Dallas County, TX Consumer Law: LegalConsumer.com

Free Tools and Information for Dallas County, TX Consumers

Texas PROBATE COURT FINDER:
- Probate Court for Dallas County: Key information about your local probate court (Circuit 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 Virginia you can use an Affidavit if the value of the probate estate is $50,000 or less (Probate estate doesn't count assets that pass by beneficiary, like life insurance, and retirement, and assets held in joint tenancy).
  
  Va. Code Ann 64.2-601.
  
  For real estate, if there's no Will, heirs, or personal representative can record Affidavit setting out names of heirs: clerk will send abstract of the Affidavit to the revenue comissioner, then real estate can be transferred.
  
  Va. Code Ann 64.2-510.
Texas Estate Taxes:
- Texas, like most states, does not impose an estate or inheritance tax. Only a few states do.
Avoiding Probate in Texas. Find out what property bypasses probate death and goes directly to beneficiaries. such as:
- Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs)

Texas Minimum Wage:
- The minimum wage in Virginia is $12 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, employees in Virginia must be paid at least $12 an hour.
  
  Dallas County Minimum Wage
  
  The minimum wage in Dallas County is $12 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 $12 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 $2.13 an hour, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your total hourly pay up to the full minimum wage, $12 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.

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. Va. Code Ann. § 34-3.1.
- Texas Homestead Exemption
  - Must file homestead declaration before filing for bankruptcy
    $5,000 plus $500 per dependent; rents & profits; sale proceeds exempt to $5,000 (husband & wife may double, unused portion of homestead may be applied to any personal property); if 65 or older, exemption is $10,000; an additional $25,000 exempt if property is primary residence.
- Texas Vehicle Exemption
  - Motor vehicles to $6,000 total ($10,000 if needed for occupation or education)
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.

Benefit Amounts in Texas: Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
- Minimum:
  - $60 per week
- Maximum:
  - $378 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.
- Virginia Employment Commission
  - 866-832-2363
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.

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://www.elections.virginia.gov/registration/view-your-info/
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

Our Lawyers by Zipcode section allows users to find a local lawyer using the best online resources, including on topics we don't cover.
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