Library Spotlight
National Estate Planning Awareness Week
Feature October 23, 2024
October 21 – 27 is National Estate Planning Awareness Week! Estate planning may sound spooky and mysterious, but it doesn't have to be. We're here to help.
An estate plan is a set of formal instructions for when a person dies or can no longer make decisions. If there is no plan, matters are typically decided based on existing laws. The consequences can be frightful when your preferences aren’t taken into account.
National Voter Registration Day
Feature September 13, 2024
Tuesday, September 17th is National Voter Registration Day! This civic holiday is the largest single-day voter registration drive. It’s a great day to register to vote or update your registration status.
Bar Journals Now Available on HeinOnline
News August 31, 2024
We're happy to announce that the library now offers access to the Bar Journals collection on HeinOnline. Available titles include the Texas Bar Journal, the American Bar Association (ABA) Journal, and more.
You will need a current library account to access HeinOnline and other library databases. Texas residents can sign up or renew their account for free on our website.
Texas Data Privacy and Security Act
News July 25, 2024
Texas residents now have more rights over their personal data. The Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA) establishes new laws for collecting, storing, processing, and selling consumer information linked to a specific individual.
TDPSA was passed as House Bill 4 during the regular session of the 88th Texas Legislature. The law became effective July 1, 2024. Section 541.055(e), will go into effect January 1, 2025.
No Circulation Fees and Other Changes
News June 21, 2024
We're excited to announce several new changes at the library! These updates aim to enhance your experience and provide better access to our resources.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Feature May 15, 2024
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. Our library has many titles that explain the legal aspects of mental health issues. These books can be helpful whether you’re a lawyer representing a client or a family member caring for a loved one.
New & Improved Probate Law Guide
Feature April 25, 2024
For anyone dealing with a deceased relative's estate, the Texas probate process can seem daunting. We recently updated our Probate Law guide with information about many probate laws. It covers topics like formal administration, dealing with nonprobate property, and what happens when there is no will.
The guide also features materials in our library's collection that could be helpful to lawyers and nonlawyers alike. Read on for some highlights!
HeinOnline's Voting Rights & Election Law Database Now Available
Feature March 25, 2024
We are happy to announce that library patrons can now access HeinOnline's Voting Rights & Election Law database remotely! This new addition to the library's roster of HeinOnline databases is a great starting point for anyone interested in current and historical resources on the electoral process, political campaigns, and voting rights.
National Consumer Protection Week is March 3rd–9th
Feature February 29, 2024
March 3rd – 9th is National Consumer Protection Week! Covering everything from debt collection to lemon laws, the library has many resources to help you learn about your rights as a consumer.
How to Hire a Lawyer
Feature January 31, 2024
If you find yourself facing a legal problem you can’t resolve, it may be time to call a professional. Lawyers can handle a variety of issues, including divorce, child custody, estate planning, starting a business, or providing a legal defense in a lawsuit.
Hiring a lawyer can be intimidating, but we have a few pointers for getting started. Head to our Hiring an Attorney guide for a full rundown.
New Laws Effective January 1st
News December 29, 2023
A total of 31 bills passed by the 88th Texas Legislature will go into effect on January 1, 2024.
Most new laws come from the regular legislative session that ended on May 29, 2023. Governor Greg Abbott also called four special sessions to consider additional legislation, some of which will become law on January 1. We may see more bills passed if the lawmakers gather again before the 89th Legislature convenes in 2025.
Over 700 bills passed by the current legislature already went into effect on September 1, 2023. A handful of bills are scheduled to become law at a later date.
New Law Will Prevent Private Employers From Requiring COVID-19 Vaccines
News December 1, 2023
Last month, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 7. The bill bans private employers from adopting or enforcing workplace COVID-19 vaccine mandates. State and local government employers are already prohibited from doing so in Chapter 81B of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
The new law will take effect on February 6, 2024. It covers employees, contractors, and job applicants in the private sector.
Texas Voters Approve 13 New Constitutional Amendments
News November 8, 2023
Texas voters approved 13 out of the 14 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution in the election yesterday, November 7, 2023. The legislature added the propositions to the ballot earlier this year.
The governor's proclamation is expected to follow shortly.
