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George White, Attorney

News & Topics of Interest

A Non Family Code Solution to Get Your Client’s Property Back

By George White, August 19, 2016
Dallas Bar Association - Headnotes Article

Your client comes in, she is married and has left her husband, maybe staying in a shelter, he has changed the locks and she is afraid of him. The husband might even be subject to an EPO, but she cannot get her or her child’s property and has no time or money for family court. We all have seen variations on those scenarios.

Chapter 24A, Texas Property Code, a new section after evictions, now allows for an Order of Retrieval from the local J.P. It is relatively quick, cheap, and effective, at least for recovering the essentials. With a filing fee of $237, a fill in the blank form provided by the Court, a couple of friends as surety, and you can get the Judge to sign an Order of Retrieval, which has the benefit of a peace officer’s standby, something we rarely get. You can enter the residence and recover an itemized list of your property. The categories are listed in the Order. They include:

Medical records
Medicine and medical supplies
Clothing
Child care items
Legal or Financial Documents, including checks or bank or credit cards in the name of the applicant
Employment records
Personal identification documents
Educational or work-related books and supplies, including electronic devices
Items pertaining to personal safety

There are requirements. The application must be accompanied by a surety bond. The applicant cannot be under an EPO or a PO. The applicant must have been a resident of the apartment/house and provide proof. The applicant must not then be otherwise legally barred from the residence. The applicant must prove there is an immediate risk of personal harm to the applicant or his/her minor child if the property is not retrieved. Notice must be given to the person occupying the residence with an opportunity to be heard.

Once issued, a peace officer goes with the applicant and supervises the retrieval. He can use reasonable force to execute this Order. He inventories the items retrieved, he provides copies to the parties and the court, and, he can arrest the resident if he/she interferes with the retrieval for a Class B misdemeanor.

This solution is not perfect but should allow your client enough of his/her property to minimize the damage of the split up and continue living until you can resolve all other issues. If she is without funds to hire you she can do it his/herself.

MEDAL OF HONOR RIDE

On April 8, 2015 I was privileged to be among the over 300 honor guard riders escorting the 19 Medal of Honor recipients to Gainesville, Texas, the Medal of Honor city. To a man they epitomize the best we have. A highlight of my life.

The Wall That Heals

Honor the fallen and reflect on Americans who served during the Vietnam War by visiting The Wall That Heals, a traveling 250-foot replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The four-day exhibit will include events and educational opportunities.

VCNCT and TLTV
Veterans Coalition of North Texas and Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans

I was privileged this week to set up and man a booth representing Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans - Tarrant County Chapter at the VCNT monthly meeting. For those that have not heard of either here is their info.

The Veterans Coalition of North Central Texas (VCNT) was formed in August of 2011. The sponsoring agency was Mental Health America of Greater Dallas. Since their formation they have succeeded in joining forces with the Dallas County Veterans Office, Veterans for Christ, Child and Family Assessment Center, North Texas Military Association, the VA, Social Security and many other service organizations and businesses to provide monthly meetings to network, strategize and implement services for Veterans and their families.

Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans-Tarrant County Chapter, (“TLTV”), is a community service committee under the Tarrant County Bar Foundation, a nonprofit organization with a 501c(3) status. TLTV encourages and recruits Tarrant County attorneys to provide legal services for veterans and spouses of deceased veterans with legal issues in Tarrant County.TLTV organizes legal clinics to coordinate with individual volunteer attorneys who provide consultation and legal counseling in family, consumer/finance, probate, estate planning, bankruptcy, landlord/tenant, criminal and other legal matters. The program does not provide assistance regarding veterans’ benefits and is not income based.

It has been my honor to volunteer for both the Dallas and Tarrant chapter. As a Vet it is my duty to help where I can. The services have a motto of No Soldier Is Left Behind. Sadly once reintegrating into civilian life, problems arise and veterans are left with few options. I am encouraged by the fact that I see more and more agencies, businesses, and volunteers participating and doing more to provide resources and assistance.

