Sheehan Law, PLLC Blog - Sheehan Law PLLC

What Are Some Common Misconceptions About a Power of Attorney?

May 14, 2018May 2, 2018

In estate planning, a power of attorney is a written legal document that offers power and authority to another person over specific things on your behalf. It allows another person to “step into your shoes” with tasks that can be either very general or extremely specific. In order to be considered a power of attorney, …

How to Arrange Your Inheritance for Your Children in Your Estate Plan

April 14, 2018March 22, 2018

A crucial part of your estate plan involves the distribution of your property and assets to your children. These instructions for your kids should be clearly laid out in your will or living trust, and so it’s important to know all of the components you should be including. What Are My Property Arrangement Options? – …

How to Negotiate a Commercial Real Estate Lease

March 11, 2018March 2, 2018

There is technically a standard agreement for commercial leases that is outlined by TAR (the Texas Association of Realtors), but if you draft a lease with your real estate attorney instead, it will give you much more leeway and allowance for detail. Your business is very likely to obtain significant agreements with your landlord, depending …

What To Do If You’re Buying Your First Texas Home

February 1, 2018February 2, 2018

As a first-time homebuyer in Texas, the home buying process can seem terrifying and overwhelming. Buying a home is usually the first big purchase of a person’s life, so going into such a big and unknown process can be intimidating. However, if you go into the experience prepared, you’ll know exactly the steps to take …

What is a Living Trust, and Do I Need One Instead of a Will?

January 20, 2018March 9, 2018

Death is an uncomfortable subject, but it’s an important one to talk about. It’s a given that everyone should have a legal document dictating the division of their assets upon death. But the question is, do you really need a will, or is there another option? There is – but it might not be for …

New Opportunities Under Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

January 4, 2018

Congress has just passed, and President Trump is expected to sign the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Although continued study of the bill will undoubtedly reveal additional opportunities I can share with you and your family, I wanted to provide some of my immediate impressions. Significant Changes to Business Taxation If you own a business …

What do I need besides a will?

November 11, 2017January 25, 2018

Having a will that successfully transfers your assets under Texas and federal law is the most important estate planning document you can have, and is very likely the only one you will need. However, a thorough and well-drafted estate plan will include several other documents covering every possibility or contingency, no matter how remote or …

Requirements for a valid deed in Texas

November 11, 2017March 18, 2018

Drafting a valid deed or conveyance of land in Texas, in its most basic form, is subject to a number of statutory and common-law requirements, many of which date back hundreds of years to their basis in England during the Dark Ages. These broadly relate to the following: These are only the basics of a …

A Landlord’s Duty to Repair a Residential Rental in Texas

November 11, 2017March 9, 2018

Although many residential landlords perform repairs to their properties promptly and conscientiously, not every residential tenant is so fortunate. On the other side of the equation, expensive or excessive requests for repairs from tenants can quickly cause a rental property to become unprofitable, which can lead to increases in rent or a lack of incentive …

Family Allowance During Probate Proceedings

November 11, 2017January 25, 2018

Texas Probate law states that a probate court may grant what is termed a “family allowance” to the immediate family members of the deceased. The purpose of the family allowance is to provide support for a deceased person’s family members for a period of one year after the death of the deceased person, whom is …