Blog
Corporate Transparency Act: Beneficial Ownership Information Filing Requirements
The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) was enacted in 2021 and became effective on January 1, 2024. The CTA is designed to enhance transparency in entity
structures and ownership to combat money laundering, tax fraud, and other illicit activities.
Equine Activity Liability Release
Virginia has an excellent statute specifically limiting a landowner’s liability if a person engaging in equine activities is injured on the landowner’s property.
Can I Speak to a Lawyer?
A “quick question” to your local attorney is not as cut and dry as most people think. There are a few reasons why this is often not possible.
Construction Contract: Mediation/Trial Choices
Construction in our COVID world of delayed production/supply chain deliveries can cause potential breach of contract issues. Here are some issues we are seeing.
3 Reasons You Need a Will in Virginia
Having a last will and testament drawn out before you pass will save your family from complications that might happen with your property.
Avoiding Failed Contracts
Having seen too many clients face shoddy contractual work and failed contracts, there are the patterns in these often-avoidable outcomes. Protect yourself with these guidelines.
COVID-19 and Looking Ahead
Now that we have entered Phase 2 of the COVID-19 reopening, it feels like we are coming out of a long winter. COVID 19 has forced many people to recognize the importance of planning ahead. Instituting things such as Powers of Attorney and succession planning for businesses while you are healthy make for less headaches in the future.
Before You Sign a Document
Before you sign a document have your attorney review it! Doing so can save you money and avoid running in to trouble later on.
Should You Form a Corporation or LLC?
Corporations and Limited Liability Companies (“LLCs”) offer a layer of protection against individual liability, but which one should you choose?
Business Transactions
Business transactions include the following: an asset purchase of a business; a purchase of a percentage membership interest in an LLC or stock in a corporation both of which are purchases of assets subject to liabilities; the division of a partnership or LLC where each partner or member is allocated his or her assets and liabilities; and a merger of two business entities. Business transactions can also be the acquisition or sale of commercial real estate, sometimes subject to a tax free exchange…
Making Contracts Work for You
A client said to me after trial, in which she had prevailed on the majority, but not all of the issues: “If only I had taken the time at the beginning to write out what I understood would happen and had the other party sign, we would have had a better chance of having the judge see that last point our way. It didn’t occur to me at the beginning that we could have had such a different understanding of what was to happen (or what was included).”
Construction Contracts for Property Owners
Clients sometimes wonder whether an attorney is needed to draft or review a contract. My answer is “yes,” an attorney representing that party’s interest should draft or review a contract drafted by another party or his or her attorney…
Modern Technology as a Factor in the Purchase of Real Estate
I was contacted recently by a client who had signed a Contract of Purchase for a property in the country (i.e. outside of city limits). She was devastated to learn that the internet available was inadequate for her very demanding job. Nevertheless, the Seller insisted that she perform under the terms of the Contract of Purchase…
Estate Planning- for your future
I recently gave a talk—titled “Planning for Your Future: Powers of Attorney, Wills and Probate”—to a group of approximately sixty people, and answered questions throughout. That hour was a wake-up call for some members of the audience regarding these important planning issues
Litigation I – Options
A client recently retained me to take over a lawsuit that had already been filed. After reviewing the documents and meeting with the client, it became apparent that the client didn’t realize that he would have to testify at trial in order to have his photographs and other exhibits admitted into evidence. The client was adamant about not wanting to testify and be cross-examined.
Litigation II – Digging For All the Facts
I recently defended a client in an equine litigation matter. The complaint provided veterinarians’ names and some radiographs; however, there were substantial gaps in the pattern of the information provided.
Get Evidence Early – Landlord/Tenant Conflict
I recently took over a landlord/tenant case representing the landlord with substantial damage to the property when the tenant left. The landlord had drafted the lease using a document he found online. When we reviewed his evidence, I discovered the following weaknesses.
Dispute Mediation
Mediation is a useful tool in a lawyer’s arsenal to settle disputes. I recently took part in mediation involving three parties and their attorneys (of which I was one) using a mediator (a retired Virginia judge) to facilitate the process.
Business Succession Plan
A closely held business, especially a family business, needs a succession plan. A succession plan should be part of an overall business plan, just like profit and loss projections, product and marketing plans. Questions such as: Who will take over when the owner retires? Will the business be sold? To a co-owner? To an outsider? Who are the possible buyers? When will the business be sold? All of these questions need to be addressed.
Partition Suits
Partition suits are filed when multiple owners of real estate cannot agree as to the sale or division of the property. Partition suits are frequently used as a method of settling the division of real estate among beneficiaries of an estate who cannot agree.
