probate, That Is The Question
A question I am often asked is, “When do you have to probate?” The basic answer is, you probate a Will when you need to transfer property title. As I have blogged before, trust “peddlers” are out pushing the sale of their trusts with the pitch that, with this approach you can avoid probate…. Read More »
Can a Registered Sex Offender Move in Next Door?
Individuals convicted or adjudicated of certain sexual offenses are required to register with a local law enforcement agency for a certain period of time, sometimes for life. The Texas Department of Public Safety compiles all of the local law enforcement registrations into a statewide sex offender registration database, known as the Texas Public Sex… Read More »
City of Meadows Place Wins Lawsuit over Sexual Offender Residency Restriction Ordinance
General Law City Prevails to Maintain Criminal Ordinance HOUSTON, May 19, 2017 – The City of Meadows Place, Texas, the first city in Fort Bend County to enact a Sexual Offender Residency Restriction Ordinance (SORRO), recently prevailed in a lawsuit brought on behalf of a homeowner illegally maintaining a residence within a restricted area… Read More »