YOU WERE THERE

I was asked why this title. Years ago (years and years) there was a TV show of that name. It dramatized historic events. I want my readers to share the event with me, so I started videotaping to try to make you feel like YOU were there.

Under the hot sun today Irving celebrated INDEPENDENCE DAY 2014 with their annual parade. Irving's American Legion Post 218 won the best in show (non-commercial) for the fourth year. I was honored they let me participate. Enjoy the day.

YOU WERE THERE
The Allied Memorial Remembrance Ride 2014

As a product of the conflict called WWII, I have been participating in the AMRR ride for several years. It now occurs in 7 countries on the same day. This years pilgrimage to the Terrell Cemetery to honor the 20 RAF pilots who died there during training for D Day added a contingent of Terrell school marine cadets, an escort by the Celtic Warriors, a motorcycle club comprised of law enforcement professionals, and a distinguished RAF squadron leader and decorated flight mechanic. We will continue to honor those who serve and made the ultimate sacrifice.

Video: Our entry into the Terrell Airport home of the British Flight Museum before the ride to the cemetery. We meet here with the contingent from East Texas.

Veterans Day 2013

ALLIED MEMORIAL REMEMBERANCE RIDE 2013

To us baby boomers WWII is barely a memory. But to our parents, it was a fact of life. It shaped their view of the world and influenced ours. Too many brave men were lost to families forever in that war. A small cemetary in Terrell Texas houses the remains of 20 brave British glider pilots. Over 2000 got their flight training in Terrell. Lives lost in training but never forgotten. Not in this country, nor Great Britain nor other allied countries. In Canada, the U.S. Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and other countries around the world around July 4, we who remember ride in their honor. We ride to Terrell, Texas. We ride to their graves. And we say, Thank you for your service, your ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Pictures of the 2013 Ride:

College of State Bar of Texas - Article by George White titled "APP SYNERGY IN LAW PRACTICE or How to Integrate an iDevice Into Your Law Practice

Have you ever attended a CLE on how to use apps in your practice? Maybe you arrive, excited to learn something, and then wind up confused as to how to implement the software, or the software you hear about isn’t really pertinent? I’ve been there. If I am lucky I walk away with one or two tidbits relevant to my work. This piece intends to take a deeper look into how to fully integrate mobile applications to actually help you in your practice. To read more click here

30th Annual Ft. Worth Parade of Lights

The 30th Annual Ft. Worth Parade of Lights had over 100 highly illuminated entries, 500,000 lights. Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans, Ft. Worth Chapter had an entry and I was privileged to help in its construction and use. Here halfway through construction. TLTV, a State Bar of Texas initiative, has chapters all over the State and I am a member of both the Dallas and Ft. Worth Chapter. We are honored to be able to provide free legal services to our servicemen who cant otherwise afford them. Visit www.txltxv.org

Veterans Day Parade - Dallas November 12, 2012

Since November 2000 Dallas has had a Veterans Day parade. This year's theme "Honoring the Doolittle Raid", the first WWII air raid against Japan, April 18, 1942.

Hosting many bands from local schools, active and retired military members and organizations, the American Legion, both posts and riders come out in force. There was even a decorated retired Australian Major riding in the Texas Army National Guard hummer. I was honored to ride with Post 453, Love Field, but almost all posts were represented, some even interviewed on TV news.

Ft. Worth Veternas Day Parade - November 10, 2012

The Ft. Worth Veterans Day Parade, organized by the Tarrant County Veterans Council, with a theme this year of honoring active duty soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan boasted over 5000 participants. Among them were the riders of several American Legion Posts around Tarrant county who banded together to honor their brothers. I was honored to ride with them proudly as a member of China Post 1.

75th Annual Country Day on the Hill parade, Cedar Hill, Texas October 13, 2012

Held in the historic downtown section of Cedar Hill Texas the annual parade always ends with American Legion Riders bringing up the rear. When it began thisw as symbolic of the service motto "Never leave someone behind" so Legion Riders ride at the end to pickup and carry anyone "left behind". I was honored to participate with the riders from Cedar Hill Post 111.