Dallas County, TX Consumer Law

Free Tools and Information for Dallas County, TX Consumers

Texas Inheritance Law & Probate Procedure

• Texas PROBATE COURT FINDER:
  
  • Probate Court for Dallas County: Key information about your local probate court (Orphans Court & Register of Wills Court in Texas) for Dallas County.
• How Probate Works in Texas: How to handle the probate of an inheritance at Dallas County's probate court.
  • Here are links to:
    • Texas Probate Forms and the
    • Texas State Probate Court Website.
• Small Estates Procedures in Texas: Learn how to use Texas's Small Estate procedures that can save you time and money.

  • In Maryland, there's no Affidavit procedure available for small estates. There is a summary probate procedure available for estates that have a value of assets subject to probate that is less than $50,000. (This excludes the value of all joint tenancy property and other assets that pass by beneficiary designation, such as life insurance and transfer on death accounts.)

    This summary probate procedure is also available if the surviving spouse is the only beneficiary and the estate is worth $100,000 or less.

    Md. Code Ann. Estates and Trusts 5-601.

• Texas Estate Taxes:

  • The state of Maryland imposes an estate tax on property owned in Maryland. If you are inheriting property from the state of Maryland, it may be subject to estate tax if the overall value of the estate is more than $5,000,000.

    Maryland also poses and inheritance tax. It is the only state to have both.

• Avoiding Probate in Texas. Find out what property bypasses probate death and goes directly to beneficiaries. such as:
  • Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs)

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Texas Wage & Hour Law

• Texas Minimum Wage:  

  • The minimum wage in Maryland is $15 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, employees in Maryland must be paid at least $15 an hour.

    Dallas County Minimum Wage

    The minimum wage in Dallas County is $15 an hour, the state minimum wage. Texas law prohibits city and county governments from adopting a local minimum wage that's higher than the state minimum wage. 

    Dallas Minimum Wage

    The minimum wage in Dallas, Texas, is $15 an hour, the state minimum wage. Texas law prohibits city and county governments from adopting a local minimum wage that's higher than the state minimum wage. 

• Overtime Pay: Every state has rules about weekly maximum hours and overtime. Learn about the overtime laws in Texas and whether they apply to you.
• Wage Claims: If you're being unlawfully underpaid, you need to learn how to file a "Wage Claim" in Texas. 
• Tips : Every state has special pay rates for tipped workers. Find out the rules for tipped workers in Texas.

  • In Texas, your employer may pay you a minimum wage of $3.63 an hour, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your total hourly pay up to the full minimum wage, $15 an hour. If you don’t earn enough in tips to bring your compensation to the full minimum wage, your employer must make up the difference.

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Bankruptcy & Debt

• MEANS TEST CALCULATOR
  • for Dallas County, Texas (applies the state and county income and expense standards into your means test calculation. Updated with the latest median income and expense standards for April 1, 2024)
• Texas BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION FINDER: Search detailed listings of bankruptcy exemptions under Texas law and Federal law, for use in filing out Schedule C, when you file for bankruptcy. 
  • Federal Exemptions available in Texas?:  

    • No. Md. Code Ann., Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 11-504

  • Texas Homestead Exemption

    • Owner occupied residential property or condo or co-op to $25,150 (husband and wife may not double)
      Property held as tenancy by the entirety is exempt against debts owed by only one spouse

  • Texas Vehicle Exemption

    • none (see Wild Card)

• Texas BANKRUPTCY COURT ESSENTIAL INFO: Get information about using your local bankruptcy court.
• FREE BANKRUPTCY FORMS:
  We'll tell you which bankruptcy forms you need and where to find them.

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Texas Unemployment Benefits

• Benefit Amounts in Texas: Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
  • Minimum: 
    • $50 per week
  • Maximum: 
    • $430 per week
  • Duration: 

    • In Texas, you can receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks under state law. 

• Eligibility: >Whether you qualify for unemployment.
• How to Apply: How to apply for unemployment in Texas.
  • Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Unemployment Insurance 
    • 667-207-6520
• Unemployment Office Near Me? How to find your local unemployment office.
• COVID-19 Benefits: We tracked the rise and fall of COVID-19 unemployment benefit payments.

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Democracy In Texas, Dallas County, Dallas 

• Elected Representatives: Find out the websites and phone numbers of those representing you at the Federal, State, County, and City levels of government.
• How to Vote: Learn how to register and where and when to vote in Dallas County, TX.
  • Key Links:
    • Check Your Texas Voter Registration Status: https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/VoterSearch
• Gerrymandering in Texas: Has your state been gerrymandered? Find out how to end gerrymandering and have voters pick politicians, not vice versa.
• Tracking Issues: Organizations that track legislation you care about 
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Find a Lawyer in Dallas County, TX

• Our Lawyers by Zipcode section allows users to find a local lawyer using the best online resources, including on topics we don't cover.
• DUI, Criminal Defense
• Auto Accidents & Personal Injury
• Immigration
• Legal Aid
  • The People's Law Library of Maryland 

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