Other Areas of Law

If you retained the services of an estate tax lawyer who you believe is guilty of malpractice, taking legal action against this individual is an option. You need to understand the basics of how to...

The death of a loved one is an overwhelming experience. As a result, filing taxes for the deceased person, or decedent, is the last thing on many family members' minds. A surviving spouse, the...

The purchase of real estate is an important task. In many instances, buying real estate is not only time-consuming but complicated. If you have a scheduled real estate closing, you may want to...

An estate tax ID number is a unique identification number assigned to an estate by the IRS. The ID number allows the executor to handle the decedent's estate taxes. You must complete an...

An escrow assistant helps an attorney or escrow agent handle funds for a real-estate transaction. While no specific educational background is required, an escrow assistant must possess many skills...

Property tax on real estate is usually levied by local government, either at the municipal or county level. Real estate taxes are often the primary source of funds for constructing and maintaining...

As the owner of a vacant lot, you appreciate that idle property costs you money in taxes, upkeep and other expenses. Through a bit of ingenuity and a bit of effort, you can turn a vacant lot into...

Even with all the great memories you've made vacationing at your Mexico timeshare, the time may come when you need to relieve yourself of the timeshare contract before it ends. Most likely you've...

Several laws govern real estate in Mississippi. One source of real estate regulations can be found under Title 89 of the Mississippi Code. Real property generally refers to land plus associated...

Eminent domain is the process through which a governmental unit takes possession of real estate. The governmental unit pays a fair price for the property, which is then put to use for a purpose...

People who lease properties for residential use are known as tenants (also known as "lessee"). The owner of the home being leased is called a landlord (also known as "lessor"). Laws for each state...

Every fee-based, brokered real estate transaction must now be facilitated by a state-licensed real estate professional. A Real Estate License Act has been passed in every state plus the District...

There are a variety of issues that are addressed when a person dies and leaves an estate that includes personal property and real estate. One of the primary matters to be dealt with is...

When a person dies, there may be situations when an affidavit of domicile will be needed. It is a document filed in the courts to establish the deceased's place of residence to transfer assets,...

Federal regulations require that a fiduciary of an estate or trust file a tax return on behalf of the estate or trust with the Internal Revenue Service. Such a return must report income or losses...

There are different types of deeds, the most common being a warranty deed. A variety of encumbrances can be placed on a warranty deed, including a vendor's lien. Fully understanding real estate...

Real estate lawyers do two things: They help structure the legal aspects of real estate transactions and they litigate real estate disputes when things go wrong.

In this economy, many real estate owners are unable to afford the taxes on their property. If they fail to make these payments, the government can place a lien on that property. If the lien is not...

If you are interested in investing in real estate, you might want to understand how to buy bankruptcy homes. Additionally, if you desire to purchase a residence for your own personal use,...

Real estate is often intertwined with lawsuits of many varieties. Some lawsuits are disputes over title to real estate, while others simply result in liens, constructive trusts or other legal...

A 1031 real estate exchange, also commonly called a "like-kind" real estate exchange, is a way to change properties without paying federal income tax when you sell the first piece of property....

Property law in common law countries such as the U.S. and the United Kingdom is ancient and arcane compared with other branches of law. In particular, special laws apply to the sale of land that...

For most of legal history, it was cheaper to kill someone than injure him. After an injury, the victim could sue and recover for damages; but if the victim died, no one else had the standing to...

As a homeowner in California, you may have made the decision to sell your property. In this regard, you desire to conclude a sale of your house sooner rather than later. If that is the case,...

Many people mistakenly believe a mortgage is the same as a real estate loan. A mortgage is actually a lien, securing a piece of property (which may or may not be real estate) as security against...

A contract to buy real estate, like any other contract, is a binding agreement that can be enforced in court if necessary. For that reason, you should learn the terms of the agreement and...

If you own your estate in "fee simple," as most people do, then you have the right to use both the surface of your property (the land and buildings) as well as any minerals underneath the ground...

The federal government, or the IRS, does not impose or collect an inheritance tax. The IRS does collect an estate tax, but that tax does not apply to individuals who receive an inheritance. If you...

Insurance can have various tax benefits depending on the type of insurance that has been purchased. The most common type of insurance that has tax benefits for certain types of policies is life...

There are many benefits to purchasing real estate through foreclosure, but these types of transactions are not without problems. If you're interested in purchasing real estate through the...

Real estate sales transactions typically involve a capital gain or loss. As a result, in many instances when a person is contemplating a real estate sale, it is important to focus on the tax...

Disputes in real estate are inevitable. As long as there have been real estate transactions there have been disputes. Typically when all avenues of reaching an agreement have been exhausted,...

There are different types of deeds associated with the transfer of interests in real estate. The most commonly used one is known as a warranty deed. Another type of deed is the quitclaim deed....

A lien is a specific type of debt that attaches to your property. A couple of common liens are those that attach to your real estate (your home), such as a mechanic's lien, a claim by persons or...

At some time nearly everybody will need some basic legal documents. Attorneys can draft them at hourly rates of $100 or more or you can buy these documents online. Working with an attorney will...

When you purchase real estate, you are entitled to receive a real estate tax credit. This is because most real estate taxes are paid in arrears, i.e. this year’s tax bill is for the previous year....

Among the many challenges after a death is sifting through the mounds of medical bills. In the United States, the estate itself is responsible for paying the bills. If the estate has no money or...

If you are purchasing real estate and you are obtaining a mortgage, there are time constraints on obtaining a loan commitment from your bank. If you do not obtain a mortgage commitment in the...

Experience matters for paralegals. Those with one year of experience can make from $20,000 to $30,000 annually. More experienced paralegals can make upwards of $50,000 to $70,000 a year. Some...

Federal real estate laws govern the duties and rights of real estate professionals, as well as their fiduciary duties and loyalty to clients. The Federal Fair Housing Act is the most comprehensive...

Real estate taxes have two components, the land and improvements to the land, which includes non-movable human-made objects such as buildings or houses. The real estate tax, also called the...

When buying or selling real property, such as a house, you might want to retain a real estate attorney. Such lawyers perform a variety of tasks. The real estate attorney's key job is to ensure...

Real estate equity division law details the guidelines and rules associated with the ownership of a piece of real property or a corporation. The net worth of a piece of real estate minus the...

A quickclaim deed (also known as a quitclaim deed) is of limited effectiveness. Through a quickclaim deed, a person disclaims any interest that he has in a particular piece of real estate....

The use of a 1031 real-estate exchange allows the deferral of payment of capital gains taxes. Capital gains taxes are taxes imposed when a person sells business or investment real estate that rose...

Squatter's rights are established through a process in which title to real estate is obtained without payment or compensation. This occurs when an individual (or business) takes physical...

Individuals interested in investing in real estate--or in purchasing a residence for personal use--should consider what are known in the industry as preforeclosures. Preforeclosures are distressed...

If you are the owner of a piece of real estate--including your home--that is facing the prospect of foreclosure, one alternative course that you can consider pursuing is negotiating a short sale...

Buying or selling a home can be one of the most exciting yet stressful events in your life. When you purchase or sell real estate, you usually retain the services of a real estate attorney in...

The federal estate tax is a tax on the estate of a deceased person. Along with the gift tax and generation-skipping taxes, the estate tax is part of a system of levies on wealth transfers....