Reference Roundup: Small Claims Cases
Roundup October 16, 2023
People often turn to small claims courts to resolve disputes over smaller amounts of money. According to the Office of Court Administration's Annual Statistical Report for FY 2022, there were 246,850 small claims cases on the docket in Texas justice courts in 2022 alone.
Some examples of a small claims lawsuit include:
- A person damaged your property and won’t pay to fix it;
- You sold your car, but the person who bought it hasn’t paid you; or
- You paid a contractor for a job, but they never completed the work.
We've answered your frequently asked questions about small claims in a new series of Legal FAQs. Brief summaries are listed below, but make sure to read the full FAQs for additional information.
New Laws Effective September 1st
Feature August 31, 2023
Many new bills passed during the 88th Texas Legislative Sessions will go into effect on September 1st, 2023. A total of 774 bills and individual sections from 19 additional bills are scheduled to become law on this date.
A number of laws have already gone into effect or are scheduled to go into effect at a later date. We may see additional bills passed by this legislature if Governor Greg Abbott calls more legislative sessions before the 89th Legislature convenes in 2025.
Westlaw Access is Back!
News August 2, 2023
Exciting news! Patrons can now access Westlaw Classic in person at the library! Westlaw is one of the most prominent legal databases in the industry, and we are thrilled to offer this service to the public once again.
New Official Will Forms from the Texas Supreme Court
Feature June 13, 2023
If you’ve been thinking about writing a will, the Texas Supreme Court has made it easier to do so without an attorney. The court has approved several official forms for people who want to write their own will:
- Will Form for a Person Who is Single, Widowed, or Divorced and Who Has Children
- Will Form for a Married Person Who Has Children
- Will Form for a Person Who is Single, Widowed, or Divorced and Does Not Have Children
- Will Form for a Married Person Who Does Not Have Children
The forms are on the Forms page of the Texas Judicial Branch website. Bilingual versions with instructions in English and Spanish are also available.
Sine Die: 88th Regular Legislative Session Ends
News May 25, 2023
The 88th Texas Legislative Regular Session began on January 10th and concludes on Monday, May 29th. Now what? Here’s a look at what happens next.
Two New Collections Available Remotely from HeinOnline
Feature April 20, 2023
Great news! Our patrons now have remote access to two new legal reference collections available through HeinOnline:
To research these collections remotely, you’ll need a free library account. Texas residents can sign up for a library account directly through our website.
Reference Roundup: Love and Marriage
Roundup February 14, 2023
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we looked at the questions we often receive about Texas marriage laws. Here are the answers to some of your most frequently asked questions about marriage licenses, wedding ceremonies, and married name changes.
Be sure to visit our Marriage in Texas guide for more info!
88th Regular Legislative Session Begins
News January 9, 2023
Theere Texas Legislature's 88th Regular Session begins today! The session will run through May 29th, 2023. Here are a few pointers on the basics of the legislative process to help you stay up to date.
New Video & Legal FAQ: How do I remove a guest who won’t leave?
Feature December 8, 2022
Filled with the spirit of generosity that often accompanies a holiday season, people might feel more inclined to let their relatives, friends, or ex-partners temporarily stay in the spare bedroom. But what happens when a guest refuses to leave—even after the tree’s been taken down and you’ve asked them to leave multiple times?
Our Legal FAQ How do I remove a guest who won’t leave? points to several Texas laws and resources that may be useful if you find yourself in this kind of situation. A related video briefly summarizes a few key points.
Celebrating Veterans Day on November 11th
Feature November 10, 2022
Friday, November 11th is Veterans Day! In honor of our Texas veterans, we’d like to point out some legal resources available especially for veterans.
In-Person Voting in the November 8th Election
Feature November 3, 2022
Voters are heading to the polls to cast their vote in the November 8th election! Here is a brief primer on what to know when casting your vote.
Voting by Mail in the November 8th Election
Feature October 25, 2022
Voting by mail is an option available to certain qualified voters in Texas. The law allows voting by mail if a voter has a sickness or physical condition that prevents them from appearing at the polls on Election Day. Others who may vote by mail include people aged 65 or over, people who expect to be absent from their county during the voting period, certain pregnant voters, certain jailed voters, and a few other limited categories. Read on for more details!
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