Legal-Ease: How closely are we related?

If you die without a will in the state of Ohio, consanguinity can help determine who has the rights to your property. Consanguinity is the practice of identifying how closely two people are related. It’s also known as finding next of kin.

Legal-Ease: Looking at land contracts

The financial crisis of the last several years has left many people with less than stellar credit. While we have quite a few flexible, community-based lenders in our area, the newest rules and regulations regarding lending may tie their hands and may prevent potential loans from being workable. Therefore sometimes potential buyers of homes cannot secure the proper financing in order to purchase a home. This is when a land contract may be a good solution for the home buyers and sellers.

Legal-Ease: Can I just prepare legal documents online?

In almost every situation, the “non-legal, legal” services that are offered online are generic and vague. Also, these online forms can hurt your business and financial objectives because they don’t take your specific needs into consideration.

Legal-Ease: Flags and Independence Day

We’re right in the middle of the time of year when flags are often prominently displayed on homes throughout Ohio. While many people feel a surge of patriotism surrounding July 4 and other summer holidays, in the 1980s and 1990s flag burning and flag desecration became an issue that was frequently brought in front of the courts.

Legal-Ease: Misperceptions of attorney attitudes

Lawyers are often given a bad reputation from portrayals on television or in movies. Lawyer jokes frequently fly in social situations, and this week Lee would like to help dispel the bad rap that attorneys often get.

Law is structured to be a very personal practice, which is why many law firms are named after attorneys who started the practice. Clients should know which attorneys are working for them, and law firms in Ohio are required to use at least one of the attorneys’ names in the name of the law firm.

Legal-Ease: Structuring your farmland lease

Farming is increasingly a risky venture, but farmland leases can provide great opportunity for both farmers and landlords. Traditionally farmers have the option of cash rent or crop-share when it comes to farmland lease arrangements. Hybrid leases have become more popular in northwest Ohio in the past few years as well. Plenty of choices exist in structuring farmland leases today, and it’s important to choose the right option for your situation.

Legal-Ease: Who pays what closing costs

Spring is often the busiest times for home sales and closings. As you go into your home sale, it’s good to know what is customary regarding the closing costs.

Federal law requires that the buyer of the home receive an estimate on closing costs (if they’re borrowing money for the purchase of the home) several days in advance of the closing.

Legal-Ease: How do I buy a new-to-me house?

Interested in buying a new home but not sure where to begin? Lee recommends that you start by talking to local banks and credit unions. Once you have an idea of your budget, consider more seriously looking into local real estate. Or you can consider hiring a real estate agent if you don’t want to investigate local homes on your own.