When faced with a terminal illness or condition, more people than ever are choosing hospice care over starting or continuing expensive medical treatments. Hospice care is for patients who choose not to undergo specific treatments or when they are no longer effective. Instead, the focus is on the patient’s comfort and quality of life. Care is received at home or in a facility, such as a hospital or a nursing home. In addition to supporting the patient’s end-of-life needs, hospice care includes the needs and concerns of the patient’s family.…Read More
Small businesses make a huge contribution to the U.S. economy. Nevertheless, starting a new business is risky. Lenders view loans to small businesses, particularly start-ups, as among the riskiest they make, particularly when there is little or no credit history or business revenue on which to base their decision. In an effort to lessen their risk, lenders frequently require small business owners to sign personal guarantees as a condition for giving the loan. A personal guarantee is a legal commitment by a business owner to repay a business debt if…Read More
Farming brings to mind kinship with nature and a simpler way of life. But the farming industry is highly regulated, and navigating the applicable laws and regulations can be far from simple. A rising world population creates greater demand for food and the farmers who produce it. With the age of the average farmer hovering around sixty years old, younger farmers and ranchers are also needed. Those who want to break into the farming business may do so to carry on a family tradition or start a new tradition as…Read More
The limited liability company (LLC) is a popular business structure that offers liability protection and avoidance of double taxation. Trusts are popular asset transfer vehicles that allow you to avoid probate and keep assets out of the hands of creditors. By placing LLC membership interests in a trust, business owners can combine the two types of legal entities and enjoy the best of both worlds. Transferring an LLC to a trust requires a bit of paperwork, and in multimember LLCs, may also require the consent of other members. But a…Read More
Both running a successful business and having a successful marriage require commitment and hard work. Operating a business as a married couple can present its share of challenges, but being devoted to one another as spouses and as business partners can bring higher levels of accountability and trust to the business. If you and your spouse can find ways to balance your work and personal lives, owning a business together can make your relationship even more rewarding. The potential for blurred lines in a couple-owned business makes it crucial that…Read More
Trusts and limited liability companies (LLCs) are both legal vehicles that can be used to manage and protect assets, minimize taxation, and avoid probate. Whether a trust or an LLC is a better choice may depend on the type of asset, but you do not necessarily have to choose between the two. In fact, an LLC can be placed in a trust. To explain how that works, it is first necessary to better understand each type of entity and clear up some common misconceptions about them. What Is A Trust?…Read More
As we age, our likelihood of mental incapacity increases. After all, our bodies and minds deteriorate as we age. Mental incapacity could result from dementia, stroke, brain injury, or other illness. What is mental incapacity and in what ways can you plan to be best prepared for it? You are mentally incapacitated if you are unable to carry out your affairs. Meaning, you can’t make meaningful decisions that are in your best interests regarding your finances or your property. Now that doesn’t mean that if you make financial decisions that…Read More
You might think that a board of directors is something that only big companies have, but all S corporations and C corporations—even small businesses—are legally required to have boards of directors. Specific rules for the board of directors are established in the corporate bylaws and other corporate documents. Some requirements for boards of directors, including duties they owe and when they must be named, are set by state law. At the early stages of your small business, your directors may come from within the organization, but as you grow and…Read More
Conversations about data privacy policies and website terms of use have become more common in recent months. Large companies like Facebook, Expedia, and Dick’s Sporting Goods have been involved in litigation involving agreements that address these very issues. The questions on most business owners’ minds are “What are these agreements?” and “Do I need them on my website?” Privacy policies and terms of use serve different purposes, but both are essential for any business that engages with customers via a website. What Is a Privacy Policy? A privacy policy is an agreement that…Read More
