Procedures in Condemnation Cases
Condemnation is the action of a governmental entity when it takes private property for a public use. When a state takes private land to build, expand, or develop a public highway, that private property is condemned through a judicial process that ultimately transfers the title of the land from the private owner to the state in exchange for the payment of funds that reflect the reasonable value of the land taken.More...
Types of Tenancies
Usually, when one thinks of the relationship between a landlord and a tenant, what comes to mind is a lease agreement between the parties where the tenant agrees to stay in the leased premises for a specified period of years and pay an agreed upon rent for the privilege of doing so. In actuality, the scenario described above is just one type of tenancy, a tenancy for years. The types of landlord/tenant relationships are as follows:More...
Sharecropping
Generally speaking, the term "sharecropping" refers to an between a property owner and another person whereby the property owner hires the other person to farm the property owner's land. In exchange for the person's labors, the person is entitled to receive a share of the crop or harvest. Over the years, however, many different forms of sharecropping arrangements have been developed between parties. More...
Lead Hazards
The issue of lead hazards is of particular concern with regard to dwellings built prior to 1978. In fact, the presence of lead, lead dust, or lead-based paint chips, presents serious hazards to children, as well as adults. More...
Initiative and Referendum
Initiative and referendum are two mechanisms by which the voters of a state can directly effectuate changes in the state law. Whether a particular state has an initiative process and/or a referendum process is determined by the constitution of the state. More...