Many employment agreements contain clauses about non-competition. You may not have noticed or didn’t pay much attention to the clause when you first signed your employment contract. Businesses rely on non-competition clauses to protect proprietary information and prevent former employees or contractors from using it to compete against them. If you are about to leave your job for a...
Continue ReadingWhen someone fails to comply with the terms of a contract, you may have grounds to file a breach of contract claim. These types of lawsuits are common in business litigation. There are four elements of a breach of contract claim: a valid contract, performance, breach, and damages. In this blog, we define each element of breach of contract...
Continue ReadingProbate disputes can complicate the already emotional process of managing a loved one’s final affairs after their death. These conflicts can arise when beneficiaries—those left something in the will or entitled to something under the law—disagree about estate management or distribution. Fortunately, proactive planning and informed decision-making can minimize these issues. At Massingill, we simplify complex legal matters so...
Continue ReadingExecutors manage a deceased individual’s estate. They ensure everyone who needs to know about the death is made aware, identify and value estate assets, pay debts, and distribute estate assets. As they do those things, executors are bound by legal and ethical obligations that define what an executor can and cannot do. At Massingill, we simplify the complex. Based...
Continue ReadingPlanning for your estate means asking questions about protecting your loved ones best and ensuring they can enforce your wishes after you die. One common question is, Do you need a will and a trust? The answer depends on what you want to accomplish. A will is the basic foundation of most estate plans. Trusts are versatile, adaptable tools...
Continue ReadingWhen someone passes away, the executor is in charge of handling the decedent’s estate. From finding assets to paying taxes to distributing real estate, the executor has a lot to do. Let’s walk through the different responsibilities of an executor of an estate. If you have questions, please contact the Austin estate planning attorneys at Massingill today online or call us at 512-410-0343...
Continue ReadingBeing a business owner is a great experience. The pride of watching a company grow is second to none, and being a part of that process is amazing. But sometimes, even the strongest businesses can run into problems. What happens when you are not the controlling owner of a company? Do you have any rights, or are you at...
Continue ReadingA power of attorney is a legal document that grants decision-making authority to someone (the agent) on behalf of another person (the principal). Depending on the terms of the document, the agent has the ability to access information and accounts and make life-altering decisions for the principal. Unfortunately, there are situations when the agent fails to use their power...
Continue ReadingBeing the executor of an estate is a massive responsibility. Executors must satisfy all the legal hurdles of the probate court and ensure that heirs and beneficiaries get the property they are entitled to. Unfortunately, many legal requirements of probating a will can be challenging for executors to satisfy. One of the first legal hurdles is obtaining letters of...
Continue ReadingWhen you enter into a contract with another party, you expect them to hold up their end of the bargain. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case, and you may find yourself in a dispute over a breach of contract, wondering what steps to take next. In Texas, a breach of contract occurs when one party fails to fulfill its obligations under...
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