You haven't provided enough information to enable me to answer. It might be best if you understood and used the term "grandfathered" correctly. It is not a term of art in law, but it is often used to mean that some law or regulation came into effect on some date but could not be made... View More

The answer starts with a title search. I'm willing to guess that the USPS of your neighbors have a recorded easement to the place where the mailbox os located, but the only way to confirm that reliably is a title search. If there is no easement and the mailbox is on your land, you can notify... View More

A real estate lawyer can create a sale of the property from her to you leaving in her the right to remain in the property for the rest of her life, assuming that’s what she wants. There are many ways to do this from irrevocable trusts to wills, depending on the objectives and the loan, and other... View More

While it is well worth your money to have the lease reviewed and check the local ordinances on landlord & tenant relations in your county, as a general matter, the landlord covenants a safe and habitable residence, and hot water is a part of that. You call the landlord -- preferably after a... View More

There are several potential causes of action that may apply. Sit down with a local lawyer to review your facts.

I’ve been asked a number of times about getting investment money out of Russia without violating US and EU sanctions and avoiding Russian monetary limitations enacted in response to the sanctions. Indeed, the topic appeared in a recent article in Bloomberg, but, handled correctly, this topic has... View More

You need to discuss your situation with a lawyer. There are way too many unanswered questions. Is the home free & clear? Are there other heirs? Will the two heirs share it equally and get along in it? Do you want them to have the house or the proceeds from the house?

The short, and... View More

I know of no lawyers and, indeed, no title agents, who would check title themselves. Sure, most lawyers were taught how to do it in law school, and it's somewhat misleadingly available on the Internet for most states, but the correct answer remains to order a title search from a title... View More

First off, let me quote my late, old professor of Business Law back at Penn. "Of course, they can sue. Any idiot can sue. All it takes is a pen, paper, and the filing fee … and on occasion a crayon is substituted for the pen. The question you are trying to ask is whether you can win."... View More

The only choice I can think of is retaining counsel to review the facts, review the HOA rules, and decide whether to threaten if you are on good grounds or cajole if you aren't. Sounds like you pissed them off pretty well. Maybe retaining someone to speak for you who can sound like he carries... View More

I’ve been asked a number of times about getting investment money out of Russia without violating US and EU sanctions and avoiding Russian monetary limitations enacted in response to the sanctions. Indeed, the topic appeared in a recent article in Bloomberg, but, handled correctly, this topic has... View More

I think you need a legal consult to discuss the specific facts, but, even before that, you need an independent expert engineer or waterproofing expert to identify the actual problem and estimate a fix. Signing something now might be the second act of a Greek tragedy.

I agree with Ms. Laumann in almost all respects. I've never seen or heard of nominal bond being waived by prepaying taxes or probate costs. I believe that is because the nominal bond also covers potential unfilled claims of creditors, but I haven't researched that in a really long time.... View More

The way to know your responsibilities as well as your neighbors' and the HOA's is to review the deed, survey, and the HOA Declarations and other documents. Any shortcut of that is unreliable. Generally, however, your deed rises to the FAA overflight limitation and down to the core of the... View More

I believe I answered a very similar question this morning, but this version leaves out that the nephew is the heir of your deceased brother. If your brother is deceased, he cannot sign a power of attorney, and the power of attorney needs to be from whomever owns the property. If your brother has... View More

If there is no will, the house passes outside of probate in accordance with the intestate succession laws of Virginia. The fact that the nephew paid the bills for 15 years is irrelevant. There is no reason not to consider that rent, and it certainly doesn't sound in adverse possession. But, if... View More

It is difficult for me to understand your question the way you have written it, but if I understand you, it's an interesting question that may need to be resolved by a judge. It sounds like the personal representative is relying on the three year statute of limitations to limit back payments... View More

Of course, it can. An email is a written document, and, subject to authentication, which, arguably, is easier for an email than a letter, it is potential evidence. Early in the Internet Age, I used to love getting people to admit things in emails that they'd never write in a letter, and, to... View More

This is a question that should be directed to your lawyer. Nobody can give you a competent answer without knowing the facts and the procedural setting.

The listing agreement only binds the people who signed it. So, in Virginia, where title passes outside probate to the heirs subject to recapture by the personal representative to pay debts, the heirs are not bound by an agreement they didn't sign. They don't have to sell. But, if the... View More