Posts by Luci Prosapio
Lesson 48: The Family Court System
From the Divorce section of How You Can Avoid Legal Land Mines by Joseph S. Lyles (2003). Divorce, custody, child support and similar cases are handled in many states in a special court, often called a Family Court. In other states the regular trial courts handle those cases. However, in most jurisdictions family law cases…
Read MoreLesson 47: Thy Will be Done
From the Death and Taxes section of How You Can Avoid Legal Land Mines by Joseph S. Lyles (2003). People are often confused about what a Will is and what it can do. A person’s Last Will and Testament is of little use until he or she dies. While the maker of the Will is…
Read MoreLesson 46: “No Assets” Means No Hassles
From the Death and Taxes section of How You Can Avoid Legal Land Mines by Joseph S. Lyles (2003). Have you ever heard the saying, “He died with nothing but the clothes on his back.” Someone like that does not leave any assets behind for anyone to worry about. But when someone dies with significant…
Read MoreLesson 45: “Render Therefore Unto Caesar the Things Which are Caesar’s…”
From the Death and Taxes section of How You Can Avoid Legal Land Mines by Joseph S. Lyles (2003). Everyone hates paying taxes. I imagine that even IRS agents grumble about it from time to time. In spite of all the promises of politicians, our tax laws remain very complicated and thus a legal burden…
Read MoreLesson 44: Are you an Executor of an Estate?
From the Death and Taxes section of How You Can Avoid Legal Land Mines by Joseph S. Lyles (2003). When someone dies, a spouse or relative usually takes legal responsibility for the property (called an estate) ownd by the deceased. A part of those responsibilities is the debts of the deceased. The Probate Court will…
Read MoreLesson 43: Learn What a Last Will and Testament Provides
From the Death and Taxes section of How You Can Avoid Legal Land Mines by Joseph S. Lyles (2003). A Last Will and Testament, or simply “Will”, is a written expression of your desires for our your property will be distributed once you have died. The law requires that a Will be signed in the…
Read MoreLesson 42: Mechanic’s Lien
From the Real Estate section of How You Can Avoid Legal Land Mines by Joseph S. Lyles (2003). Once a carpenter, plumber, electrician or other tradesman has completed his work on your construction project (typically a new house), he can file a lien against your title to ensure payment of the bill. There are strict…
Read MoreLesson 41: What is an Easement?
From the Real Estate section of How You Can Avoid Legal Land Mines by Joseph S. Lyles (2003). Sarah and Bob bought a house located in a subdivision which was developed three decades earlier. Their lot was one of the last two created and built upon. The sewer line from their house was out of…
Read MoreLesson 40: This Stinks! Pollution Problems with Real Estate
From the Real Estate section of How You Can Avoid Legal Land Mines by Joseph S. Lyles (2003). Failure to disclose nearby environmental blights in a real estate transaction is a growing source of legal disputes. One case in which I was involved had a very interesting situation. A disabled man, Jim, was shown a…
Read MoreLesson 39: Killer Termites?
From the Real Estate section of How You Can Avoid Legal Land Mines by Joseph S. Lyles (2003). When can termites be killers? When they kill a real estate deal. Every house is sold with a contract that requires a clear termite letter. A termite letter is simply a written report from a pest control…
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