Law Office of Chris Bell

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Law Office of Chris Bell More than 30 years of practice, specializing in Commercial Litigation, Land Disputes, Personal Injury. 30+ years of trial experience.

We don't shy away from the courtroom. Houston:
The Esperson Building
808 Travis, Suite 400
Houston, Texas 77002

Brenham/Chappell Hill:
9727 FM 1371
Chappell Hill, Texas 77426

Telephone –
Houston: 713-489-1211
Chappell Hill: 979-353-0021

Fax – 713-583-5282

❌ MYTH:"It's my property. I can do whatever I want with it."You bought it. You pay the taxes. Your name is on the deed.B...
10/17/2026

❌ MYTH:
"It's my property. I can do whatever I want with it."

You bought it. You pay the taxes. Your name is on the deed.

But property ownership doesn't necessarily mean there are no limitations on how the land can be used.

Depending on the property, you may need to consider:

📄 Deed restrictions
🚧 Easements
🏗️ Permitting requirements
🏘️ Zoning or land-use regulations
🌳 Other restrictions or legal rights affecting the property

These issues can become especially important when you're planning to build, add structures, subdivide, create access, or change how property is being used.

Owning property and having an unrestricted right to use it however you want aren't necessarily the same thing.

Questions about your Texas property rights?

📞 Houston: 713-489-1211
📞 Brenham: 979-353-0021

Your business completes a $20,000 project.The work is finished.You send the invoice.Then the customer responds:"We're no...
10/15/2026

Your business completes a $20,000 project.

The work is finished.

You send the invoice.

Then the customer responds:

"We're not paying. The work wasn't what we expected."

Wait...WHAT?

Now you're dealing with more than an unpaid invoice.

You're dealing with a potential business dispute.

Before reacting, consider these steps:

📄 Review the contract.
What work was promised? What were the payment terms? Were there acceptance requirements?

📸 Gather proof of performance.
Keep photos, delivery confirmations, completed work records, and other evidence.

📩 Review communications.
Were concerns raised during the project? Were changes requested or approved?

🧾 Document the financial impact.
Keep invoices, expenses, and other records relevant to the disputed payment.

⚖️ Understand your legal options.
Depending on the circumstances, negotiation, a formal demand, or litigation may be appropriate.

The goal isn't always to rush into court. It's to understand the dispute and make an informed decision about protecting your business.

Questions about a commercial dispute?

📞 Houston: 713-489-1211
📞 Brenham: 979-353-0021

🐕 "HE'S NEVER BITTEN ANYONE BEFORE!"That's what the dog owner says after their dog bites someone.But does that automatic...
10/13/2026

🐕 "HE'S NEVER BITTEN ANYONE BEFORE!"

That's what the dog owner says after their dog bites someone.

But does that automatically mean the owner isn't responsible?

Not necessarily.

In Texas, determining responsibility for a dog bite can involve several factors.

🐾 Did the owner know the dog had dangerous tendencies?

🐾 Had the dog previously acted aggressively?

🐾 Was the owner negligent in controlling the animal?

🐾 Where and how did the incident occur?

Texas dog bite cases aren't always as simple as determining who owns the dog.

If you've been injured by a dog, consider these steps:

✔️ Seek appropriate medical attention promptly.

✔️ Document the injuries and location.

✔️ Obtain the owner's contact information, if safely possible.

✔️ Preserve witness information.

✔️ Report the incident to the appropriate local animal-control authority.

Every dog bite case is different, and the circumstances matter.

📞 Questions about your legal situation? Contact the Law Office of Chris Bell.

Houston: 713-489-1211
Brenham: 979-353-0021

Imagine you've used the same driveway to access your property for 20 years.Then your neighbor sells their property.The n...
10/11/2026

Imagine you've used the same driveway to access your property for 20 years.

Then your neighbor sells their property.

The new owner puts up a gate and tells you that you can no longer use it.

Now what?

Long-term use of someone else's property doesn't automatically establish a permanent legal right to continue using it.

Depending on the circumstances, access rights may involve:

📄 Recorded easements

🏡 Property deeds and legal descriptions

🚗 Historical use of the roadway

⚖️ Whether an easement may exist under Texas law

Simply saying, "I've always used it," may not be enough.

Before buying property—or assuming you have permanent access—make sure you understand your legal rights.

Dealing with an access or easement dispute?

📞 Houston: 713-489-1211
📞 Brenham: 979-353-0021

You discussed the project.You agreed on the price.You shook hands.Work started.And now the other party claims the agreem...
10/08/2026

You discussed the project.

You agreed on the price.

You shook hands.

Work started.

And now the other party claims the agreement was something completely different.

