Posted by Susan Ford | Sep 09, 2023 |
You don't have to be a famous producer or household name to own intellectual property. If you create music, own a business, write stories, or build gadgets in your garage, you almost certainly have intellectual property. However, because intellectual property is intangible, it's often overlooked. And if you do have intellectual property, it may hold significant sentimental and even monetary value for you and the people who love you. Without properly planning for these works in your estate plan, your family could lose these valuable assets forever...
Posted by Susan Ford | Aug 28, 2023 |
There's an often unspoken challenge that many entrepreneurs face - the distortion of one's perception of money. This week, I’m exploring how your mindset around money and abundance can hinder or grow your business. Read more…
Posted by Susan Ford | Aug 15, 2023 |
If you’re looking to turn your side hustle into your full-time career, you might be wondering if you can use your current employer’s group legal insurance to take care of your startup’s legal needs. Read more…
Posted by Susan Ford | Aug 07, 2023 |
To make sure your business is compliant with employment laws and that your team members are happy and focused, make sure you aren’t making any of these simple employment mistakes. Read more…
Posted by Susan Ford | Jun 27, 2023 |
Vacations are a time to relax, unwind, and create beautiful memories with your loved ones. But before you set off on your adventure, it's essential to ensure that your legal affairs are in order. Read more…
Posted by Susan Ford | Jun 21, 2023 |
Beginning January 1, 2024, the Corporate Transparency Act will require small businesses to file an annual report on the majority owners of the business, and failing to file the report comes with real consequences. So what exactly does this mean for you and your business? Keep reading to learn more.
Posted by Susan Ford | Jun 13, 2023 |
While the legalization of same-gender marriage and increased recognition of LGBTQ+ families has made LGBTQ+ rights more visible than ever before, there is still a large gap in estate planning for LGBTQ+ individuals that could leave your loved ones with a big mess. Read more…
Posted by Susan Ford | Jun 06, 2023 |
Insurance is a powerful tool that can provide you with peace of mind and safeguard the hard work you’ve put into your business. In this blog post, we'll explore five types of insurance that no business owner should go without. Read more…
Posted by Susan Ford | May 30, 2023 |
May is Senior Citizen’s Month, a time to reflect and appreciate all the things the seniors in our lives have done for us. Whether they are our parents, grandparents, or elderly friends, our seniors have given us so much over the years. While no one can predict how many more years we’ll have with our elderly loved ones, there is an easy way to capture their stories, wisdom, and love for future generations. Read more …
Posted by Susan Ford | May 23, 2023 |
One of the best-loved books for entrepreneurs is The E-Myth by Michael E. Gerber. In the book, he tells the story of a woman who always dreamed of owning a pie shop. She wanted nothing more than to spend her days doing what she loved and seeing her customers enjoy her pies. But once she opened he...
Posted by Susan Ford | May 15, 2023 |
When you think of estate planning, a Will is usually the first thing that comes to mind. In fact, most people who contact me tell me they don't need anything complicated for their estate- just a Will. Indeed, Wills have a reputation as the number one estate planning tool and can be seen all over ...
Posted by Susan Ford | May 09, 2023 |
AI technology is here, but don’t worry, you don’t need to be a techie to make AI work for you (or fear that it will lead to a revolution of Schwarzenegger-esque cyborgs). This week, I’m exploring 4 ways you can use AI language model software to make your family’s life easier. I’ll share real-world examples of the software in use, so you can free up more time for the things and people you love. Read it here…
Posted by Susan Ford | Apr 07, 2023 |
I know discussing topics like death, incapacity, and other potentially frightening life events, with someone like me, an estate planning lawyer, may feel intimidating or even morbid. Take a deep breath and relax… it doesn't have to and shouldn't be that way.
Hiring a lawyer to help you make wi...
Posted by Susan Ford | Mar 29, 2023 |
As the world and its laws continue to evolve, everyone needs to keep their estate plans up to date. An estate plan is a set of documents, such as a will or trust, that dictate how assets will be distributed upon death or incapacity. An individual's current legal and financial situation should be ...
Posted by Susan Ford | Mar 07, 2023 |
As a parent, you are quite accustomed to managing your children's legal and medical affairs, as circumstances require. If your child requires urgent medical attention while away from you, a simple phone call authorizing care can do the trick. But what happens when those “children” turn 18, now ad...
Posted by Res Nova Law | Jan 31, 2023 |
If you are looking to create your last will and testament, or will, online, you'll find dozens of websites that let you prepare a variety of estate planning documents for very little money, and even for free. With so many do-it-yourself online document services out there, you might believe you ca...
Posted by Res Nova Law | Jan 31, 2023 |
When starting a new business, putting the right legal agreements in place is crucial for protecting your assets and relationships. Yet far too many new business owners put off—or even entirely overlook—creating these vital documents. You might not even know which agreements you need.
The followi...
Posted by Res Nova Law | Jan 29, 2023 |
Far too many aspiring entrepreneurs jump-start their businesses without taking the time to plan properly. Just as a builder uses a blueprint to ensure a new construction project will be structurally sound, a carefully researched and well-thought-out business plan allows you to determine whether o...
Posted by Res Nova Law | Jan 04, 2023 |
A solid business plan can not only serve as a roadmap to guide your company’s progress, but it can also give you an opportunity to test the validity of your business model, research the market, understand your competition, and avoid potential pitfalls. And if you are applying for a loan or seeking investors, a business plan is a must-have to demonstrate that you’ve fully vetted your business’ financial feasibility.
Posted by Susan Ford | Dec 06, 2022 |
As you've surely heard by now, we're in the midst of great economic shifts. The collapse of the crypto market, the roller coaster that is the stock market, rising interest rates, dropping home values, and inflation through the roof—it's enough to make you sick. And it can make you sick, unless yo...
Posted by Susan Ford | Nov 11, 2022 |
This week we are shining our Small Business Spotlight on Sue Malo of RevLocal, a digital marketing company.
Sue grew up in Portland and graduated from Willamette University. After living in Chicago for 30 years, she returned home to her family and roots in the Pacific Northwest in 2016. Sue cons...
Posted by Susan Ford | Nov 11, 2022 |
When it comes to your company's identity, nothing is more vital to your company than your name and logo. By developing a catchy name and snazzy logo for your business, you can quickly get your company recognized, remembered, and respected.
Once you have come up with a winning name and logo, you ...
Posted by Res Nova Law | Oct 08, 2022 |
Following the death of a loved one, close family members are sometimes surprised to learn that they didn't receive the inheritance they were expecting, and that the deceased instead left most of their estate to an individual they only recently met, who wasn't even a relative. While it's not alway...
Posted by Res Nova Law | Oct 08, 2022 |
As you are thinking of starting your own business, you'll need to get clear on a number of issues to ensure both you and your operation are properly positioned for success. Oftentimes, aspiring entrepreneurs jump headfirst into business ownership, with false expectations of what it takes to run a...
Posted by Res Nova Law | Oct 04, 2022 |
On September 13, 2021, Democrats in the House of Representatives released a new $3.5 trillion proposed spending plan that includes a buffet of changes to federal tax laws. Specifically ,some significant tax increases and other changes to fund the plan, including increases to personal income tax r...