FinCEN Requirements for the Small Business Owner Calling all business owners! There is a new federal mandate that all small business owners report their Beneficial Ownership with FinCEN. Small businesses may have new requirements under this new Reporting Rule, but fear not, our attorneys are ready to help answer any and all questions and help you with your business reporting. These reports contain information about the business itself and two categories of individuals: 1. Beneficial Owner; and 2. Company Applicants. Generally speaking, a beneficial owner is an individual who o ..read more

    Trip Planning = Estate Planning Everyone deserves a vacation! However, the worst time to think about your estate planning needs is when you are out of town and something has happened. Being out of your element can add even more stress – especially leaving the United States. International law, hospital stays, you name it can be drastically different depending on where you chose to travel for your vacation spot. However, statistically speaking, there is an increased risk of injury and/or death when traveling. Ease this fear and ensure that your estate planning needs are taken car ..read more

    Applying For Medicaid By: Anthony Cooper One concern talked about by many individuals we know is the cost of nursing homes care. Nursing home care can be expensive, and your lifelong savings may be at risk if you suddenly need to enter a long-term care facility. According to the North Department of Human Services, the average nursing facility rate is $366.68 per day as of January 1, 2023. In general, there are three (3) ways to pay for nursing homes: self-pay, long term care insurance, and Medicaid. Self-Pay: At an average, a nursing home costs over $132,000.00 a year. Most ind ..read more

    Adult Guardianship By: Anthony Cooper You may need to petition the court for guardianship over a loved one who is unable to care for themselves or if their incapacity endangers their health and safety. Guardianship is a legal process for persons who are unable to manage their own affairs due to their incapacity. The individual’s incapacity may be due to physical or mental issues. Guardianship gives a guardian control over an individual’s day-to-day decision-making ability such as overseeing an individual’s medical, legal, personal, and/or financial decisions. Through the guardi ..read more

    Types of Guardianship By: Anthony Cooper In general, the two most common types of guardianships for adults are: Emergency and Permanent Guardianship. Emergency guardianship is an expedited court process that gives the petitioner the power to act for no more than 90 days. A court hearing is required within 10 days after the request is made. To be appointed, the court must find that an emergency exists and that using the Permanent Guardianship appointment process is likely to result in substantial harm to the alleged incapacitated individual’s health, safety, and/or welfare. For ..read more

    Becoming A U.S. Citizen By: Anthony Cooper Deciding to become a U.S. citizen is one of the most important decisions an immigrant can make. The process of applying for U.S. Citizenship is called Naturalization. Naturalization is the way that a noncitizen not born in the United States voluntarily becomes a U.S. citizen. It offers certain benefits such as the right to vote in federal elections, expedited process to bring certain family members to the U.S., children may automatically become U.S. citizens, travel with a U.S. passport, run for elective office where citizenship is req ..read more

    Legally Work in the United States By: Anthony Cooper One concern echoed by a few businesses we know is that they cannot find workers who are willing to work. One solution for businesses that have similar concerns might be to hire foreign nationals. The United States immigration law provides foreign nationals with a variety of ways to work temporarily in the United States. The temporary worker visa grants permission to a foreign national to stay in the United States for a designated time and work for a specific employer. The law also requires that the foreign nati ..read more

    Adverse Possession If only our predecessors had the technology and surveying tools as we do today. Time and time again, we find that property boundaries or recording of property have not been done correctly for decades. So, what can you do if you have been using this property for all that time? Adverse possession is the legal solution on how to acquire the entirety of what you believed to be your property. Simply put, when you occupy land that is not yours, this is called trespassing. However, if the owner does not have you removed, and you occupy, use, control, and possibly e ..read more

    Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts: Understanding the Distinctions Living Trusts are trusts that individuals establish during their lifetime, typically transferring property into the trust shortly after its creation. These trusts fall into two primary categories: revocable and irrevocable. But what do these terms signify? What sets revocable and irrevocable trusts apart, and which one aligns better with your family's needs? Revocable Trust A revocable trust is one that can be modified or revoked at the discretion of the trustor, the person creating the trust. This flexibility gra ..read more

    ESTATE PLANNING CHECKLIST: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE The unpredictability of life makes estate planning a crucial undertaking, irrespective of where you are in life. The mere thought of estate planning can be daunting, given the myriad of decisions to make. As legal professionals, we’re here to streamline this process for you. A checklist can be your starting point. Here’s a primer on the foundational documents and steps in estate planning. 1. LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT This document lets you dictate the distribution of your estate upon your passing. Through it: Appoint a Personal Re ..read more