What Happens When You Sign? Why Courts Usually Hold You to the Paper
What Happens When You Sign? Why Courts Usually Hold You to the Paper Signing a document—whether it’s a purchase contract, promissory note, lease, settlement…
Houston Real Estate, Business Litigation, Insurance & Estate Attorneys
Hayes Hunter PC represents property owners, investors, developers, contractors, businesses and families across Harris County and Texas.
Litigation, title, construction liens, commercial leasing and transactions.
Contract, partnership, fraud and intellectual-property disputes.
The firm, in brief
Hayes Hunter PC is a Houston, Texas law firm led by attorney Charles Hunter. Its primary practice is real estate litigation and transactions, including quiet title, partition, mechanic's liens, commercial leases, broker disputes and contract enforcement. The firm also handles business litigation, storm insurance recovery and estate planning from its office at 4265 San Felipe St, Suite 1000, in Houston's Galleria/Uptown area.
Larger firms often hand real estate disputes to junior associates. At Hayes Hunter PC, an experienced attorney reviews your title documents, contracts and liens from the first consultation and builds a strategy around the result you need: a clean title, a closed deal, or a judgment you can collect.
Practice focus · Real Estate Law
From the first contract draft to a jury verdict, we handle the full life of a Texas real estate matter. Most clients come to us with one of four kinds of problems.
When ownership of Houston property is challenged, we litigate it. We bring suits to quiet title, trespass to try title actions under Chapter 22 of the Texas Property Code, partition suits between co-owners and heirs, deed reformation and cancellation claims, and specific performance actions to force a closing.
Texas Property Code Chapter 53 makes mechanic's and materialman's liens a powerful tool, but one with strict notice and filing deadlines. We perfect liens for contractors and suppliers, and we move to remove invalid liens for owners through summary motions under §53.160.
We negotiate and enforce the documents behind commercial property: purchase and sale agreements, commercial leases, letters of intent and closing documents. When a lease or deal breaks down, we handle the landlord-tenant dispute in Harris County courts.
We represent clients in claims against real estate brokers and agents licensed under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1101, in seller disclosure fraud claims under Property Code §5.008, and in adverse possession, easement and boundary disputes. We also defend homeowners in HOA enforcement and foreclosure under Property Code Chapter 209.
When to call a real estate attorney
Specific performance, earnest-money recovery or damages.
Specific PerformanceSummary motion to remove the lien, plus fees and fraudulent-lien claims.
Lien RemovalQuiet title or trespass to try title to clear ownership of record.
Quiet Title LawsuitsPartition in kind or by sale, or a negotiated buyout.
Partition LawsuitsBoundary, easement and adverse possession litigation.
Easement & Boundary DisputesFraud, DTPA, fiduciary-duty and TREC recovery claims.
Seller Disclosure FraudEnforcement, defense and lockout or eviction strategy.
Landlord-Tenant DisputesChapter 209 defenses and post-sale redemption rights.
HOA Disputes & ForeclosureRecent results
Every matter is different, and past results do not guarantee a future outcome. These cases show how we prepare: thoroughly, and with trial in mind.
Breach of a business sale agreement.
Read the case ~$500K Insurance recoveryFire claim recovered after two prior firms could not break the stalemate.
Read the case $250K+ Saved for clientFederal court invalidated an unfair penalty clause in a settlement agreement.
Read the case Partition Inherited homePartition action resolved a dispute between sisters over an inherited home.
Read the case
Principal attorney
A finance-trained litigator who reads a deal the way a lender, a title company and a jury will.
Charles Hunter earned his BBA in Finance with honors from The University of Texas at Austin, then his J.D. from UT Law, where he served as Note Editor of the Review of Litigation. He is admitted to practice in Texas, California and Washington.
His practice goes to the heart of how real property changes hands. He has represented county governments across the nation in actions to collect deed recording fees and real property transfer taxes from banks, title companies and government-sponsored enterprises. Today he leads the firm's real estate and business litigation practice for Houston owners, investors and companies.
Also serving businesses
Business disputes often start with a contract or a broken partnership. We represent Houston companies, owners and executives in breach of contract, partnership and shareholder disputes, fraud and fiduciary claims, and trademark and trade-secret litigation. We also draft the contracts and formation documents that help prevent those disputes.
Also serving property owners & families
When an insurer underpays or denies a hail, wind, fire or water claim on your home or commercial property, we pursue the policy benefits you paid for. We also prepare wills and trusts and guide families through probate, which often involves the same real property we protect in litigation.
