Legal problems are not just for the rich. In a 2021 national survey by IAALS and HiiL, 66 percent of Americans had experienced at least one legal problem in the previous four years, and only about half of those problems were completely resolved. For working, middle-class people the squeeze is real: you earn too much to qualify for free legal aid, but a full-scale lawsuit is out of reach, so most problems get no legal advice at all.
Here are 50 of the most common reasons working Texans need a lawyer, grouped by where they show up in life, with the first thing to know about each. Every one of them is a reason to start with a straight conversation.
How Crawford Law fits
Start with a free 15-minute call. Andrew will hear what is going on, tell you whether the firm is a fit, and point you in the right direction. That call is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you want legal advice on your situation, he will quote a short, fixed block of time up front, often enough to understand your rights, your deadlines, and your options. If the matter belongs with another lawyer, he will help you find one who concentrates in it. The firm’s principal office is in Leander, and it serves the Greater Austin Metro.
- Crawford Law can take this on Matters the firm handles itself, 10 of the 50 below.
- Start here, then the right lawyer Andrew helps you understand where you stand and refers you to a lawyer who concentrates in that area.
Employment questions from employees are heard and referred. Andrew was an HR & Labor Relations Manager for more than ten years at Fortune 500 companies. That work was not the practice of law. He can tell you how the company is likely to see your situation before you take the next step.
At work
You were fired, and you think it was unfair or illegal.
Texas is an at-will state, but firing someone because of race, sex, age, disability, religion, pregnancy, or for reporting a problem or refusing to break the law is not allowed. Discrimination charges generally must be filed within 180 days with the Texas Workforce Commission or 300 days with the EEOC.
Start here, then the right lawyerYou were not paid what you are owed.
Final pay, unpaid wages, commissions, or overtime. A Texas Payday Law claim generally must be filed within 180 days after the wages were due. Federal overtime claims generally have two years, or three if the violation was willful.
Start here, then the right lawyerYou are being harassed or treated differently at work.
Write down what happened, when, and who saw it, and report it in writing through the company’s process. The same charge deadlines apply.
Start here, then the right lawyerYou were punished after reporting something or taking leave.
Retaliation is one of the most common workplace claims, and timing matters. Keep copies of what you reported and when.
Start here, then the right lawyerYou were handed a severance agreement.
Read it before you sign, because you are usually giving up claims in exchange for the money. If you are 40 or older, federal law generally gives you at least 21 days to consider it (45 in a group layoff) and 7 days to change your mind after signing.
Start here, then the right lawyerYou signed a non-compete, or a former employer says you violated one.
Texas enforces some non-competes and not others. Do not take documents or customer lists when you leave. See non-compete agreements in Texas.
Start here, then the right lawyerYour unemployment benefits were denied.
You generally have 14 days from the date the Texas Workforce Commission mailed the decision to appeal. The hearing is usually by phone and decided on firsthand testimony and documents.
Start here, then the right lawyerYou were hurt on the job.
Report the injury to your employer within 30 days, and a workers’ compensation claim generally must be filed within one year. If your employer does not carry workers’ compensation, the rules are different.
Start here, then the right lawyerYou need time off or a change at work for a health condition or pregnancy.
Larger employers must provide job-protected family and medical leave, and employers with 15 or more employees must consider reasonable accommodations. See why accommodations are tricky.
Start here, then the right lawyerYou have a job offer, employment contract, or equity grant to review.
Bonus terms, commissions, arbitration clauses, and restrictive covenants are much easier to negotiate before you sign than to fight after.
Start here, then the right lawyer
Home and renting
Your landlord kept your security deposit.
Give the landlord your forwarding address in writing. Texas generally requires a refund or an itemized list of deductions within 30 days after you move out, with penalties for bad faith.
Start here, then the right lawyerYou received an eviction notice.
A Texas notice to vacate is generally three days unless the lease says otherwise, and the case is heard in justice court. Do not miss the hearing, and know that the deadline to appeal is only five days.
Start here, then the right lawyerYour landlord will not make repairs.
Texas requires written notice and that your rent be current before a tenant can use most repair remedies. Do not simply stop paying rent.
Start here, then the right lawyerYour HOA is fining you or threatening action.
