In a Texas bankruptcy, the ordinary rule is that the automatic stay requires creditors to freeze in place and do nothing once the bankruptcy is filed. However, creditors should be aware that there are some situations where doing nothing can actually get them in...
William T. Peckham
Inheriting property with liens
If you've inherited property in Texas, there's a chance you've inherited some debt associated with that property. When a loved one passes away unexpectedly, it is likely they haven't resolved all of their debt. You may find they owe money to creditors who have...
Taxpayers need to avoid “ghost” tax preparers
The 2020 tax season has officially begun. As we do each year, we take time to recognize different scams that victimize taxpayers. One that the IRS recently highlighted is about the so-called “ghost preparer.” These are unscrupulous tax preparers who will...
What problems could keep you from closing on your dream home?
When you make an offer on a Texas home and a buyer accepts, you may think that's all you have to do in order to get the keys and start moving in. In most cases, there is a 30-day waiting period between acceptance of the offer and the closing, which is the very last...
Small Business Reorganization Act arrives in February
The president signed the Small Business Reorganization Act (SBRA) in August of 2019, but it officially takes effect in February of 2020. Congress designed this popular law to fill a previous gap by providing small businesses and owners with a way to restructure or...
Why home inspections are important
Home inspectors likely enter the buying process after the buyers have hired a real estate agent or picked the home, arranged financing as well as dozens of other details. It may even be an afterthought as the buyer tells family and friends about the exciting news that...
Choosing the right tax preparer
The IRS issued a list of 12 common tax scams in 2019. Now, as we enter the second tax season under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the scams and gambits will change some, but tax preparer fraud will likely remain on the list in 2020. As is the case whenever working with...
Preventable problems can derail your estate planning efforts
Making plans for the future is not always easy. It can be complicated to determine what should happen to certain assets and what you want to happen with your medical care down the road. However, every person, regardless of age and wealth status, would benefit from...
What is a wrongful foreclosure?
Banks and mortgage lenders are supposed to help customers buy homes. However, there are millions of homeowners here in Texas and elsewhere that feel more like victims than customers. This can happen when the lender wrongfully forecloses on the homeowner, particularly...
Tax refunds are not free money
Most of us are excited at the prospect of getting a tax refund and will dream of how to spend that money. But while it is fun to contemplate a spring break trip or simply blowing it on fun stuff, it is essential to remember that the IRS is giving taxpayers back money...