Sound familiar?

🤝 Here's where handshake agreements can become complicated.

In Texas, some verbal agreements may be legally enforceable, but proving exactly what was agreed upon can become difficult when memories and expectations don't match.

Before you find yourself in this situation:

✔️ Put important agreements in writing.

✔️ Clearly define the scope of work, responsibilities, and payment terms.

✔️ Document changes to the original agreement.

✔️ Keep emails, messages, invoices, and other communications.

✔️ Make sure both parties understand and acknowledge the terms.

A handshake may start a business relationship, but clear documentation can help protect it.

Already dealing with a disagreement over a business agreement?

📞 Questions about your legal situation? Contact the Law Office of Chris Bell.

Houston: 713-489-1211
Brenham: 979-353-0021

❌ MYTH:"I feel fine after the accident, so there's no reason to get checked out."Not necessarily.After an accident, some...
10/06/2026

❌ MYTH:
"I feel fine after the accident, so there's no reason to get checked out."

Not necessarily.

After an accident, some injuries or symptoms may not be immediately apparent.

If you're experiencing pain, discomfort, dizziness, limited movement, or other symptoms—or simply have concerns about an injury—seeking appropriate medical attention should be a priority.

Medical care also creates documentation showing when symptoms were reported and what treatment was provided.

Don't ignore symptoms because you walked away from the accident thinking, "I'm okay."

Your health comes first.

📞 Questions about your legal situation? Contact the Law Office of Chris Bell.

Houston: 713-489-1211
Brenham: 979-353-0021

🏡 WHAT WOULD YOU DO?Your neighbor just installed a brand-new fence.It looks great.There’s just one problem…You think it’...
10/03/2026

🏡 WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Your neighbor just installed a brand-new fence.

It looks great.

There’s just one problem…

You think it’s several feet onto YOUR property. 😳

Your first reaction might be to walk over, demand answers, or start planning how that fence is coming down.

But before turning a property line question into a neighborhood feud, take a few steps first.

📄 Review your deed and survey.
Don't assume the old fence, landscaping, driveway, or where you've always believed the property line to be necessarily establishes the legal boundary.

📸 Document the new fence.
Take photographs and keep records showing where the fence was installed and the surrounding property.

📐 Determine whether you need an updated survey.
If the existing survey doesn't clearly resolve the issue—or conditions have changed—a current professional survey may help clarify the boundary.

🗣️ Don't immediately escalate the situation.
Tearing down the fence yourself or turning the disagreement into a confrontation could create additional problems.

⚖️ If the boundary is still disputed, understand your legal options.
Property line disputes can involve deeds, surveys, legal descriptions, easements, historical use, and other evidence.

A fence may look like a clear dividing line, but its location doesn't necessarily determine who legally owns the land beneath it.

Dealing with a boundary or land dispute?

📞 Houston: 713-489-1211
📞 Brenham: 979-353-0021

What happens when another party breaches a business agreement?Maybe they stopped making payments.Maybe they didn't deliv...
10/01/2026

What happens when another party breaches a business agreement?

Maybe they stopped making payments.

Maybe they didn't deliver the goods or services promised.

Maybe deadlines keep passing with nothing getting done.

When one party fails to meet its obligations, the first reaction may be, "I'll sue them."

But that's not always the first—or best—step.

Start by reviewing the agreement. What exactly was each party required to do? What does the contract say about default, notice, dispute resolution, termination, or available remedies?

Then preserve your documentation—emails, texts, invoices, payment records, contracts, and other communications.

The more clearly you can establish what was agreed to, what actually happened, and how your business was affected, the better positioned you may be to evaluate your next move.

Don't wait until a business disagreement becomes a major dispute to start documenting it.

📞 Questions about a commercial dispute? Contact the Law Office of Chris Bell.

Houston: 713-489-1211
Brenham: 979-353-0021

A customer isn't paying.A vendor isn't performing.A partner isn't following the agreement.A contractor keeps missing dea...
09/29/2026

A customer isn't paying.

A vendor isn't performing.

A partner isn't following the agreement.

A contractor keeps missing deadlines.

Don't wait until months later to try to reconstruct what happened.

Keep contracts, invoices, emails, text messages, change orders, payment records, photographs, and written documentation of important conversations.

📞 Questions about your legal situation? Contact the Law Office of Chris Bell.
Houston: 713-489-1211 | Brenham: 979-353-0021

09/25/2026

Don't evaluate a settlement only by the number on the check.

Understand what you're agreeing to before you sign.

Questions about your legal situation?

Houston: 713-489-1211
Brenham: 979-353-0021

Address

Houston, TX

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+17134891211

Website

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