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Stillman Law Offices, LLC - The Business Law and Estate Planning Firm for Small Business
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Recent Posts

Estate Planning Mistakes and Failures
Estate Freezing Techniques
Health Care Directives and Why You Should Have One
Succession Planning: Why it is Important for Small Business Owners
Planning Ideas for the Highly Compensated. Part 1: Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plans – The Basics

Most Popular Posts

The next Hot Insurance product ...Or Not????
Don't let the tail wag the dog: Taxes are not the only reason to have an estate plan
Why a buy-sell agreement should be funded with life insurance
Happy families caring for each other: It is about more than your aging parents
Estate Planning for All Ages and Stages

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My Blog

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Why Use an Attorney When Starting a Business

If you are considering starting a new business, you have probably started compiling a list of things and processes you will need to take care of before you even open your doors. Your list of things to do most likely includes setting up an office, getting business cards, and evaluating website options, but have you considered contacting an attorney?

Many small businesses hold off on consulting an attorney until they run into legal trouble. In many cases, this will be too late and will result in major repercussions for the business.

Happy National Estate Planning Week!

It is National Estate Planning Week!  (ok so we had to declare it for ourselves!)  What is estate planning and what are the basics you ask?  Why is it important?   
 
Estate planning is a process utilizing the advice of trusted advisers to assist you with decisions about how to protect and distribute your assets(including your business if you own one) when you pass away, who should pay your bills and take care of your monetary affairs for you in the event that you are living but unable to take care of them yourself,  and also who should make medical decisions for you based upon your wishes in the event that you are injured but cannot communicate your desires clearly.

Why do you do It? Insight in our firm....

I have been blogging about business law and estate planning issues for a few months now and one client asked me " I love your posts but why do you do it?  Why do you get out of bed and do this work everyday?"  I realized that I have not told my story to too  many people so here it is...
 
I am the daughter of an entrepreneur/business owner who, while he may not have known it at the time, taught me so much about business and I have always wanted to do something with  what I have learned from him.

Why a buy-sell agreement should be funded with life insurance

 A formal buy sell agreement is between owners of a business to determine how the ownership of the business shall be disposed of upon the death or other circumstances of exit  of one of the owners.  The owners commonly use life insurance to fund the value. With two business owners, a cross purchase plan is the preferred method of ownership of the life insurance. This is where partner A owns a policy the life of on Partner B and vice versa.  These policies are individually owned, and can be paid for from company money.

Someone is running off with your business!!!!!! -Buy/Sell Agreements

You would sound an alarm if someone walked off with half of your money or your household possessions right?  If you are a business owner with partners and have not put a Buy/Sell Agreement in place you could watch part of your business walk right out the door and never know what hit you.   
 
A Buy/Sell Agreement is a must.  This is an agreement between business owners that spells out the terms by which any of you are allowed to be compensated for your share of ownership of the business upon certain events occurring.

10 things to be aware of when starting a business

Just like moving into a new house, starting a business can be so exciting!  Getting your concept off the ground and going gets the adrenaline pumping!!! 
 
But what about the formation of your business and making sure the foundation is strong and stable?  You buy homeowner's insurance to protect your new house - so why would you not get the same type of insurance policy for your new business....  yes,  you would get property and casualty insurance, but your business lawyer can provide a huge amount of protection as well.
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