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Business, Corporations and Partnerships

Setting up your business in the best form for your business and legal concerns is one of the most important decisions you can make.  Should you form a corporation, a partnership or a limited liability company?  Should you form your business in Texas or another state? 

After your business is operational, it is crucial to properly maintain the formal company records to protect the owners and investors from personal liability in the event of a lawsuit.

The experienced Texas business lawyers at the Law Office of Derek R. Van Gilder will guide you through the decision-making process of business formation, and then assist you in maintaining the formal company books to comply with all applicable law.

Contracts

Performing business transactions on a handshake is a risky proposition. A clear and properly written contract ensures that everyone understands their obligations and all of the terms of the agreement.  The experienced contract lawyers at the Law Office of Derek R. Van Gilder will provide an expertly written contract to guide your business transaction and to protect your legal interests.

Even when a contract is in place, it is no guarantee that each party will honor its obligations. When a breach of contract occurs, the law sets out the steps that must be taken to enforce the contract and/or to recover money damages. If you are a party to breached contract, the experienced breach of contract lawyers at the Law Office of Derek R. Van Gilder will fight to protect your rights under the law.

Divorce & Family Law

Divorce is never a pleasant experience--especially when children are involved.  Determining parental rights and dividing money, real property and personal property too often results in anger and hurt feelings. It is important to hire a Texas divorce and family law attorney who understands how to protect your parental rights and your other legal rights to bring a divorce and family law cases to a prompt resolution. The Texas divorce and family law attorneys at the Law Office of Derek R. Van Gilder have the experience to guide you through this difficult process.

Intellectual Property

Registering patents and trade marks and copyrighting your work is essential to preserve the ownership of your intellectual property.  Has someone infringed upon your protected work?  Texas patent attorney Derek Van Gilder is Licensed Civil Engineer who is also licensed to practice in the United States Patent & Trademark Office.  When you need an experienced intellectual property lawyer to register your work or to enforce your legal rights, the Law Office of Derek R. Van Gilder provides the reliable legal representation you need.

Oil & Gas

Do you have mineral interests in an area of oil and gas exploration?  If so, there's a good chance you will eventually be approached by an oil company and/or a Texas landman seeking to lease or purchase your mineral rights. There is no such thing as a "standard" Oil, Gas and Mineral Lease. Every oil company writes their own leases. It is absolutely crucial that you hire an experienced oil and gas attorney to review their proposed lease and to add the necessary provisions to ensure you get a fair price, that your land surface and water rights are protected, and that you understand exactly what the lease contract or mineral deed says.  The oil and gas lawyers at the Law Office of Derek R. Van Gilder will protect your interests and help you obtain the most favorable contract possible.

Personal Injury

Have you been injured? Have you lost a loved one in a wrongful death caused by the negligence of someone else?  If so, you can bet the insurance company is already working to deny or minimize your claim.  You need an experienced personal injury attorney in your corner to secure the evidence and build your case before the evidence is lost and witnesses disappear. 

The Texas personal injury lawyers at the Law Office of Derek R. Van Gilder have the experience and skill needed to battle the insurance company--including a jury trial if necessary.  The fact is, most personal injury and wrongful death cases settle. The question is, will you be offered a fair settlement? It takes an experienced Texas injury lawyer to properly prepare a case in order to obtain the insurance company's best offer.

Real Estate

The Bastrop real estate lawyers at the Law Office of Derek R. Van Gilder have assisted numerous clients in large commercial real estate transactions. You never want surprises in buying, selling or developing commercial real estate. Our experienced Bastrop County real estate lawyers will assist you in the successful completion of your commercial real estate project.

Wills, Trust & Probate

Careful and thorough attention to detail is the key to successful estate planning. The experienced Bastrop wills lawyers at the Law Office of Derek R. Van Gilder will draft a Final Will and Testament to accomplish your last wishes. Do you prefer to establish a trust for all or some of your assets? The Bastrop trust lawyers at the Law Office of Derek R. Van Gilder can create the perfect trust vehicle to protect and distribute your trust assets.

Then, when the time comes, the experienced Bastrop probate lawyers at the Law Office of Derek R. Van Gilder will guide your loved ones through the process of probate or administering the estate without the necessity of probate.