Succession Planning is Necessary

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009

If you own a part or all of a closely-held business, you’ll have to put value to that business whether you like it or not. Otherwise, the IRS will.

Many things can happen, like selling or gifting a family business to the children, divorce (where valuation can become a very expensive legal battle), or death (where valuation is require for estate tax purposes). If there is a wrong valuation of your business, it can rob you of your hard-earned dollars. And your family will be affected as well. What’s worse, there’s even a possibility that you’re business might just be sold to taxes.

Make no mistake; it’s very easy to transfer business ownership to your kids. Just follow these simple steps:

1. *Recapitalize your company by converting majority of the old voting common stock into non-voting stock.
2. *Get an appraiser to value your non-voting stock.
3. *Take appropriate discounts – the law allows three separate discounts: minority discount, lack of marketability discount and non-voting stock costs less than voting stock discount.
4. *Elect S Corporation even if you’re now a C corporation.
5. *Transfer to your children only the non-voting stock.

A lawyer and a certified public accountant can help you with this process. You can find these professionals through referrals or lawyer listings online.

Tags: business, Divorce, IRS, lawyer, lawyer listings, online, referrals
Posted in Divorce | No Comments »

Drunk Driving: A Serious Charge for Teens

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

According to statistics, nearly 70% of teenagers have already consumed alcohol - whether hard liquor, wine, or beer.  Even if it’s illegal to sell these beverages to minors, still, there are irresponsible people doing it.

In fact, many teens have been caught for DUI (driving under the influence).  Also, more than 3,000 teens die of drinking and driving every year.  Why does this happen?

Most of the time, teens succumb to peer pressure.  Since parents do not allow them to drink at home, they resort to drinking in parties and neighborhood hangout.  And because of inexperience with alcohol, they often consume more than they could handle.  Therefore, they’re intoxicated while driving home.

The 18-year-olds record the highest crash rate.  Apparently, they feel that they’re indestructible, especially if alcohol is in their blood.

Though alcohol limit is usually between .08 - .10, most states apply zero tolerance laws to teen drivers.  So if teenagers are caught with any blood alcohol level (BAC), he or she will immediately be arrested by the police and charged with DUI.

Take note that this is a serious offense.  So when this happens, consult a DUI lawyer right away.  Lawyers can give help and legal assistance.  They can be found online through numerous websites and lawyer listings.

Tags: BAC, dui, DUI lawyer, lawyer listings, lawyers, teenagers. alcohol
Posted in dui, dui laws, dui lawyers | No Comments »

Arizona Divorce Lawyers Guide you to a Successful Outcome

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

As a father, it can be extremely difficult to go through a divorce, child custody, child support and visitation (timeshare). As much as possible, it’s always better to resolve them (with a mediator or counselor) without going to court. But if trial cannot be avoided, then you need someone who understands the requirements, rules, and pitfalls of the law.

If you’re living in Arizona, the best way for you to find a lawyer is through American lawyer referral. You can go online and search for reputable lawyer listings that have the names and addresses of these lawyers. You can also contact legal organizations or bar associations in Arizona.

When looking for Arizona divorce lawyers, make sure that you explain your situation thoroughly and say whether you are filing a new or existing case. Ask them about their law school and the organizations they belong to. Most importantly, go over some of their cases and experience in family law. It’s also critical for you to find out whether the lawyer you will hire believes that children should have a good and ongoing relationship with their dads.

You wouldn’t go into a safari jungle without a good guide right? Similarly, you should not dare to risk the loss and future of your children without contacting an experienced Arizona divorce lawyer to help you negotiate successfully for a win-win outcome.

Tags: American lawyer referral, Arizona, divorce lawyers, find a lawyer, lawyer listings
Posted in Attorneys in every State | No Comments »

Do you need to hire a Criminal Lawyer?

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

When you are facing a criminal charge, even if it’s just minor, you would surely benefit from a lawyer who has experience in criminal law. These types of lawyers do not provide representation in court. However, consulting them would make you understand the plea bargains that will likely be offered, available defenses, and the consequences of conviction – in other words, the entire nature of the charges filed against you.

If you have a serious charge, you should definitely hire a criminal lawyer to assist you with pre-trial issues. They can negotiate plea bargains that may improve your situation significantly, or even result in dismissal of charges.

Unfortunately, finding a lawyer truly skilled in criminal law is not always easy. Here are some suggestions:

Lawyer Listings – You can find listings or directories in the internet that includes criminal lawyers.

Courtroom Observation – You can sit through public court sessions and note the names of criminal lawyers in that court.

Referrals – You can contact your relatives and friends to recommend criminal lawyers you can hire.

Professional Organizations – Some states and major cities have organizations made up of criminal lawyers. An American directory search online will also be very helpful to find these organizations.

Tags: American directory search, criminal law, criminal lawyer, lawyer listings
Posted in Lawyers Online | No Comments »

Lawyer Listings Help you find the Best Attorney

Friday, April 10th, 2009

You need a competent lawyer for major circumstances in your life. But sometimes, you might find it hard to look for the right lawyer near your residence or office.

Searching for an attorney may be time consuming and tedious. However, if you use online lawyer listings, obtaining a list of lawyer names and law firms will be quick and easy.

Attorneys practice law in a specific state where they are licensed. They have a responsibility to understand your case very well, do extensive research on the laws concerning your case, and argue for you in front of a jury or judge. They are called trial lawyers.

Moreover, there are other attorneys that do not typically go to a courtroom. They are the ones who can help you write business contracts, register a trademark or patent, or help you prepare trusts and wills.

Due to this, it’s best to find attorneys with great listening skills. To make sure that you will get a good one, find lawyer listings that have referral programs. So when attorneys have good feedback from their clients, you will know that they come highly recommended. Truly, you can easily find the best attorney near your area when you use lawyer listings.

Tags: lawyer listings, trial lawyers
Posted in Lawyer Refferal, Lawyers Online | No Comments »