Texas homeowners’ associations must follow notice and hearing rules before many enforcement actions. Ask for the specific rule and a hearing in writing.
Start here, then the right lawyerYou are buying or selling a home and something went wrong.
A problem with the contract, the option period, the title, or the closing often has a short window to fix. Read the contract deadlines first.
Start here, then the right lawyerYou have a dispute with a neighbor.
Fences, trees, drainage, property lines, and easements. A survey and the recorded documents usually answer more than the argument does.
Start here, then the right lawyerYou are behind on your mortgage or got a foreclosure notice.
Texas foreclosures usually happen outside of court and move quickly: a notice of default with at least 20 days to cure, then a notice of sale at least 21 days before the sale. Call your servicer and get advice early.
Start here, then the right lawyerYour property tax appraisal is too high.
Protests are generally due by May 15 or 30 days after the appraisal district mailed your notice, whichever is later. Evidence of comparable values wins most protests.
Start here, then the right lawyer
Money, purchases, and debt
You were sued over a debt.
Do not ignore it. In a Texas justice court debt case, an answer is generally due by the end of the 14th day after you were served; in county or district court, by 10 a.m. on the Monday after 20 days. Missing it usually means a default judgment.
Start here, then the right lawyerDebt collectors keep calling.
Federal and Texas law limit what collectors can do and say. You can ask in writing for validation of the debt.
Start here, then the right lawyerYou are worried about wage garnishment.
Texas protects current wages from garnishment for most consumer debts. The main exceptions are child support, federal taxes, federal student loans, and some other government debts.
Start here, then the right lawyerYour credit report has errors.
Dispute each error in writing with the credit bureau, which generally must investigate within 30 days. Keep copies of everything you send.
Start here, then the right lawyerSomeone owes you money.
A clear demand letter resolves many of these. If not, Texas justice courts hear small claims up to $20,000, and you can represent yourself.
Crawford Law can take this onA purchase or service went wrong.
A bad repair, a misrepresented product, a business that took your money. The Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act generally requires written notice 60 days before suit, and it can shift fees.
Crawford Law can take this onYour car is a lemon, the dealer misled you, or it was repossessed.
Texas lemon law claims go through the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and have a short filing window tied to the warranty. Repossession has its own notice rules.
Start here, then the right lawyerYou were scammed or your identity was stolen.
Report it at IdentityTheft.gov and to local police, freeze your credit, and keep a log of every call and letter.
Start here, then the right lawyerYou are thinking about bankruptcy.
It can stop collection and foreclosure, but it has long-term effects, and the choice of chapter matters. Get advice before you move money or pay off family members.
Start here, then the right lawyerYour insurance claim was denied or underpaid.
Texas requires written notice at least 61 days before suing over many weather-related property claims. Request the denial and policy in writing.
Start here, then the right lawyer
Contracts and small business
You have a contract or lease to sign.
A short review before signing is often less expensive than a dispute later. Pay attention to termination, automatic renewal, personal guarantees, and arbitration.
Crawford Law can take this onA contractor took your money or did poor work.
For defects in a home, Texas generally requires written notice 60 days before suit and a chance for the contractor to inspect and offer a repair.
Crawford Law can take this onYou want to start a side business or LLC.
The right entity, a company agreement, and clean contracts from day one save money later. See the business practice.
Crawford Law can take this onYou have a dispute with a business you hired, or that hired you.
Unpaid invoices, missed deadlines, and broken promises. Gather the contract, emails, and invoices before anything else.
Crawford Law can take this on
Family
You are getting divorced.
Texas generally requires six months of residence in the state and 90 days in the county before filing, and a 60-day waiting period before a divorce can be granted, with exceptions for family violence.
Start here, then the right lawyerYou need to set or change custody or visitation.
Courts decide based on the best interest of the child. Keep a calm, factual record and follow any existing order while you seek a change.
Start here, then the right lawyerYou need to set, collect, or change child support.
The Texas Attorney General’s Child Support Division can help establish and enforce support, and a material change in circumstances can support a modification.
Start here, then the right lawyerYou or your family are not safe at home.
Call 911 in an emergency. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233. Texas courts can issue protective orders, including temporary orders quickly.
