Families are far from perfect. Some children have closer relationships with their parents than their siblings. This is normal and healthy based on each child’s needs.
But in some situations, a parent may have no relationship with a child. Estrangements like this happen for many reasons ranging from personal...
Solar panels are an increasingly popular way to lower energy bills on properties nationwide.
For some homes, solar panels can effectively reduce the cost of energy bills to nothing. This may sound like a great deal, but it only ends up being one if the cost of installing and...
Many people enjoy their neighborhoods specifically because of the people who comprise them. Neighbors support each other and form a sense of community by sharing common interests in improving their neighborhoods.
Of course, not all neighbors always get along, however, and though some disputes are minor and easily resolved,...
A charitable lead annuity trust provides high-net-worth individuals with a structure for donating to charity and giving a gift to another person or entity. Importantly, the gift recipient does not need to be a charitable organization. Thus, you can donate to your favorite hospital foundation and leave a gift to your nephew...
The same laws apply to builder contracts as other service contracts. Violating a builder contract can bring serious consequences, including damages in a contract lawsuit. Before you hire a contractor, you must be certain that you want to form a binding deal with them.
Once you sign the contract,...
Property law uses many archaic terms that are unique to the use and transfer of real estate. “Deed” is one of these terms, which simply refers to a document used to convey property ownership interests. You can think of a deed as a type of contract, although it has many formal...
Buying and selling a home can be a stressful process, especially with all of the contracts and paperwork. Within your real estate contract, you may find contingency clauses, which could affect your transaction.
What is a contingency clause?When something is “contingent,” it means something...
When it comes to buying and selling property, you can expect to encounter many real estate terms you may not be familiar with — “as-is” is one of those terms. It is critical to look out for these terms in your contract and understand what they could mean for you and...
Land encroachment refers to the illegal occupation of land that belongs to someone else. This type of activity can happen in many ways. If you are the victim of encroachment of property, reach out to a real estate attorney at Merlino & Gonzalez.
Encroachment of property can result in...
Estate planning is critical to ensure that your assets and property are distributed according to your wishes after you pass away or become incapacitated. But those with blended families often experience unique estate planning challenges.
This is especially true when a blended family includes children, stepchildren, or grandchildren....