What to expect
A brief, no-obligation call to understand your property or business issue and whether we are the right fit.
An in-depth review of your deeds, contracts, liens and correspondence with an attorney, and a preliminary strategy.
A tailored plan with clear action items, realistic timelines and a direct line to the attorney handling your matter.
Negotiation, closing or litigation in Harris County and Texas courts, with you informed at every stage.
Reviews from Houston property owners, investors and business clients.
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I am sincerely grateful for your faith in me.
Mr. Hunter, You took my little case against Shoprider, et al., when no one else would. I thank you for that. Now I have had to prioritize my well-being. I felt you could take over my fight and I could just let go while you took them on for me.
My faith in being able to let this go to your trusted care broke when I received what I thought was the final draft of the complaint. I learned that I did need to stay engaged to a level I cannot meet. At any rate, I probably would not be here to the end of the legalities. I must now realize 87 year olds are, after all, vulnerable. Not self-pity. Just accepting reality. I am sincerely grateful for your faith in me.
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Attorney Charles Hunter represented me in a tough lawsuit
“Attorney Charles Hunter represented me in a tough lawsuit and won this case although he has several attorneys come against him, he is not only a winner of my case but also a winner of several cases he has represented, his winning reputation and winning ways makes him the best of referrals and recommendations ever.”
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Thank you Luke Miller,
You solved that high-pressure situation with your brilliant argumentative skills and this has positively affected my situation.
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Knowledgeable, Highly Competent and Professional
After Hurricane Harvey damaged our condo, our insurance and HOA were pointing fingers at each other regarding liability. It got really complicated, and after trying to resolve the issue on our own, we began to realize we needed legal assistance. Thankfully, we found Charles Hunter who helped us navigate our legal options. He was knowledgeable, highly competent and professional, and won our case. I would definitely recommend Mr. Hunter if you are looking for an experienced attorney who will work hard for you.
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First-Rate Knowledge of the Law
Charles Hunter has provided excellent services and put his first-rate knowledge of the law on full display. He is professional, extremely reachable and responsive. He takes time to get to know you and your case. Because of my own experiences with Charles, I have referred several new clients to him and they are super pleased. Charles has made all legal matters a walk in the park for me and several friends and we couldn’t be happier. I highly recommend Hayes Hunter law firm – they do not disappoint!
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Smart, Responsive and Has Incredible Judgement
As a real estate investor and cryptocurrency investor, I encounter complex legal issues on a regular basis. It’s comforting to know Hayes Hunter and in particular, Charlie Hunter, is available to handle most of what arises. Charlie is smart, responsive and has incredible judgement. He’s my go-to attorney, and I will continue to recommend him to my business colleagues.
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Excellent Job, Impressed by How Responsive
Charles Hunter represented me in connection with a debt collection matter. He did an excellent job of handling the case, which was successfully resolved. I was particularly impressed by how responsive he was. I have worked with a number of attorneys over the years who may do good work, but are slow to respond, or do not complete the needed work in a timely fashion. This was never a problem with Charles.
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He Did an Excellent Job
Charles Hunter represented me in connection with a debt collection matter. He did an excellent job of handling the case, which was successfully resolved. I was particularly impressed by how responsive he was. I have worked with a number of attorneys over the years who may do good work, but are slow to respond, or do not complete the needed work in a timely fashion. This was never a problem with Charles.
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I Would Definitely Recommend Mr Hunter
After Hurricane Harvey damaged our condo, our insurance and HOA were pointing fingers at each other regarding liability. It got really complicated, and after trying to resolve the issue on our own, we began to realize we needed legal assistance. Thankfully, we found Charles Hunter who helped us navigate our legal options. He was knowledgeable, highly competent and professional, and won our case. I would definitely recommend Mr. Hunter if you are looking for an experienced attorney who will work hard for you.
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Deep Experience Gets the Matter Handled
Charlie has become my company’s attorney this past year. We have had several incidents where he has been remarkably responsive and thorough. He is very fair about his time, and with his deep experience gets the matter handled much more effectively and at lower cost then our prior firm’s associates delivered.
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Remarkably Responsive and Thorough
Charlie has become my company’s attorney this past year. We have had several incidents where he has been remarkably responsive and thorough. He is very fair about his time, and with his deep experience gets the matter handled much more effectively and at lower cost then our prior firm’s associates delivered.
