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Ronald Lipman

Ronald Lipman

Houston Chronicle

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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...

yesterday 0

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 7

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 6

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 9

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 6

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 20

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 3

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 4

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 2

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 4

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 5

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 3

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 3

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 7

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 2

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 3

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 3

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Ownership of interests in doubt with late brother's heirs unknown

If enough time has passed, you might have acquired full ownership of the land by adverse possession. Q: My husband and his father purchased land and...

28.11.2023 4

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

How to find thousands in father-in-law's missing assets

One way to locate unaccounted for sources of income is to look at the most recent Federal income tax returns. You can see the sources of income and...

21.11.2023 4

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

How soon after a partner's death can a shared home be sold?

There is a 5-day wait after one of you dies before the survivor technically inherits the interest of the one who died. Q: I co-own a home with my...

14.11.2023 5

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

How can an heir cover expenses while a will is in probate?

Even though the probate process might take six months, that doesn't mean an heir will have no access to money for the entire time.  Q: A fairly...

07.11.2023 3

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

We want to swap homes with our son, what could go wrong?

A house across the street from his will be for sale, and he wants us to buy it so he can live in it while we move into his place. Q: My wife and I...

31.10.2023 4

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

What can I do when a lawyer won't send an itemized bill?.

Disagreements with lawyers over fees are so common that the State Bar of Texas, the entity that self-regulates lawyers, has what they call the...

24.10.2023 7

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

My neighbor's fence fell into my yard, am I responsible?

You should check with your homeowners' association to see if there are any rules regarding fences. Q: My neighbor’s iron fence has corroded to the...

21.10.2023 7

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

My neighbor's fence fell into my yard, am I responsible?

You should check with your homeowners' association to see if there are any rules regarding fences. Q: My neighbor’s iron fence has corroded to the...

17.10.2023 2

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

How to safeguard wills when there are no family heirs

My wife and I are leaving everything to charity. Where should we keep the originals of our wills so that they are safe?  Q: My wife and I have no...

10.10.2023 3

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

What to do when a neighbor's tree threatens your property

A neighbor's enormous oak tree is leaning precariously over. If it falls, it will hit another neighbor's house and the huge branches will hit our...

03.10.2023 2

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Why car dealers need your Social Security number

Car sales specialist Javier Medina Jr. helps Pedro Gonzalez tailor a Super Duty F-350  at Doggett Ford in Houston. Dealers could need your social...

26.09.2023 3

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

Secure your will to assure your wishes are followed

Safeguarding your will assures your wishes are followed. Q: My husband and I have wills giving everything to each other, with a charity named as the...

19.09.2023 2

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

How to protect assets as loved one's Alzheimer's takes hold

Strategies are available to protect assets as Alzheimer's takes hold. Q: My husband has Alzheimer’s disease, and I’m worried we will run out of...

12.09.2023 2

Houston Chronicle

Ronald Lipman

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