Estate planning can be confusing, especially when understanding the differences between wills and trusts. While both documents allow you to distribute your assets and property to loved ones after you pass away, they serve different purposes and have unique advantages and disadvantages. If you’re unsure which option is right for you, keep reading. We’ll explain […]
Estate planning is an important process for anyone with assets to pass on, but it’s also unfamiliar. For this reason, it’s best to have assistance from a lawyer who knows all of the options available to you and how to prepare the necessary documents to stand up to scrutiny later. If you plan on consulting […]
Residential leases are full of legally required safeguards to help keep them fair because everyone needs a home, and virtually no one hires an attorney to review their rental agreement. Commercial leases are an entirely different beast. The rules protecting home renters do not apply in the commercial context, as both parties are presumed to […]
When you’ve been wronged by someone else, intentionally or by accident, and your injuries are substantial, you may be left wondering if you have a legal remedy in the form of a lawsuit. In order to have a civil lawsuit case, there has to be some legal theory supporting the other party’s liability. This is […]
Tax problems are a special kind of misery. The U.S. Tax Code is so complicated most people just try to muddle through it every year and hope no one is paying too much attention. Then one day, a letter arrives and it turns out the government was paying attention—now they’re demanding money you don’t have, […]
Power of attorney (POA) is a very useful legal instrument that authorizes someone to make decisions on your behalf. Similar to an executor who has the power to handle your affairs after you pass away, the person to whom you grant power of attorney (called an “agent” or “attorney, in fact”) has the power to […]
Estate planning is a unique area of law. It’s not adversarial, so it’s relatively easy to accomplish all your goals, but if you make any mistakes, you won’t be around to fix them. For this reason, it’s essential to put a lot of thought into every aspect of your estate plan and benefit from a […]
Something unique about our homes provokes a deep emotional response during disputes. Not only is it the place where we live, but for most families, it is by far the largest financial investment they will make. Combine this with the complexity of modern property conveyances, and one can see why property disputes are so common. […]
Everyone is familiar with a lawsuit; in fact, many people will be involved in one at some point in their life. (If you’ve ever received a notification regarding a class action, you’ve likely been a party to a lawsuit.) But unfortunately, most people don’t know what to expect after filing a lawsuit. Here we’ll go […]
Small businesses go through many changes as they develop and grow. A company that starts out as just one person and an idea can become an organization with hundreds of employees and multiple locations. A business’ growth is invariably accompanied by greater responsibilities and—for better or worse—greater legal burdens. What’s more, creating a strong business […]
Everyone should have an estate plan—we are have at least some possessions to pass on—yet most people will put off creating an estate plan as long as possible. It’s easy to understand why, but the fact is that while it’s never too early to make an estate plan, someday, it will be too late. If […]
When debt piles up beyond what you can manage, it can feel like drowning. You receive a constant flood of letters and phone calls from collectors, and the compounding interest takes on a life of its own. For people in this situation, declaring bankruptcy can be an attractive option. It wipes out many, if not […]
Buying a home consistently ranks as one of the most stressful life events people experience. Not only is a lot of money on the line (for most of us, it is the single largest purchase we’ll ever make), but our hopes and dreams for the future are tied up in it. Home buyers regularly consult […]
For most people, selling and buying real estate will be their most complicated experience with contracts. There are many moving parts: home loans, escrow, title transfers, easements, and more. Thankfully, the process is so common that for most people, it will go relatively smoothly (even if it is frustrating at the moment), and the buyer […]
Life is always changing. With it, our estate planning needs to change as well. As far as major life upheavals go, nothing quite compares to the recent COVID-19 pandemic. As it appears to be winding down, at least we hope, now is a good time to take a hard look at your existing estate plan […]
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