An easement gives someone the legal right to use another person’s property for a limited purpose, but it does not transfer ownership of the land itself. Easement ownership depends on whether the easement benefits a neighboring property or a specific person or entity. In most cases, the property that benefits from...
When Easement Disputes Require Legal Action in California
An easement gives one person the right to use another person’s property for a specific purpose—like accessing a driveway, maintaining utility lines, or crossing land to reach a shared road. In California, easements are common, but disagreements often arise over boundaries, maintenance responsibilities, or misuse. When informal discussions fail, legal action may...
What Is a Non-Disclosure in Real Estate and How to Respond
Buying property in California is often one of the most significant financial decisions you’ll make. You expect that the seller will be upfront about the condition of the home or building, but sometimes key details are left out. When a seller hides or fails to share information they are legally required...
What Constitutes a Breach of Real Estate Warranty in California?
Buying real estate in California is a significant financial decision, whether it’s a home in San Jose or an investment property in San Francisco. Deeds often include warranties—legal promises made by the seller to the buyer—that protect ownership rights. When those promises prove to be untrue, it can lead to costly...
How to Legally Handle a Contractor Who Walks Off the Job
Hiring a contractor for a home improvement or construction project involves trust and significant financial investment. Unfortunately, some homeowners find themselves in a stressful situation when a contractor walks away before completing the job. The result is often half-completed work, unexpected costs, and frustration.
California law provides protections...
Should You Withhold Payment From a Contractor? Legal Considerations for California Homeowners
You’ve hired a contractor to remodel your kitchen or repair your roof, but now the work is late—or worse, not done correctly. You’re frustrated, and it might feel tempting to stop making payments until the project is finished to your satisfaction. But can you legally do that?
Before deciding...
Unlicensed Contractors: Why That Could Hurt Your Case—or Help It
Maybe your contractor seemed like a good fit. The price was right, the timeline looked reasonable, and they promised to handle everything without red tape. But now, you’ve hit a wall: the work is flawed, delayed, or abandoned. Then you find out—they’re not even licensed.
If the contractor you...
Contractor Laws in California: What Homeowners Should Know
You’re ready to turn your fixer-upper into your dream home. You find a contractor with a decent quote, shake hands, and work gets underway. But weeks later, the scope keeps changing, the costs keep climbing, and you're not sure where your money is going—or if the work is even legal.
Breach of Contract in Home Renovations: When to Call a Lawyer
You hired a contractor, picked out the perfect tile, and maybe even lived with a porta-potty in your driveway for a month. But now the job’s half done, the workers are gone, and your contractor stopped responding. What started as your dream home project is now a legal and financial mess.
What to Do If Your Contractor Didn’t Do the Job Correctly
You paid thousands for a “professional” to remodel your bathroom. Now the tiles are uneven, the plumbing leaks, and the vanity is crooked. You point out the issues, and the contractor shrugs—or worse, tells you it’s “good enough.”
This happens more often than you’d expect, especially in cities like...