Latest & Greatest – Make Your Own Living Trust

By Denis Clifford

Published by Nolo

KF 734 .Z9 C57 2019

Photo Credit: Helen Hartman

If you’re seeking a way to dispose of your property after your death without your heirs and beneficiaries having to go through the legal process known as probate, then a living trust might be the mechanism through which you can achieve that goal. A living trust, or an inter vivos trust, transfers property designated under the trust to your loved ones upon your death without the need for probate. Sound appealing? Then, you might want to have a look at Nolo’s Make Your Own Living Trust. Denis Clifford, an estate planning attorney, explains what a living trust is, how it works, and what its advantages and potential downsides are. With this book, you can also learn how to:

• determine the type of trust that is right for you;

• choose what property to place into the trust;

• choose a successor trustee and designate beneficiaries;

• prepare the living trust document; and

• transfer property to the trust.

There are also plenty of sample forms to help draft your living trust and a glossary to help explain some key terms.

Before you embark on this estate-planning tool, read Make Your Own Living Trust. Find it in the Law Library’s Self-Help Collection. Other titles that you might find useful on this and similar topics are: Estate Planning Basics, Plan Your Estate, and Quick and Legal Will Book.

Space Law - Apollo 11 Moon Landing, 50th Anniversary

Saturday, July 20, 2019 was the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing. Here in Space City, we’re marking the event with an exhibit, currently on display in the Law Library lobby, a digital exhibit on The Law of Space, and a compilation of resources from the Harris County Law Library’s print collection. Included are a number of primary law materials (listed below) and related visual content, which you can find on NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory website and download for personal use.

• The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, contained in the United States Statues at Large, Pub. L. No. 85-568, 72 Stat. 426-438, established NASA and marked America’s official entry into the Space Race.

• The Code of Federal Regulations, Title 14: Aeronautics and Space details the purpose, function, and organization of NASA as mandated by Congress.

• To accommodate the large number of astronauts who live in Texas, the Secretary of State adopted special rules, spelled out in the Texas Administrative Code §81.35, that authorize NASA to implement procedures for casting ballots in outer space.

• The Outer Space Treaty, the multilateral agreement that established the governance of state activities in the exploration and use of outer space, was signed by more than 100 countries. It was first proposed by the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in August of 1966, making this the 50th anniversary of its conception.

Article I, which captures the spirit of the Outer Space Treaty, is excerpted here. As we recognize this sentiment of equality, good will, adventure, and cooperation, the Harris County Law Library invites you to explore our resources. Plan your visit today!

“The exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development, and shall be the province of all mankind.

 Outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, shall be free for exploration and use by all States without discrimination of any kind, on a basis of equality and in accordance with international law, and there shall be free access to all areas of celestial bodies.

There shall be freedom of scientific investigation in outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, and States shall facilitate and encourage international co-operation in such investigation.”

Additional resources have been previously reviewed on Ex Libris Juris as Latest & Greatest features.

• Conflicts in Space and the Rule of Law

• Newspace Commercialisation and the Law

• Global Space Governance and the UN 2030 Agenda

It's Access to Legal Information Week!

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Harris County Commissioners Court recognized July 14-20 as “Access to Legal Information Week” with a July 9 resolution to encourage all to visit the Harris County Law Library to learn about the valuable resources and services available. Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan and the Law Library are celebrating “Access to Legal Information Week” with a week’s worth of event to raise awareness about legal research resources available to all at our downtown Houston location. Stop by the Law Library Reference Desk Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 7:00 pm to request a tour and learn about legal information resources available to the people of Harris County. Access to Legal Information Week events will include the following:

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Sunday, July 14

Our law librarians kicked off the week in Washington, D.C. at the 112th Annual Conference of the American Association of Law Libraries to receive the inaugural Excellence in Community Engagement Award for our Harvey Recovery Resources webpage.

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Monday, July 15

The Law Library will begin offering tours for patrons at 8 a.m. Stop by all week to learn about the resources and services available for legal researchers and self-represented litigants. Plan your visit with driving directions and parking information on our Contact Us page.

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Tuesday, July 16

Our law librarians will be recognized at the AALL Annual Meeting with the Joseph L. Andrews Legal Literature Award for our work on the Pro Se Litigant Handbook and Manual para Litigantes Pro Se, which connect Harris County’s self-represented litigants with current, accurate information about a wealth of local legal aid resources. Stop by the Law Library to pick up a copy or visit our Self-Help page to access the digital version.

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Wednesday, July 17

Join us Wednesday starting at 8 a.m. to receive a copy of our limited edition Digital Destination Passport. The Law Library has greatly expanded the digital resources available to all legal researchers in Harris County. The Passport takes patrons on a journey through eight new resources available for free at the Law Library and provides an opportunity for public and attorney patrons to learn about all the information available at your fingertips within steps of the courthouses at our downtown Houston location. Visit our Digital Destinations Passport page to learn more.

