Construction claims are so prevalent and diverse that preparation for the inevitable should be a part of each contractor's normal business routine. Though the source and nature of each claim is not known, contractors do know when the performance of their work is impacted or when events, circumstances, or situations arise that are outside the realm of the contractual provisions contemplated by the parties. In these instances, the contractor should collect any pertinent information and documentation that would support its actions or assist in the defense of any potential claims.
At some point, nearly everyone needs the services of a lawyer. A transaction involving the sale or purchase of real estate may well be one of those instances.
A transfer of land from a seller to a buyer must be accomplished through written documentation in order to satisfy requirements of the Statute of Frauds. Typically, real estate transactions involve many written documents from the offer, which is usually in the form of a contract to purchase, to the deed.
Generally, when a grantor transfers land to a grantee, the grantee receives the entire right and title to the property, without limitations. Sometimes, however, the grantor chooses to limit the grantee's right to the use and enjoyment of the land by creating a life estate. A life estate is an estate in land that ends when a named person dies. It is used primarily for estate planning as a device to allow successive ownership of the land.
Real estate transactions present opportunities for deceit. Deceit, insofar as the area of tort law is concerned, is usually defined by state law.
