Nothing contained herein should be construed to be legal advice or create an attorney/client relationship, nor is it intended to interfere with any existing attorney/client relationships. Consult with an attorney before taking any action.
Legal Issues for Small Businesses
From the initial start up to dealing with employees, there are many legal issues for a small business owner to consider. Frequently small business owners see legal fees to review documents or provide advice as an unnecessary expense. All too often legal issues are ignored until they become legal problems. The maxim of an ounce of prevention being better than a pound of cure rings true here.
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If Life Gives You a Lemon...
While we are on the subject of cars, what about this “Lemon Law”? This is a consumer protection law that does not apply to corporations, businesses or fleet purchases. It covers purchase or lease of late model cars with a GVW of 10,000 pounds or less. It does not cover conversion vans, motor homes, tractors, motorcycles, mopeds, snowmobiles, or off road vehicles such as four wheelers, or ATV’s.
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10 Things We Wish Our Clients Knew About Child Custody & Support Cases
Preparing for a Deposition
Depositions are sworn testimony taken out of court, to be used at court if needed. They are typically used for discovering other documents and witnesses, or pinning down a witnesses story so they cannot change it later. Sometimes they are used if a witness cannot be available on the date of the trial or if there is possibility that the witness may pass away before trial. They are taken under oath, so the same rules about telling the truth and perjury apply as for testimony in court.
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How to Interact with a GAL
First you need to understand that the Guardian Ad Litum (GAL) can make or break your case. You want the GAL to like you. To that end, you need to cooperate fully and make her job easy.
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How to Set Chores By Age
When it comes to chores, knowing what to expect from your child can be tough. For single parents, this is especially true. You think, “Can they really help? Should I have them help?” The answer is, yes. Remember, our job as parents is to help our children grow into mature, independent, and responsible adults. Our goals for them simply cannot be reached by waiting until adulthood to begin molding them. Setting expectations, and opportunities to achieve is one way we begin the “adult-prep” process.
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Instructions for a Surviving Spouse When One Spouse Dies
Buying Cars
We live in Indiana, land of the Motor Speedway, with no real public transportation system. Therefore, most people will, at some point, buy a car. Probably a used car. There are some key legal points you need to know before you hand over your hard earned cash for that hot set of wheels.
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Keep Your Car/Boat/RV Title Updated
Not promptly transferring title can cause problems down the road. For example, if you are involved in an accident your insurance company may (many will) balk at paying your claim if the car was not titled to you. This can be overcome, but it will delay your getting paid for the damage. This could have been avoided by promptly transferring title when you bought the car.
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Estate Planning – The Best Gift You Can Give To Those You Love
I was at a funeral the other day and the family was lamenting the deceased’s lack of estate planning. “We don’t know if he wanted to be cremated or not. We don’t know what bills, assets or insurance policies he had, or where he kept all his important papers. We don’t know how he wanted his estate divided. We don’t know if he had a will or not. We don’t know anything. There is a huge pile of papers on his desk and more in the kitchen drawers. We’re going to have to go through every piece of paper in the house to see if it’s a bill, if it’s been paid or not, or whether it’s an asset or an insurance policy that we should file a claim against. This is a nightmare.” And it is not an uncommon nightmare for people who lose a loved one. All because the deceased did not give his loved ones the best gift he could possibly give them – estate planning.
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Where There's A Will
So you read my article on estate planning and patted yourself on the back. “I’ve got a will, so I’ve done my estate planning.” Maybe, maybe not. Do you also have a living will, healthcare power of attorney and general power of attorney? If not, are you willing to let a court select the person to be your guardian if necessary? Do you know that anyone, including your nosey next door neighbor, can petition to be your guardian? Are your assets properly positioned for quick qualification for Medicare if necessary? Would you benefit from long term care insurance? Are you comfortable with minor beneficiaries getting their inheritance in a lump sum when they turn 18? Do you have a business, second spouse, large estate or unrelated beneficiaries of various ages, which would be better served by a living trust?
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Ethical Will
Perhaps the best known of all legal documents is the will—the instrument by which individuals direct how and to whom their assets are to be transferred upon their death. Often in consultation with other professionals such as accountants and financial planners, both general practitioners and estate planning specialists devote much or all of their professional time and resources to assisting their clients prepare their wills and ancillary documents in contemplation of wisely and efficiently transferring their wealth.
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Good Contracts Make Good Business Associates
You’ve probably all heard the phrase “good fences make good neighbors.” That is because good fences set the boundaries between neighbors. They both know where they can walk their dog, where to cut their grass or plant bushes, and when that ball has crossed over the line onto the neighbor’s property. Similarly, good contracts set the boundaries between business associates.
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Jury Duty
Remember your basic civics class? Remember your civic duties? Voting? Jury duty? Remember? Evidently, many of you have forgotten. I recently read where the response rate for jury duty summons had fallen from a poor 52% to an abysmal 30%.
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