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...
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...
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...
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...
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.
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
Whether it's your very first or your fifth company, if you're looking to start a new business venture, you have two options: 1) build your own from scratch or 2) buy an existing one. And while many entrepreneurs dream of building their own company from the ground up, the reality is, launching a b...
If you have started to save for your child or grandchild's college education, it's worth considering whether to use a 529 plan, an education savings account, or an Irrevocable Trust. Here's what we think you should consider as you decide: First, consider whether you want your offspring to have ...
If you are thinking about hiring a lawyer to help with your business, you may be wondering why you should work with us, your Family Business Lawyer™ rather than a “traditional” business lawyer. What makes us so different from other lawyers? The best way to explain how Family Business Lawyer™ firm...
If you have started to save for your child or grandchild's college education, it's worth considering whether to use a 529 plan, an education savings account, or an Irrevocable Trust. Here's what we think you should consider as you decide: First, consider whether you want your offspring to have ...
Using independent contractors (ICs) can give your company an edge in today's thriving gig economy, but if you are not careful, contractors can also be a serious liability. In fact, working with ICs comes with a number of unique legal and financial risks that can be potentially ruinous to your bus...
If you dream of one day leaving your company to your family, but you haven't properly included your business in your estate plan, that dream could become a nightmare for your heirs—and for your partners, team members, and clients, too. In fact, properly planning for what would happen to your busi...
There are numerous advantages to running your own business: being your own boss, setting your own hours, and getting to decide who you work with and what you work on. However, business ownership can also be one of the most stressful endeavors you'll ever undertake in your life. While running your...
If you are thinking of starting a business, you'll find all sorts of advice about how to go about getting your new venture off the ground. Indeed, there are entire websites devoted to the topic. Yet, with so much information out there, it's hard to know what you should heed and what you can ignor...
Do you feel obligated to check work emails, texts, and voicemails at all hours? Do you often work evenings, weekends, and holidays, even after you promised yourself you wouldn't? Do you feel pressured to say yes to pushy clients because it's easier than saying no? Do you feel resentful of clients...
When creating an estate plan, people are often most concerned with passing on the “big things” like real estate, bank accounts, and vehicles. Yet these possessions very often aren't the items that have the most meaning for the loved ones we leave behind. Smaller items, like family heirlooms and k...
Elder abuse can take a wide variety of forms, but we think the worst of the worst is caused by unscrupulous adult guardians appointed by a court to care for seniors who are no longer able to care for themselves. And though you may not want to believe such a thing could happen, you need to know th...
As we head into summer, many parents will see their children graduate high school and prepare to leave home to attend college or pursue other life goals. This can be an exciting and emotional time, and with so much going on, estate planning probably isn't at the front of your (or their) mind righ...
Protect Your Children's Inheritance With A Lifetime Asset Protection Trust As a parent, you're likely hoping to leave your children an inheritance. In fact, doing so may be one of the primary factors motivating your life's work. But without taking the proper precautions, the wealth you pass on is...
The Legal Issues Involved With Developing A Mobile App Along with websites, e-newsletters, and social media, in today's digital-everything world, many companies now have their own mobile apps. In fact, some companies' primary digital platform is their mobile app. And as smartphones, iPads, e-tabl...
