Tag: Texas Law
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2026 Texas Reporting Requirments for Real Estate
Beginning in January 2026, Texas implemented significant reforms to combat real property theft and fraud. County clerks must now request and verify additional documentation—such as contracts or documents signed by the property owner—before recording certain real property instruments, and they are authorized to refuse filings deemed fraudulent, with mandatory referral to law enforcement if fraud Read more
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Key benefits of keeping an attorney on retainer
Keeping an attorney on retainer means entering into an ongoing agreement with a lawyer or law firm, where the client pays a regular fee (often monthly or annually) to secure access to legal services as needed. This arrangement ensures that the attorney is available to provide legal advice, handle routine matters, and address urgent issues Read more
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The Texas Medical Liability Act
Texas law imposes unique procedural prerequisites for medical malpractice (health care liability) claims against doctors. Before filing suit, the claimant must send a written notice and a statutory medical authorization form to each defendant at least 60 days in advance; after suit is filed, the claimant must serve a detailed expert report on each defendant Read more
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Come and take it! Wait… Not like that!
In Texas, the authority to condemn land (exercise eminent domain) is granted by statute to governmental entities and certain private entities for public use, subject to constitutional and statutory limitations. The condemnation process is governed primarily by Chapter 21 of the Texas Property Code and includes significant procedural protections for landowners, such as notice, a Read more
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It’s dangerous to go it alone! Consult an attorney.
Representing oneself pro se in Texas courts carries significant risks, including strict adherence to complex procedural and evidentiary rules, a high likelihood of prejudicial errors, and generally worse outcomes compared to parties represented by experienced attorneys. These risks are compounded by the lack of procedural leniency, limited access to legal resources, and the inability to Read more
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What if I just don’t open the door?
When someone files a lawsuit against you in Texas, the law requires that you be officially notified—this is called “service of process.” Usually, this means a sheriff, constable, or process server hands you the legal papers in person. Some people try to avoid being served, thinking this will stop the lawsuit. However, Texas law has Read more
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Texas Removes American Bar Association Accreditation Requirements
In early January 2026, the Texas Supreme Court finalized amendments to Rule 1 of the Rules Governing Admission to the Bar of Texas, formally ending the ABA’s role in accrediting law schools for Texas bar eligibility. The Court’s order transfers the power to determine which law schools meet the standards for licensure from the ABA Read more
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When the lights go out in Texas
Texas law allows residents to bring lawsuits against utility companies for damages resulting from power outages, but the scope of such suits is tightly constrained. Regulatory tariffs approved by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) generally limit utility liability for ordinary negligence, and courts have consistently enforced these limitations, allowing exceptions only for gross Read more
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Commonly Litigated Provisions in Texas Employment Contracts
The most commonly litigated clauses in Texas employment contracts are covenants not to compete (noncompete agreements), non-solicitation and confidentiality provisions, arbitration clauses, and terms relating to at-will employment and termination. The key legal issues center on statutory enforceability requirements, reasonableness of restrictions, consideration, judicial reformation, preemption of common law, and the limits of contractual modification Read more
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Sticks and Stones . . . But can I sue?
In Texas, you may sue someone for defamation if they make a false, factual statement about you to a third party that damages your reputation. The law distinguishes between libel (written or graphic defamation) and slander (spoken defamation), and requires that the statement be more than a mere opinion or insult—it must be objectively verifiable Read more