United States: Real Estate and Construction

California's coastline faces immediate challenges as sea-level rise and erosion transform from distant planning concerns into urgent real estate and infrastructure crises. From emergency rail closures in San Clemente to questions about property rights when shorelines shift, the state confronts complex legal and financial questions about who bears responsibility for protecting coastal property and public infrastructure.

The Mississippi Supreme Court has clarified what information contractors must include when filing construction liens to make them legally enforceable. A recent ruling demonstrates that simply attaching invoices without clearly identifying the last date work was performed fails to meet statutory requirements, potentially invalidating liens worth millions of dollars.

On March 31, 2021, the State of New York signed into law the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act. In its Preamble, the statute notes, “it is in the best interest of the state to regulate medical cannabis, adult-use cannabis, cannabinoid hemp and hemp extracts under independent entities…” Cannabis Law § 2.

Purchasing a residential property with existing tenants requires careful attention to lease agreements, possession rights, and financing requirements. Understanding how tenant occupancy affects closing timelines, security deposits, and the buyer's ability to occupy or use the property can prevent costly surprises and legal complications during the transaction process.

It’s an uncomfortable topic, but it also creates immediate legal and financial questions for surviving family members, sellers, lenders, and real estate professionals.

Recent amendments to Mass. R. Prof. C. 1.15 have significantly changed how Massachusetts law yers must handle unclaimed and unidentified funds held in IOLTA accounts.

A revocable living trust (sometimes called a revocable inter vivos trust) is a legal arrangement you create during your lifetime to hold legal title to your assets.

Jennifer D'Amato explores the critical techniques and strategies available under Wisconsin law for post-death estate administration, examining how legal professionals can help families minimize costs, delays, and conflicts during the probate process. The article provides practical guidance on navigating the various administration options available in Wisconsin's aging population landscape.

Leaving real estate to heirs through a will or a revocable trust has long been standard practice in estate planning. Many clients expect to pass along the home they have lived in for years...

California's coastline faces immediate challenges as sea-level rise and erosion transform from distant planning concerns into urgent real estate and infrastructure crises. From emergency rail closures in San Clemente to questions about property rights when shorelines shift, the state confronts complex legal and financial questions about who bears responsibility for protecting coastal property and public infrastructure.

On March 31, 2021, the State of New York signed into law the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act. In its Preamble, the statute notes, “it is in the best interest of the state to regulate medical cannabis, adult-use cannabis, cannabinoid hemp and hemp extracts under independent entities…” Cannabis Law § 2.

Commercial lenders face a critical challenge in real estate transactions: determining which easements and restrictions identified in title commitments actually threaten their collateral. While title commitments list numerous exceptions, understanding which ones could jeopardize a development project requires careful analysis of underlying documents, survey comparisons, and practical assessment of how recorded rights interact with proposed construction plans.