Massingill Staff, Author at Massingill

Nov 29, 2023 | By Massingill Staff | Read Time: 4 minutes | Business Law

What Does the Corporate Transparency Act Mean for Small Business Owners in Texas?

In 2021, the federal government passed the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2024. The CTA requires many small businesses to file Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI). Although filing BOI does not involve extensive information, determining who and what to file is complicated. If you are a small business owner in Texas, contact Massingill to learn more about the...

Nov 8, 2023 | By Massingill Staff | Read Time: 5 minutes | Estate Planning

What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Texas

If you die without a will in Texas, any property you own at the time of your death will be distributed in accordance with Texas intestate succession laws. But, you may be wondering, What exactly does that mean? If you have questions about how to plan for your future and what happens if you die without a will in...

Nov 7, 2023 | By Massingill Staff | Read Time: 5 minutes | Estate Planning

Can You Legally Contest a Will in Texas?

When someone passes away (commonly referred to as a “decedent”), one of the first things to do is determine whether the decedent left a will. If the decedent did leave a will, it must go through the probate process in court before the property can be distributed to their beneficiaries. The probate process can be complicated. Sometimes, after a will is...

Sep 18, 2023 | By Massingill Staff | Read Time: 4 minutes | Estate Planning

Unmarried Partners’ Rights After Death in Texas

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics, marriage rates throughout the United States have steadily declined since the 1980s. However, that doesn’t mean there are fewer people in committed relationships. In fact, studies show that the number of Americans living with an unmarried partner is growing, indicating the public’s shift on perceptions of marriage. That...

Aug 16, 2023 | By Massingill Staff | Read Time: 4 minutes | Business Law

What You Should Know About Selling a Business in Texas

Selling a business can be an exciting yet bittersweet experience. After years of hard work and dedication, selling represents an opportunity to cash in and move on. It can also symbolize stepping away from something you love and starting a new chapter in your life. Beyond the emotional aspects, selling a business is also a demanding task in and...

Aug 16, 2023 | By Massingill Staff | Read Time: 4 minutes | Estate Planning

Texas Pour-Over Wills Overview

Setting up a living trust is often a highly efficient method of maintaining control over your assets while preparing to pass them on to descendants. However, you must take steps to prepare your assets for the trust. Transferring ownership of your property to your trust is one such step. Ensuring that a trust officially owns all the assets you...

Jul 25, 2023 | By Massingill Staff | Read Time: 4 minutes | Business Law

What Is Business Disparagement in Texas?

As a Texas business owner in Texas, there is a chance someone may have disparaged your business on a popular website or social media, possibly giving rise to a business disparagement claim in Texas. If this hasn’t happened to you yet, it may very well be something you face in the future. But what exactly is business disparagement in...

Jul 5, 2023 | By Massingill Staff | Read Time: 4 minutes | Estate Planning

How to Claim Unclaimed Property From a Deceased Relative in Texas

A properly formed and executed estate plan can ensure loved ones benefit from all a decedent’s property once they pass. Unfortunately, not everyone can perfectly manage their assets and make the proper arrangements to pass them on with little effort. Sometimes, valuable property can fall through the cracks. During the probate process, the families of the deceased relative might...

Jun 19, 2023 | By Massingill Staff | Read Time: 3 minutes | Estate Planning

A Step-By-Step Guide to the Probate Process in Texas

The Texas Estates Code sets out a process for overseeing the distribution of an estate’s assets. Intestate estates (those where the decedent left no will), and an estate with assets that are not exempt, must go through probate. Though the process is relatively straightforward, several issues that might interrupt the distribution of the estate to heirs can arise. From...

Jun 16, 2023 | By Massingill Staff | Read Time: 3 minutes | Business Law

What Is the Difference Between Arbitration and Litigation?

Facing a legal dispute is a significant hurdle for businesses of any size to overcome. Resolving the issue costs time and money that most companies would rather spend elsewhere. The dispute can distract employees and detract from a business’s core mission. To make matters worse, there is often a risk that the dispute will not be resolved in the...