Owning a professional corporation in California provides business owners with important legal and financial benefits, but strict regulations govern who can hold certain roles within these organizations. If you're looking for ways to involve a spouse or other family member in your business for tax strategy purposes, you may run into complications due to the licenses and qualifications required to do so. Thankfully, Read More

Building a successful business takes time, effort, and strategic planning. When it comes to protecting that business for the future, many owners overlook how the actual valuation of those business interests impacts estate planning and the continuation of their legacy. If you plan to transfer business interests—whether to family members, trusts, or other individuals or entities—understanding how your business is Read More

Lawyers have a legal and ethical obligation to fulfill the full scope of our client’s legal needs—even if we are unable to do so ourselves. That’s not just our position as attorneys in California and as a firm that regularly represents other law firm owners; that’s the position of the State Bar of California. As a law firm owner, partner, or lawyer, you understand the responsibility you have to your clients. They Read More

As a business owner in California, you work hard to grow your company, take on the stiff competition in our state, and secure a financial future. Whether you're expanding your services, planning for retirement, or ensuring your family's financial stability, having an effective asset protection plan is critical. Domestic Asset Protection Trusts (DAPT) are promoted as a way to shield assets from future creditors, but Read More

The California real estate market offers magnificent opportunities to create a highly profitable real estate portfolio, but the legal landscape here also creates unique challenges. One notable issue involves the treatment of real estate professional status (REPS), which California handles differently than the federal government and many other states. These differences can lead to financial implications that investors Read More

Divorce isn’t just an end to your relationship—it’s the separation of your lives in a complete and legal manner. As a California estate planning law firm, we frequently see the significant impact divorce has on valuable assets—and the further challenges that arise if you don’t properly handle the transfer of assets during and following this separation. It’s critical to understand how your estate is affected during Read More

Have you received a form similar to this in the mail? You’re not alone. California business owners, homeowners, and anyone who owns real property may recognize this and similar mailings. It looks very official due to the intentional design reflecting forms taxpayers and business owners are used to seeing from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Turns out—it’s a scam. There is nothing genuine about this document. In Read More

The Section 1202 exclusion offers California business owners a significant opportunity to reduce tax liability when selling qualified small business stock (QSBS). This provision allows owners of C corporation stock to exclude up to 100% of capital gains, provided the stock meets specific requirements under Section 1202 of the Internal Revenue Code. Understanding the conditions for qualification and common challenges Read More

Personalized and effective documentation forms a foundation for California businesses. The various documents established at incorporation and throughout the life of the business should cover critical points in the business journey. One of the challenges business owners face is keeping track of these agreements and understanding the scope of each. Buy-Sell Agreements and Shareholder Agreements are two of the most Read More

Americans face over $1.7 billion in student loan debt. That marks the second-highest form of debt held by American consumers behind just mortgage debt. Facing the burden of quickly rising college costs is a challenge modern families face when sending kids off to college. Thankfully, there are methods and tax strategies that allow you to ease that burden. Higher education tax credits, including the American Read More