# Civil Litigation Attorney in El Paso > Understand what a contract, a lease or an estate actually obligates you to do before you sign or sue. Wyatt, Underwood & Grasheim handles wills, trusts, contracts and landlord-tenant disputes in El Paso, Texas, licensed in Texas and New Mexico. One of the three partners takes the file and carries it start to finish. Call [(915) 485-9100](tel:+19154859100) for a free case review. Hablamos español. ## Can they actually do that to me? Often, yes. A contract, a lease or a will can bind you to terms that feel unfair but are enforceable, and deadlines to contest them are short. Whether something is legal and whether it is worth fighting are different questions. Read what you signed before you decide which one you are asking. Most civil matters are settled by what somebody wrote down before anyone disagreed. A clear document costs a fraction of the argument it prevents, and an unclear one is usually why the argument exists. ## What we handle Wills, trusts, contracts and landlord-tenant disputes. Every one of these is tried in El Paso courts. ### Wills and trusts Dying without a will hands the distribution to a statute that knows nothing about your family. Texas offers routes that avoid probate entirely, if they are set up while there is time. First move: List what you own and how each thing is titled. Title often decides more than the will. ### Probate With a valid will Texas independent administration is among the simplest in the country. Without one it becomes among the slowest. First move: Find the original will. A copy makes a much harder case. ### Contract drafting and disputes Most contract fights are about a term nobody bothered to define. One clause about what happens when it goes wrong is worth more than a page of good intentions. First move: Bring every version, including the drafts and the emails around them. ### Landlord and tenant Texas sets specific deadlines and remedies, including a window for accounting for a deposit and penalties for withholding one without written reasons. First move: Send your forwarding address in writing and keep proof that you sent it. ### Business formation The entity sets your personal exposure and your tax treatment, and changing it later is harder than choosing carefully at the start. First move: Decide who owns what, and what happens if someone leaves, before you file. ### Collections and debt defense A debt buyer has to prove it owns the debt and that the amount is right. Many suits are defended on documents the plaintiff cannot produce. First move: Answer the citation. Most default judgments happen because nobody responded. ## What the firm actually does with the file ## Questions people ask before they hire anyone ### Can I sue in small claims court in El Paso? Texas Justice Courts hear civil disputes within a $20,000 limit, subject to exclusions and limits on the relief they can grant. File in the correct precinct and venue rather than the nearest courthouse. El Paso County Courts at Law Nos. 3 and 6 handle larger civil disputes and appeals from Justice Court. ### How long do I have to sue for breach of contract? A written contract claim in Texas generally carries a four-year limitations period, though accrual, contractual limitations and other theories can change the analysis. If you have been served: District and County Court answers are generally due by 10 a.m. on the Monday after 20 days from service, and Justice Court uses 14 days. Follow the citation you actually received. ## More on civil law - [Suing in justice court in El Paso County](/insights/small-claims-justice-court-el-paso): Texas justice courts hear eligible civil cases up to the 20,000 dollar limit, plus evictions. How to file in El Paso County, serve, and collect. (statutes checked 2026-09-14) - [How long you have to sue for breach of contract in Texas](/insights/breach-of-contract-deadline-texas): Texas generally gives you four years from the breach to sue on a contract. A demand letter does not stop the clock. Filing suit does. (statutes checked 2026-09-14) All of them: [Insights](/insights) ## Talk to a partner The case review is free, the call comes from a partner, and you get a straight answer either way. Even if the answer is that you do not need us. Call [(915) 485-9100](tel:+19154859100) or use the chat at the bottom right of any page. Hablamos español. Wyatt, Underwood & Grasheim 705 Texas Ave #100 El Paso, TX 79901 [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=705+Texas+Ave+%23100%2C+El+Paso%2C+TX+79901) General information about Texas procedure, not legal advice about your matter. Reading this page does not make the firm your lawyer. See the [Terms of Use](/terms).