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I have an ongoing custody case in California that began in 2018. My ex-husband continually disputes the superior court judge's orders. We've been living in Texas for 16 months, and I want to transfer the case to Texas. A Texas lawyer told me it could be done, but it would cost $6000 to... View More

answered on Apr 24, 2025
Because there is no procedure or mechanism for transferring a pending civil case from one state court to a court of another state.
If you filed the pending case and your ex-husband did not file a counterclaim, you might be able to dismiss your pending California case without prejudice... View More
I'm facing an arraignment on 4/25 in Wise County, TX, for possession of a controlled substance involving a vape pen. I haven't contacted a lawyer yet, and I'm concerned about what plea to enter since I'm without legal representation. I have no previous legal issues.

answered on Apr 24, 2025
You should be trying to speak to a lawyer so you can show up with him or her at your arraignment. This way you will be able to have a professional who is familiar with the law as well as the facts of your particular case. A good lawyer can explain what's going on and what and when your next... View More
I am a US citizen, and my fiancée is a Swedish national holding a tourist visa, also covered under the Visa Waiver Program. We plan to get married in the US soon, but we're not sure about the timeline. Given our desire for her to stay in the US with me as soon as possible, what are our next... View More

answered on Apr 24, 2025
A U.S. citizen can sponsor a foreign national for a green card if they entered the country on a visitor visa and did not misrepresent their intent upon entry. It is legally permissible if the individual later decides to stay permanently after marriage.
For example, if marriage was... View More
I recently discovered that the size of my newly constructed house, closed in September 2022, is incorrectly listed by about 400 square feet less on the county tax appraisal document. I have not yet contacted the county tax appraisal office about this discrepancy and am unsure if it has affected my... View More

answered on Apr 23, 2025
You may be including an enclosed garage in your own calculation of square footage. I'm just making an educated guess because a standard size two-car garage is 400 sq. feet. For appraisal purposes, "living area" only includes an enclosed garage if it has been converted into a room.
I am renting out a house in San Antonio, Texas, where the lease agreement with the tenant expired about a year ago. The tenant continued to pay rent on time, but I discovered during an inspection for a new property management company that the house is in poor condition. There are holes in the wall... View More

answered on Apr 23, 2025
Because the original lease term has expired, the lease is now month-to-month. You need to give not less than 30-days advance written notice in accordance with the terms of the lease of your intent to end the lease with the end date being on the last day of a rent-paying period. So, for example,... View More
I am renting out a house in San Antonio, Texas, where the lease agreement with the tenant expired about a year ago. The tenant continued to pay rent on time, but I discovered during an inspection for a new property management company that the house is in poor condition. There are holes in the wall... View More

answered on Apr 23, 2025
After the tenant has moved out or been evicted, you should immediately document all damages to the premises and make all necessary repairs. You can deduct the actual cost to make repairs from the security deposit of the tenant. You must refund the balance of the security deposit and provide an... View More
I was detained and handcuffed for approximately one hour because the rental car from Alamo I was driving was allegedly not registered in Texas. The officer stopped me for an obscured license plate, but the registration issue led to my detainment. Alamo claims their car was registered, suggesting... View More

answered on Apr 23, 2025
You would need to identify the law enforcement agency or the officer who was involved in order to obtain records. There is no central depository or list of all traffic stops made throughout the state or within a particular region. Each law enforcement agency maintains its own records. You may be... View More
I received a phone call stating I missed a court hearing, which was a surprise since I hadn't received any notification, possibly due to it being sent to an old address. The caller gave me a case number and an attorney's contact. When I called, it was central management telling me that a... View More

answered on Apr 23, 2025
It most likely is a scam. I recommend you contact either your own lawyer or the court directly.
It is very possible you missed a court date, especially if you moved and failed to notify your own lawyer or the court directly of your change of address. Once you have been served and... View More
How is it insured all beneficiaries named have received their inheritance as per the wills dictation

answered on Apr 22, 2025
If, after a reasonable time, the court-appointed executor refuses or delays distributing proceeds to beneficiaries named in the will, the court may order them to distribute or may remove them and replace them with another suitable executor. This will typically require the beneficiary to file a... View More
My husband passed away without a will. We are trying to administer his estate, which includes a primary home (listed as 'a married man'), a boat, two cars, and ranch land in another county in Texas. His daughters, one from a previous marriage and our daughter, are adults, and we are all... View More

answered on Apr 21, 2025
This is actually pretty straightforward, if all three of you are on the same page. You'll want to get a probate attorney to assist you with the probate process called "determination of heirship with independent administration". This will result in the appointment of an independent... View More
I am a defendant in a case titled "State of Texas vs. [defendant]" regarding the issue of "animals not restrained," involving chickens eating grass in my front yard. On March 8th, 2024, I received a yellow card from Fort Worth code compliance/animal control, but it did not... View More

