Newsletters

Resolution of Disputes with Interstate Household Goods Carriers

When a customer contracts with a mover to transport household goods across state lines, federal law requires that the mover's contract include a provision for arbitration as a method of resolving any disputes that arise. Although the arbitration provision is required, the customer may resort to the court system and is not obligated to first go through the arbitration process.

The Doctrine of Waste

The rationale behind the doctrine of waste is that one who is entitled to receive a future interest in real property is entitled to receive the property in the same condition it was in at the time the future interest was created by the original grantor. Although the doctrine of waste may prevent changes that increase the value of the property, more often it refers to action or inaction that damages the property in some respect.

Land Installment Contracts

A land installment contract, also known as a contract for deed, is a financing mechanism where title to real property remains in the seller until the buyer has paid the sale price of the property in full. The buyer is required to pay the sale price in installments over a period of years.

The Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act

Congress enacted the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA). The law can be found at 26 U.S.C.S. §1445.

Sharecropping

Generally speaking, the term "sharecropping" refers to an between a property owner and another person whereby the property owner hires the other person to farm the property owner's land. In exchange for the person's labors, the person is entitled to receive a share of the crop or harvest. Over the years, however, many different forms of sharecropping arrangements have been developed between parties.