Start here, then the right lawyer
Wills, aging, and loss
You do not have a will.
Without one, Texas law decides who inherits, and a court may decide who raises your children. A simple will is one of the most valuable documents a working family can have.
Crawford Law can take this onYou need powers of attorney and a medical directive.
A statutory durable power of attorney, a medical power of attorney, and a directive to physicians let someone you trust act if you cannot.
Crawford Law can take this onA family member died and left a will.
In Texas, a will generally must be offered for probate within four years of death. Do not distribute property until you know the right process.
Start here, then the right lawyerA family member died without a will.
Heirship and other procedures decide who inherits. A small estate affidavit may work when there is no will and the estate, not counting the homestead and exempt property, is $75,000 or less.
Start here, then the right lawyerAn aging parent can no longer manage on their own.
Powers of attorney signed while a parent still has capacity are far simpler than a guardianship later. Courts look for the least restrictive option.
Start here, then the right lawyerYour Social Security disability claim was denied.
You generally have 60 days to appeal each decision. Most claims that succeed do so on appeal, so do not give up after the first denial.
Start here, then the right lawyer
Accidents and injuries
You were hurt in a car accident or on someone’s property.
Texas generally allows two years to sue for personal injury. Get medical care, photos, and witness names, and be careful about recorded statements to the other side’s insurer.
Start here, then the right lawyerYou think a medical mistake hurt you or a family member.
Texas health care claims generally have two years, require an expert report early in the case, and cap some damages. Request the records now.
Start here, then the right lawyer
Reputation, records, and the government
Someone posted something false about you or your business.
Capture it now with the date and link. Texas defamation claims generally must be filed within one year, and a formal request for correction comes first. See how to set the record straight.
Crawford Law can take this onSomeone says you defamed them.
If you have been sued over something you said or posted, the Texas anti-SLAPP motion generally must be filed within 60 days after service. See the defamation practice.
Crawford Law can take this onYou were arrested or charged with a crime, including DWI.
Do not discuss the facts with police, the other person, or on social media until you have a criminal defense lawyer. A DWI arrest can also start a short deadline to request a hearing to keep your license.
Start here, then the right lawyerAn old record is hurting your job search.
Some Texas records can be expunged or sealed through an order of nondisclosure, depending on the offense and outcome. See how background checks work.
Start here, then the right lawyerYou or a family member has an immigration question.
Talk only to a licensed immigration lawyer or an accredited representative. A notary is not a lawyer, and bad advice can be permanent.
Start here, then the right lawyerYou received court papers or a letter you do not understand.
Note the date you received it and look for a deadline. Many papers have a short answer date, and the cost of waiting is often higher than the cost of a call.
Start here, then the right lawyer
Do not wait on a deadline
The deadlines above are general rules, and many have exceptions that depend on the facts. If anything in this list sounds like your situation, especially if you have been served, received a notice, or lost a job, get advice now rather than later. Request a free call, or read why it is so hard to find a lawyer who will just talk to you.
Sources
- IAALS and HiiL, Justice Needs and Satisfaction in the United States of America (2021)
- Legal Services Corporation, The Justice Gap (2022)
- Texas Labor Code ch. 21 (discrimination charges), ch. 61 (Payday Law), ch. 409 (workers’ compensation notice and claims)
- Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, 29 U.S.C. § 626(f) (waivers of age claims)
- Texas Property Code ch. 24 (eviction), ch. 27 (residential construction defects), § 51.002 (foreclosure notices), ch. 92 (repairs and security deposits)
- Texas Tax Code § 41.44 (appraisal protest deadline)
- Texas Rules of Civil Procedure 99 and 502.5 (answer deadlines)
- Texas Constitution art. XVI, § 28 (wages exempt from garnishment, with exceptions)
- Texas Business & Commerce Code § 17.505 (Deceptive Trade Practices Act notice)
- Texas Insurance Code ch. 542A (notice before suit on weather-related claims)
- Texas Family Code §§ 6.301, 6.702 (divorce residency and waiting period)
- Texas Estates Code § 205.001 (small estate affidavit), § 256.003 (four-year period to probate a will)
- Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code §§ 16.002, 16.003 (limitations); ch. 74 (health care claims)
- Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681i (disputes)