answered on Apr 21, 2025
First, remember that in a criminal case, only the prosecutor can file a motion to dismiss. The defendant and his attorney cannot.
With that in mind, the answer to your question is the prosecutor could file a motion to dismiss on the ground that the code does not authorize the issuance of a... View More
I'm seeking legal guidance on whether I can request my neighbor to share the costs of replacing a shared fence, which was destroyed by a natural disaster. I've been negotiating with my neighbor for six weeks, but they claim they cannot afford to contribute. The fence was approximately 80%... View More

answered on Apr 21, 2025
Both adjoining landowners have legal responsibility to maintain, repair, and replace a fence that is on the property line between two adjacent tracts of land. Most homeowners' insurance policies cover "other structures" including fences for damages caused by natural disasters.
In Texas, my father is in the process of creating a will. He has two adult children from previous marriages, and he is adamant that he does not want them to receive any of his assets when he passes. He is still married to my mom, who sometimes overspends, and he wants me to be the executor and take... View More

answered on Apr 21, 2025
He can acknowledge the existence of his two adult children in his Will and leave them nothing.
Be aware that as executor of his Will who do not have the discretion to withhold assets from your mom if she is the beneficiary of his Will. You will have a fiduciary duty upon his death to pay... View More
I was recently fired from my employer for alleged breach of contract, specifically for threatening a co-worker, which I deny. I have text evidence showing that two other associates made similar threats but were only given a final write-up, not terminated. I suspect my termination is related to my... View More

answered on Apr 21, 2025
Your termination may violate the FMLA if you can prove that the stated reason "threatening a co-worker" is a mere pretext and that the actual reason for your termination was you taking medical leave.
I was arrested by Texas DPS on July 5, 2021, for failure to register annually, though I had registered over the phone with the Willacy County Sheriff's Office. Despite this, they claimed no record of my registration. During my two and a half years of incarceration, without due process or bond... View More

answered on Apr 21, 2025
You need to hire an attorney like F. Lee Merritt who has a lot of experience in civil rights cases against law enforcement. Most attorneys do not handle this type of case due to the very low probability of success and the limited damages available.
You may have a claim for compensation... View More
I am a 25-year-old American woman planning to marry a 24-year-old Egyptian man who currently lives in Egypt. We are leaning towards applying for a K-1 fiancé visa but are open to other visa options. I plan to meet him in November 2025, and we aim for him to arrive in the U.S. within a year and a... View More

answered on Apr 22, 2025
A US citizen can sponsor a foreign national for a fiancé visa provided that the two have met in person within two years of applying for that visa. The process takes about 18 months from start to finish, so the sooner that you can meet him the better. There really is no way to expedite this. You... View More
I am dealing with issues related to a background search company. The phone number provided on my report doesn't exist, so I'm unable to speak with an agent. I've tried contacting them via fax and email all day without success. There are several inaccuracies in the report that I... View More

answered on Apr 16, 2025
I would contact a consumer protection attorney. You'll want to dispute the inaccurate information that is being reported by that background check company but a consumer protection attorney would likely be able to help you dispute the inaccurate information. I would recommend for you to reach... View More
My mother, who recently passed away, was left a property in Mineral Wells, Texas, in 'Et Al' with my grandmother's siblings as part of an inheritance. Now, all siblings have passed, leaving a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and multiple grandchildren. There is one holdout regarding... View More

answered on Apr 16, 2025
Yep. A lawyer can definitely guide you through this.
Step 1 - The lawyer will look at the real estate record to see what legal docs might be needed.
Step 2 - Depending on step 1, there might be some legal work to complete (such as a probate or affidavits of heirship).... View More
I reported an issue with my washer and dryer unit being improperly installed behind a glass mirror closet in my apartment over a year ago. Initially, the apartment complex acknowledged the washer's placement caused damage but assured us we would not be charged. Despite emails that go... View More

answered on Apr 16, 2025
You should send written notification to the landlord or the landlord's representative with copies of the photos and videos. Check your lease to determine if it contains a provision specifying where and how written notice is to be sent. If your lease does not contain such a provision, send... View More
I'm currently alternating weeks with the other parent for visitation, but we now live over two hours apart, more than 100 miles away. Our daughter is about to start pre-kindergarten in a few months, and we don't have any existing court orders for visitation. I've tried discussing the... View More

answered on Apr 16, 2025
It sounds like you have existing court order that doesn't address this issue. If that is correct, then you would want to file a Petition to Modify the Parent-Child Relationship because you are asking the Judge to change an existing court order.
You are asking the Judge to change in... View More
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