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Thursday, July 18

Join us for a Hands-On Legal Tech Training on Thursday at 2 p.m. to learn how to Find & Format Legal Forms using the free databases available at the Harris County Law Library. Each Thursday, our law librarians offers classes accredited by the State Bar of Texas to all of our patrons for free to increase access to legal resources through our Legal Tech Institute. Visit our Legal Tech Institute Course Calendar to sign up for a free session today!

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Friday, July 19

Deputy Director Joe Lawson will visit the 1910 Courthouse to lead an advanced legal research class for interns of the 1st and 14th Texas Courts of Appeals. Each summer interns from the Courts and Harris County Attorney’s Office have the opportunity to sharpen their legal research skills with training sessions from the Harris County Law Library to ensure our newest legal professionals have access to the legal information they need to move our justice system forward in their careers.

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Saturday, July 20

The Harris County Law Library is closed on Saturdays, but that doesn’t mean access to legal information stops. Visit our Legal Tech Institute On-Demand Learning page to find videos about legal tech topics and access to legal information. Several videos are accredited by the State Bar of Texas and there is something for everyone.

The 2019 Solo and Small Firm Legal Technology Guide

By Sharon D. Nelson, John W. Simek, and Michael C. Maschke

Published by American Bar Association Law Practice Division (2019)

KF 320 .A9 N457 2019

Photo Credit: Helen Hartman

The American Bar Association’s annual guide to legal technology has arrived here at the Law Library. Newly updated, The 2019 Solo and Small Firm Legal Technology Guide is the guide to assist solo and small firm attorneys navigate the world of legal tech. The Guide offers information and recommendations to help attorneys find the technological equipment that will give them the most bang for their buck. From hardware to software to smartphones and anything else in between, the Guide takes the guesswork out of purchasing the computer equipment that is most appropriate for your office and business. Updated topics include:

• new hardware and software recommendations;

• best products to protect sensitive data;

• tips for secure remote access to data;

• suggestions to help you prepare for the unexpected and unthinkable, such as data breaches, lost smartphones, natural disasters; and

• a roundup of tomorrow’s legal technology trends.

Intrigued? Come to the Harris County Law Library and ask for The 2019 Solo and Small Firm Legal Technology Guide at the reference desk. It can be found in our Legal Tech Collection.

How Children's Books Promote Access to Justice

How does a children’s reading collection assist with access to justice? Very well, actually, when you consider the statistics related to individuals in need of access to justice services. In 2018, 24,050 family law cases in Harris County, Texas, were initiated by a self-represented litigant, which accounted for 82.4% of all civil cases with self-represented petitioners and 41.5% of new family cases filed.* Such large numbers of individuals who go to court without representation is the result of a well-documented, nationwide lack of resources for legal aid for the poorest Americans and a second justice gap highlighted in the 2016 Texas Commission to Expand Civil Legal Services Releases Report that affects individuals who earn too much to qualify for legal aid, but are still unable to afford traditional legal services.

Yes, but what does that have to do with children’s books?

Well, the combination of family law issues and a lack of funds often means self-represented litigants have to venture to the courthouse and are unable to afford childcare in addition to legal services. That means the kids come, too. Frequently - more than 55,000 times in 2018 - self-represented litigants visit the Law Library to access legal information and knowledge as part of the process. Under stress and needing to concentrate, the caregivers benefit from the brief break the children’s section affords, but the benefits run much deeper than that.

“A general diffusion of knowledge being essential to the preservation of the liberties and rights of the people”

As Books Between Kids, a local non-profit organization that collects books to distribute to marginalized children throughout Houston, points out, books are often scarce and considered “luxury” items in modest-means households, which can hinder a child’s ability to participate in and complete basic education. The Legal Services Corporation Justice Gap Report indicates strong correlations between limited education, poverty, and a need for access to justice services. By providing access to age-appropriate reading material for free in partnership with the Harris County Public Library, we can give kids access to learning opportunities they might not otherwise experience. In the aggregate, that transforms thousands of visits to the courthouse and law library into opportunities to promote education, which has the potential to help thousands of kids in modest-means households avoid falling through justice gaps later in life.

A step further

The Law Library also distributes kids activity books from the State Bar of Texas. Two titles - Let’s Learn a Little About the Law and Luis Goes to Court - carry all the benefits of the children’s reading materials with the added benefit of educating kids on laws and court procedures in Texas. Available in both English and Spanish, the activity books help kids learn about the legal system. In the case of Luis Goes to Court, the activity book can even be used to help kids understand how to participate in a court proceeding as a witness. With so many family law cases in Harris County, it is a needed resource and we are pleased to collaborate with the State Bar to make it available at the point of need.

Why the Rainbow?

Law library books tend fall into “professional-looking” color palates that many might call… boring. Thanks to Helen Hartman, our summer intern who joins us from the Harris County Commissioner Precinct One LEE Internship Program, the children’s reading collection stands out in the sea of brown, navy, and burgundy! We realize this organization scheme is controversial with our public library colleagues, so we’ll apologize for any anxiety it causes and we’ll promise never to organize a larger collection this way.

*Statistics retrieved from Texas Office of Court Administration Court Activity Reporting and Directory System on February 28, 2018.