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Indiana Property Manager- January 2012 newsletter

Matt — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:57:10 +0000

I hope you enjoy reading this issue-

http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=2c52d9974f6ec0f725db2dd65&id=6dd0abd4dc

Indiana Law Update

Matt — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:19:05 +0000

GRIFFITH LAW GROUP LLC recently published its Indiana Law Update e-newsletter with articles about these topics:

Estate Planning Basics- Wills & Trusts
Quitclaim & Warranty Deeds
Safe Driving Rules & Liability Risks for Businesses
Announcing the addition of Drew Strobel as an associate attorney

Please feel free to read all the articles on the GRIFFITH LAW GROUP website and sign up for its newsletters.

Fearless Investing Seminar – May 21, 2011 – Part 2

Matt — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 02:44:52 +0000

video platform video management video solutions video player

Part 2 of a presentation by Attorney Matthew A. Griffith on real estate investing, presented at the Fearless Investing Seminar, Indianapolis, May 21, 2011. In this video, Mr. Griffith discusses land contracts, foreclosure, forfeiture, lease-options, land trusts and a number of important topics for real estate professionals and investors. Watch this and the following parts of this important seminar presentation.

You can purchase and watch this entire video at http://knomingo.com/investing/fearless-investing-seminar-may-21-2011-part-2-smallwm

Fearless Investing Seminar – May 21, 2011 – Part 1

Matt — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 20:20:55 +0000

video platform video management video solutions video player

Part 1 of a presentation by Attorney Matthew A. Griffith on real estate investing, presented at the Fearless Investing Seminar, Indianapolis, May 21, 2011. In this video, Mr. Griffith discusses land contracts, foreclosure, forfeiture, lease-options, land trusts and a number of important topics for real estate professionals and investors. Watch this and the following parts of this important seminar presentation.

You may purchase and watch this entire video by clicking “Purchase” above. For more e-Learning, go to-

Warranty of Habitability

Matt — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 21:07:51 +0000

Warranty of Habitability from Matthew Griffith on Vimeo.

Attorney’s Fees & the American Rule

Matt — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 19:21:52 +0000

Generally, each party to a dispute must bear his, her or its own litigation expenses. In other words, each party pays his or her own attorneys’ and expert witness fees, and the other costs of a lawsuit. The winner does not get to recover those fees from the loser. This system is known as the “American Rule.” There are two exceptions to the American Rule. A party can recover litigation expenses to the extent:

1. Permitted by a contract signed by a party against whom litigation expenses might be awarded.
2. Permitted by a statute.

To learn more, please visit our Law Library on my GRIFFITH LAW GROUP website- http://www.indybizlaw.com/attorneys-fees-the-american-rule

DON’T AMEND YOUR LEASE FOR GHOSTS

Matt — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 04:34:49 +0000

One of my old law partners and I wrote a great residential lease about 15 years ago. Over the years, I have made dozens and dozens of changes to that lease. For example, when a client calls me and reports a problem with a tenant that I had not previously experienced, I will consider the challenge faced by the landlord and will often address that situation by adding new language to my lease form. The lease grows each year by another sentence or two. Every year, I am surprised by the actions of irresponsible and reckless tenants who endanger themselves, their family, friends and property, not to mention the landlord’s property, by doing really dumb things. As long as tenants find new ways to pose risks to landlords, I will be adding new provisions to my lease form.

One of my favorite dumb-tenant activities involved the tenant placing a trampoline between the rental house and his unlawful above-ground pool. His children (young children) would climb a ladder onto the roof of the home, so that could jump off the roof, onto the trampoline and into the pool. Can you spell – L – I – A – B – I – L – I – T – Y?

It is impossible to predict or even react to every dumb thing that a tenant might do. So, it is impossible to guard against every liability risk in a good lease agreement. However, you should try to cover as many risks as are reasonable in a lease.

Last week, I received a call from a client about a risk that I do not think warrants a new provision in my lease form. Ghosts. Seriously, ghosts. The tenant called the landlord to complain about ghosts. I’m not talking about leaking noisy pipes or creaky floors. The tenant claims the rental home is haunted, and the tenant wants concessions from the landlord. And we don’t think the tenant is joking. It appears that the tenant is quite serious about the ghosts and the concessions.

While not every tenant demand, threat or crazy activity will warrant changes to your lease form, you should develop the practice of talking about such challenges with your lawyer and decide whether the threat warrants changes to your lease form or even to the rules promulgated under your lease form.

Asset Protection

Matt — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 04:14:18 +0000

Basic Asset Protection for small business owners is not complicated. In fact, for most small business owners, asset protection consists mostly of three key components: (1) a limited liability entity (corporation or limited liability company), (2) a solid and sensible insurance plan, and (3) good business practices developed, in part, with your business lawyer’s help or review. In this blog, Matt briefly explores these three basics components.

Asset Protection Basics from Matthew Griffith on Vimeo.

Matt’s 3 Rules of Landlording

Matt — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 03:50:55 +0000

Landlording is a tough business. More today than ever before, landlords need to stay vigilant and follow strict rules of operation to minimize risks and increase profits. After 18 years of representing landlords, I have developed several “rules of landlording.” Here are the first three rules-

MATT’s FIRST 3 RULES OF LANDLORDING.

Matt’s 3 Rules of Landlording from Matthew Griffith on Vimeo.

SAFE Act Catches Lawyers By Surprise

Matt — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 02:44:38 +0000

I have been writing and talking about the SAFE Act- which makes most land contracts in Indiana unlawful- for months now. I thought that I was the only lawyer in town who had heard of the new law. No one seemed to know about it.

That recently changed, as a wave of panic swept through the local real estate bar in recent weeks. And boy oh boy, are there some shocked and angry real estate lawyers out there. This is a horrible new law in that it makes it unlawful for many people to sell their own real estate on contract.

It has been such a rude awakening for so many lawyers that a Continuing Legal Education class was quickly organized for next Friday in a matter of weeks. Usually, CLE’s are planned months and months in advance.

Congratulations to those of you who listened to my teleclass on the SAFE Act or who read my blog. You knew about this crazy new law long before many real estate lawyers did.

If you want to learn more about the SAFE Act and the several new laws that have passed recently, register for the July 17 real estate class. Details are here.

You can also listen to the teleclass on this blog.