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Deal with Multiple Eviction Cases Successfully
Charlie and Jessica has been answering a lot of legal questions and help me to deal with multiple eviction cases successfully
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Everything Went So Smoothly
Atty Jessica Chan is my lawyer that helped me in buying out my business partner. Everything went so smoothly and faster than I expected. She is very accommodating and very professional. I will definitely recommend her. Thank you so much Atty Chan!
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Knowledgeable, Attentive and Never too Busy
Jessica Chan and the team at Hayes Hunter are amazing! Amidst the solar headache that I was going through, she was able to help me through it all by being knowledgeable, attentive and never too busy to answer all 500 hundred of my questions. Her calm nature was definitely contagious where I often just put this nightmare in the back burner. I one hundred percent know that she and her team will handle this as best as they can! Anyone having solar issues SHOULD and MUST reach out to Hunter Hayes for their help!
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Hayes Hunter, You’re a Life Saver!!!
Jessica and her team at Hayes Hunter firm have been SUPER helpful in assisting me with my solar case. When I contacted the firm and explained my situation, they were very knowledgeable and just had recently settled on a similar case. She was very responsive and explained the process from end to end and knew exactly what to do in order to have the Mechanics Lien removed from our property. We are so thankful for all of their help and support and would absolutely reach out to them again for any legal issues or advice. Thank you again Hayes Hunter, you’re a life saver!!!
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions Houston property owners ask us most. For advice about your situation, talk to an attorney.
Ask Us Your QuestionA trespass to try title action under Chapter 22 of the Texas Property Code is the statutory method for deciding who holds title to real property. The plaintiff must prove superior title. A suit to quiet title is an equitable claim that removes a specific cloud on otherwise valid title, such as an invalid deed, lien or forged instrument. The right vehicle affects your burden of proof and whether attorney's fees can be recovered, so the choice matters before anything is filed.
Chapter 53 of the Texas Property Code imposes strict notice, filing and content requirements on lien claimants. If a lien is invalid or unenforceable, for example because deadlines were missed or the work was not performed, the owner can file a summary motion to remove it under §53.160. The court may award costs and reasonable attorney's fees. A knowingly fraudulent lien can also create liability under Chapter 12 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code.
Under the default paragraph of the standard TREC residential contract, the non-defaulting party generally may enforce specific performance, seek other relief allowed by law, or terminate and receive the earnest money. Commercial contracts set their own remedies. Specific performance requires showing you were ready, willing and able to close, so documenting your performance early is important.
Texas recognizes 3-, 5-, 10- and 25-year adverse possession periods under Sections 16.024–16.028 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code. The shorter periods require title, color of title, or a recorded deed and payment of taxes. In every case, possession must be actual, visible, continuous and hostile to the owner's claim. These claims are fact-intensive and are often paired with boundary and easement disputes.
Yes. Any joint owner can compel partition under Section 23.001 of the Texas Property Code. The court divides the property in kind when that is fair, or orders a sale and divides the proceeds. For heirs' property, Chapter 23A (the Uniform Partition of Heirs' Property Act) gives co-owners buyout rights and additional protections before a sale.
In some cases, yes, but Chapter 209 of the Texas Property Code limits it. An HOA cannot foreclose for amounts made up only of fines or attorney's fees, must provide specific notices first, and generally needs a court order. After a foreclosure sale, the owner has a statutory right to redeem the property within a set period after the association sends notice of the sale.
Texas brokers and agents are licensed under Chapter 1101 of the Texas Occupations Code and owe duties to their clients. Depending on the facts, claims can include negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and Deceptive Trade Practices Act violations, along with a complaint to the Texas Real Estate Commission. In qualifying cases, the Real Estate Recovery Trust Account may pay certain unpaid judgments against licensees.
Real estate litigation and transactions are our primary focus. We also represent clients in business litigation (breach of contract, partnership disputes, fraud, trademark and trade secrets), business contracts and formation, storm insurance recovery, and wills, trusts and probate.
Book a no-obligation discovery call or call (346) 363-0334. We will learn the basics of your situation, answer introductory questions and, if it is a fit, schedule an in-depth consultation with the attorney who would handle your matter. Se habla español.
This information is general in nature and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
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Visit our Houston office
Our office is on San Felipe Street in Houston's Galleria/Uptown area. We represent clients across Greater Houston, including Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria and Galveston counties, and handle matters throughout Texas.
Hayes Hunter PC