Nick C. Caridas | Business, Probate & Real Estate Attorney

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Caridas Legal Services

Nick C. Caridas is a dedicated Houston attorney with over 35 years of experience.  

I am here to assist you in a wide range of legal needs including business law, real estate law, probate administration, creation of wills and related documents, and estate planning. Understanding the needs of my clients is one of the most important services that I provide. We may be dealing with legal concerns involving your business, property, family and estate. All of these areas are deeply personal to you. Through my understanding, I work to make your legal experience custom tailored to your individual needs.

My office serves the greater Houston metropolitan area, including Harris, Ft. Bend, Galveston, Brazoria, Montgomery, Liberty, Waller, Chambers, and Austin counties, and is located at 6575 West Loop South, Suite 250, Bellaire, Texas 77401.

Business Law

            Positioning your business for success – Forming and operating a business is a huge task. Decisions regarding business structuring, and internal operations must be made sensibly. To be successful, you need legal counsel who will be there for you during the entire life of your business. That is what I do for my clients.

      -      Business Formation and Planning (LLC, Corporation, Limited Partnership, and others)

      o   The decision of the choice of type of business entity is one of the first and most important decisions that a business owner makes. This decision has far reaching legal and tax consequences. There are a number of key factors to consider when making this decision.

     -      Business Plan Development

     o   Developing a clear vision of your business plan assists you in clarifying the purpose and direction of your business, and helps you set and meet company goals.

     -      Growth Strategies

     o   Designing growth strategies is an important tool for developing and maintaining growth of your company.

     -      Sale and Acquisition of Businesses

     o   The transfer of ownership of a business is a significant transaction. A large number of issues are dealt with in this type of transaction, and it is important to know what to expect, and where to negotiate.  

     -      Outside general counsel services

     o   As a non-employee outside general counsel, I can provide a practical approach to problem solving, and can bring over 35 years of legal experience to handle a broad array of business and legal issues without the cost of a full time attorney on staff.

     -      Corporate record keeping

     o   Regular and structured use of corporate records, such as written minutes of meetings and resolutions are necessary to document important decisions and maintain the liability insulation provided by the business entity.

     -      Buy-Sell Agreements

     o   Buy-Sells are essential tools to provide for planning in the event of the death, divorce, retirement or desire to sell of a business co-owner.

-      Contract creation and review

-      Employment Agreements and Non-Compete Agreements

-      Succession and Emergency Planning 

Real Estate Law

            Guiding you through your real estate transactions – Whether your transaction involves buying or selling real estate, leasing, or construction of improvements, it is vital that you receive the advice you need in a way that makes sense to you. I represent both buyers and sellers, and landlords and tenants of both commercial and residential real estate. In addition, I represent both owners and contractors in real property construction contracts.

     -      Commercial Real Estate 

     o   Acquisition and Sale of Multi-Family Properties

     o   Commercial Contracts

      -      Residential Real Estate 

     o   Purchase and Sale of Single Family Residences

     o   Foreclosure and Collection

      -      Construction Contracts

      -      M & M Liens

     o   Texas law provides special tools to contractors and suppliers to aid in their getting paid for their work and material provided in the construction of a home or building. The proper filing of an M & M lien provides the contractor or supplier with a significant degree of leverage to obtain payment.

     -      Landlord/Tenant Transactions

     o   Negotiating and Drafting Lease Documents

Probate Administration

            Dealing with a loss – If you have suffered the loss of a loved one, you must deal with grieving in your own way. At the right time, the family must deal with the legal process relating to the administration of the estate of the deceased. I guide my clients through this process.  Estate administration involves the collection and distribution of assets of the deceased and the payment of debts.  If the deceased had a valid will, distribution is carried out according to the terms of the will, or under the intestacy laws of the State of Texas, if there was no will.

     -      Probate of Wills

     o   Probate is the process of submitting a will to the court, establishing the validity of the will, paying of estate liabilities, and distributing the contents of the deceased person’s estate in accordance with the will. 

     -      Determination of Heirship

     o   The process of establishing the heirs of a deceased person who left no valid will, and distributing that person’s estate in accordance with Texas law.

Wills and Estate Planning

            Helping Texas families plan for the future – An estate plan is much more than simply arranging for the transfer of assets at the time of death.  Creating an estate plan helps ensure that your heirs are provided for in the best possible way, including lifetime planning as well as distributing assets at death. 

Estate planning benefits those with large estates as well as those with modest assets. Your estate plan should be designed to meet your specific needs and goals, and should provide guidance to your loved ones under a variety of situations. I help my clients address their needs and achieve their goals. If you neglect to make certain decisions regarding your financial affairs, or your minor children, the court will make those decisions for you. 

     -      Wills

     o   The most common estate planning tool is the will. The will provides for the distribution of assets according to the intent of the deceased, but the will can be much more than that. Your will also states who will care for and distribute your assets, describes how and when your assets will be distributed to your beneficiaries, and names a Guardian for your minor children, among many other things. 

     -      Trusts

     o   Trusts can be created during your lifetime, or through your will upon your death.  Trusts are no longer a tool just for the wealthy. A trust is a legal entity that controls the assets placed into it, and directs how and when trust assets are distributed to your beneficiaries.

     -      Directive to Physicians

     o   Also known as a Health Care Directive, this tool allows you to express your intent as to certain health care decisions if you are incapable of making those decisions because of your illness or incapacity.

     -      Powers of Attorney

     o   Both Medical Powers of Attorney and Durable Powers of Attorney are essential estate planning tools. A Medical POA allows you to name certain loved ones to make medical treatment decisions for you if you are incapacitated. A Durable POA allows you to name certain loved ones to make decisions regarding your financial affairs if you are not capable of making those decisions.

     -      Medical Releases

     Because of certain privacy protections, health care providers may not release information to your loved ones regarding your medical condition, without being provided with a properly prepared medical release. If you are not capable of making treatment decisions, it is essential that the decision maker you name have the most complete information regarding your medical condition. Medical releases allow health care providers to give your medical information to the persons you name.