Weekly Docket

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they address complex real estate disputes and sophisticated estate planning strategies under Texas law. They first dissect partition lawsuits initiated by investor companies acquiring fractional interests in family-owned land, explaining procedural steps, receiver-driven fair market valuations, and co-tenant buyout rights under the Texas Uniform Partition of Heirs’ Proper...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they navigate critical corporate compliance hurdles and business acquisition strategies under Texas law. They examine whether a law firm can temporarily serve as a client's registered agent, the mechanics of filing a resignation with the Secretary of State, and how entity status issues lead to court motions for abatement. The duo also cautions against the risks of administrativ...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they demystify core litigation procedures, legal financing trends, and mold claims facing Texas homebuilders. They kick off the episode by defining the real-world mechanics of a court status conference, explaining how trial judges use these procedural check-ins to enforce scheduling orders, manage discovery deadlines, and keep civil lawsuits moving toward trial. They then explo...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they share unfiltered, practical wisdom for building a thriving legal practice. They unpack three core principles that separate highly successful attorneys from the rest. They dive into the evolving landscape of online reputation management, analyzing why customer reviews are more critical than ever in the age of AI. Finally, they offer valuable career advice for aspiring high ...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they examine a notable JP court interpretation regarding landlord security deposit accounting timelines under Texas Property Code § 92.109(d). They break down the legal distinction between delivering a timely accounting notice within 30 days versus disbursing actual refund checks, highlighting the practical impacts on both tenants and property managers. They then step into cybe...

Texas Entities vs. Delaware Entities, Locating Deceased Bank Accounts & Deed Changes

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they analyze whether forming a Delaware entity still holds an advantage over a Texas entity, evaluating Texas's newly established business courts designed specifically for complex corporate disputes. They then tackle critical probate questions, providing tips for executors trying to locate h...

Join Phil Silberman and Chris Heald for Episode 133 of the ‘Weekly Docket’ as they break down essential Texas real estate, estate planning, and tax laws. They explore the key differences between a Living Will—also known as a Physician’s Directive—and a Medical Power of Attorney, and whether you actually need both to protect your healthcare decisions. Next, the guys answer critical real estate and proba...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they break down essential procedural rules for navigating civil litigation in Texas courts. They explore the strategic mechanics of voluntary case dismissals, detailing the critical differences between a nonsuit with prejudice versus a nonsuit without prejudice, while cautioning plaintiffs to verify that pending counterclaims won't derail their dismissal strategy. They also dem...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they trouble-shoot common procedural and technical roadblocks facing Texas legal practitioners. They kick off the show by addressing a frustrating reality when searching court records for Justice of the Peace courts. Next, they debate the best way to handle Outlook email files in discovery. They also handle a high-stakes probate strategy question, analyzing whether a family can...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they analyze a massive transformation in Texas civil litigation, turning Texas courts into a true "rocket docket". They also share some wild courtroom drama involving a child support enforcement hearing and an opposing counsel throwing exhibits. Next, they pivot to corporate transaction strategy, answering a critical business question about using free online non-disclosure agre...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they kick off the 4th of July weekend by addressing the continuing saga of the nationwide court reporter backlash. They shift gears into landlord-tenant law, breaking down how some tenants are actively abusing emotional support animal (ESA) laws to completely bypass pet deposits. Next, they tackle a common trap for Realtors: the danger of negotiating terms over email streams wi...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Patrick as they address the massive social media backlash following a controversial post about saving clients money on deposition costs. The duo dives into the logistics and actual expenses behind deposition notices, appearance fees, and transcript orders. They break down the mechanics of the errata sheet review period and dissect the specific Texas Rules of Civil Procedure that allow l...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they tackle the procedural headache of unsigned service citations and unserved court statuses. They analyze the high-stakes dilemma defendants face when handed blank paperwork, outlining how to determine true answer deadlines and what defensive steps to take while the court records lag behind. They also break down the strict requirements of Texas Estates Code § 1054.201, detail...

Join Phil Silberman and Chris Heald in Episode 126 of the ‘Weekly Docket’ as they break down the high-profile Frisco track meet stabbing trial and analyze how Texas law defines self-defense, deadly force, and the provocation exception. Dive into the complex real estate traps of putting minor children on property deeds, and explore how Texas Estates Code Chapter 1351 offers a streamlined path around formal guardianships ...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they analyze a staggering $25.6 million wire fraud scheme targeting the firm Arup. They unpack how a finance employee was deceived during a live video conference call where every single executive on screen was an AI-generated deepfake clone, and outline why a zero-trust analog solution is now an operational necessity for business security. They also provide a critical warning f...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they navigate the mechanics of recovering secured assets when a borrower defaults on a commercial loan. They break down the essential trifecta of a Note, Security Agreement, and UCC-1 filing , explaining how lenders can utilize Texas Business and Commerce Code § 9.609 for self-help repossession without a breach of the peace, or file for judicial foreclosure. They also dive into...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they break down the real-world chaos caused by the rise of out-of-control pro se AI legal filings. They analyze a nightmare real estate scenario where a former husband and wife used a DIY divorce decree that completely failed to address the division of their marital home.  Finally, Chris and Phil examine strict county procedural mandates, diving into local rules requiring ...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they tackle a complex probate dispute involving contested heirship and sealed adoption records. They discuss the legal hurdles of proving an adoption when a step-mother alleges a daughter is not a legal heir, and whether a court can be persuaded to unseal confidential adoption paperwork to resolve a father’s estate. They also dive into a landlord-tenant dispute regarding ...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they explore the rising trend of using AI for pro se representation in Texas courts. They clarify the legal boundaries of DIY lawyering, explaining why individuals can use AI to represent themselves but are strictly prohibited from using it to represent business entities like LLCs or corporations without risking struck pleadings and defaults. They also reveal a probate fact tha...