Hourly Attorney Billing Ethics, Handling Deceased Relative Tax Liens & Transferring Powers of Attorney

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they examine law firm billing practices, real estate tax obligations, and estate planning mechanics under Texas law. They kick off the episode with an honest discussion on hourly attorney billing, contrasting bloated billing practices against how earnest lawyers track time, manage client relationships, and adopt modern billing software. Then they tackle property tax liabilities on real estate inherited from deceased relatives, breaking down in rem tax foreclosure rules, debt strategies, payment plan options, and proper disclaimer procedures under the Texas Estates Code. Finally, they explain power of attorney rules for out-of-state family moves, detailing why agents cannot unilaterally delegate authority, the legal necessity of principal capacity, and the process for executing new statutory durable and medical POAs.

⏰  Timestamps

00:00 Intro

4:26 Are You Being Overcharged by Your Attorney?

22:27 Inherited a House with Unpaid Taxes? What Texas Law Says

26:30 Can You Transfer Power of Attorney to a Sibling?

#AttorneyBilling #EstateProperty #InRemForeclosure #PowerOfAttorney #TexasEstatePlanning #BillingEthics