We get a lot of calls and emails from potential clients who state that our fees for legal services are too high, and they will just go online and use one of the popular online document preparation services to prepare their Will at a faction of the cost. It is true that our fees are higher than the online document preparation services sites. However, what most people don't consider is that we don't just fill in the blanks to prepare your new Will. We use our extensive knowledge and experience to analyze each client's personal situation, objectives and needs, and give advice and counsel relating to the best and proper way to handle their estate planning needs and objectives. Experience and expert counsel is what you are paying for, not just the preparation of a new Will or document.
Use of online document preparation services for Wills.
Entity Formation Considerations
With the advent of self-help legal websites and advances in on-line entity formation tools offered by many states, it is now easier than ever for anyone to form their own legal entity without the assistance of an attorney. However, the convenience offered by such options does come at a price that you may well end up paying down the road. Here are just a few of the things that you may be missing by opting to go without personal, professional legal representation in setting up a new entity:
PATH Act Permanently Changes Tax Impact of Conversion of C Corporations to S Corporations
S corporations are a creature of the Internal Revenue Code. They are corporations which have timely filed an S election with the IRS to be treated as a "pass through" entity; meaning that they generally pay no corporate-level federal income tax. The federal income tax attributes flow through to the shareholders of the corporation. Most small business entities are "pass through" entities-either S corporations or limited liability companies, taxed as partnerships or sole proprietorships.
Transfers Immediately before Death can be Counter-productive
February 3, 2016
Commercial Lease Considerations
November 6, 2015
Focus on Probate versus Non-Probate Assets
September 11, 2015
What To Expect: How To Select An Attorney To Represent You
September 11, 2015
An Overview of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act or "FDCPA" is a federal statute aimed at eliminating abusive debt collection practices by debt collectors. The FDCPA applies to the collection of debts that are primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. That is, it does not apply to the collection of commercial debts. It also does not apply to creditors who collect their own debts in their own names.
An Overview of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act
The Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act or "DTPA" is a set of statutes designed to supplement traditional common-law causes of action. The DTPA seeks to punish false, misleading, or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or practice. Because of the Act's liberal construction and attractive monetary remedies, it provides a powerful weapon to a broad range of plaintiffs.
Ancillary Probate
Over the last few weeks several of our new clients have had questions about the probate process for real property located in other states. I wanted to share with you some basic information about the process to help you understand and plan for the impact of owning out of state real property.