Corporate Transparency Act: Beneficial Ownership Information Filing Requirements
The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) was enacted in 2021 and became effective on January 1, 2024. The CTA is designed to enhance transparency in entity
structures and ownership to combat money laundering, tax fraud, and other illicit activities.
Equine Activity Liability Release
Virginia has an excellent statute specifically limiting a landowner’s liability if a person engaging in equine activities is injured on the landowner’s property.
Can I Speak to a Lawyer?
A “quick question” to your local attorney is not as cut and dry as most people think. There are a few reasons why this is often not possible.
Construction Contract: Mediation/Trial Choices
Construction in our COVID world of delayed production/supply chain deliveries can cause potential breach of contract issues. Here are some issues we are seeing.
3 Reasons You Need a Will in Virginia
Having a last will and testament drawn out before you pass will save your family from complications that might happen with your property.
Avoiding Failed Contracts
Having seen too many clients face shoddy contractual work and failed contracts, there are the patterns in these often-avoidable outcomes. Protect yourself with these guidelines.
COVID-19 and Looking Ahead
Now that we have entered Phase 2 of the COVID-19 reopening, it feels like we are coming out of a long winter. COVID 19 has forced many people to recognize the importance of planning ahead. Instituting things such as Powers of Attorney and succession planning for businesses while you are healthy make for less headaches in the future.
Before You Sign a Document
Before you sign a document have your attorney review it! Doing so can save you money and avoid running in to trouble later on.
Should You Form a Corporation or LLC?
Corporations and Limited Liability Companies (“LLCs”) offer a layer of protection against individual liability, but which one should you choose?
Business Transactions
Business transactions include the following: an asset purchase of a business; a purchase of a percentage membership interest in an LLC or stock in a corporation both of which are purchases of assets subject to liabilities; the division of a partnership or LLC where each partner or member is allocated his or her assets and liabilities; and a merger of two business entities. Business transactions can also be the acquisition or sale of commercial real estate, sometimes subject to a tax free exchange…
Making Contracts Work for You
A client said to me after trial, in which she had prevailed on the majority, but not all of the issues: “If only I had taken the time at the beginning to write out what I understood would happen and had the other party sign, we would have had a better chance of having the judge see that last point our way. It didn’t occur to me at the beginning that we could have had such a different understanding of what was to happen (or what was included).”
Construction Contracts for Property Owners
Clients sometimes wonder whether an attorney is needed to draft or review a contract. My answer is “yes,” an attorney representing that party’s interest should draft or review a contract drafted by another party or his or her attorney…
Modern Technology as a Factor in the Purchase of Real Estate
I was contacted recently by a client who had signed a Contract of Purchase for a property in the country (i.e. outside of city limits). She was devastated to learn that the internet available was inadequate for her very demanding job. Nevertheless, the Seller insisted that she perform under the terms of the Contract of Purchase…
Estate Planning- for your future
I recently gave a talk—titled “Planning for Your Future: Powers of Attorney, Wills and Probate”—to a group of approximately sixty people, and answered questions throughout. That hour was a wake-up call for some members of the audience regarding these important planning issues
Litigation I – Options
A client recently retained me to take over a lawsuit that had already been filed. After reviewing the documents and meeting with the client, it became apparent that the client didn’t realize that he would have to testify at trial in order to have his photographs and other exhibits admitted into evidence. The client was adamant about not wanting to testify and be cross-examined.
Litigation II – Digging For All the Facts
I recently defended a client in an equine litigation matter. The complaint provided veterinarians’ names and some radiographs; however, there were substantial gaps in the pattern of the information provided.
Get Evidence Early – Landlord/Tenant Conflict
I recently took over a landlord/tenant case representing the landlord with substantial damage to the property when the tenant left. The landlord had drafted the lease using a document he found online. When we reviewed his evidence, I discovered the following weaknesses.
Dispute Mediation
Mediation is a useful tool in a lawyer’s arsenal to settle disputes. I recently took part in mediation involving three parties and their attorneys (of which I was one) using a mediator (a retired Virginia judge) to facilitate the process.
Business Succession Plan
A closely held business, especially a family business, needs a succession plan. A succession plan should be part of an overall business plan, just like profit and loss projections, product and marketing plans. Questions such as: Who will take over when the owner retires? Will the business be sold? To a co-owner? To an outsider? Who are the possible buyers? When will the business be sold? All of these questions need to be addressed.
Partition Suits
Partition suits are filed when multiple owners of real estate cannot agree as to the sale or division of the property. Partition suits are frequently used as a method of settling the division of real estate among beneficiaries of an estate who cannot agree.
