Disputes arise in the course of doing business. In a perfect world, businesses and individuals would be able to avoid all legal issues and liability, but we don’t live in a perfect world. Thankfully, dispute resolution takes on a number of different forms depending on the resources, facts, and agreeability of the parties involved. The goal of dispute resolution channels should be to lessen the blow of these Read More

A bill working its way through the California Assembly would bring a significant change to notary public guidelines in our state – allowing for remote online notarization (RON). Assembly Bill 743 is the latest version of such a bill, with previous versions stalling at the committee stage. California, in this case, is well behind the countrywide standard as 43 other states already have RON laws in effect at this Read More

As a business owner, protecting your financial interests is tantamount to the continued success of both your professional and personal financial pictures. Understanding the various tax breaks available to you and how they impact your finances is a vital element of this. A QBI deduction is one such tax break that offers significant savings for qualified business owners. These have been available since 2018, but Read More

Our children are our future. It’s important that they have the resources, tools, and support needed to grow, learn, and prosper. This becomes a significant challenge when a minor child in California either loses their parents or has parents who are otherwise unable to fulfill their child’s needs. Guardianships in California offer protection and peace of mind for the days, weeks, and months to come, but they often Read More

Choosing the right entity for your business is key to future success. Different businesses have different needs, so choosing between a Limited Liability Company (LLC) and a corporation (such as an S-Corp or C-Corp) is a vital step in the process. Businesses owners regularly struggle with this decision, with each offering its own unique features, regulations, and challenges. We want to help you understand your Read More

Non-compete clauses have been in the news at the federal level in recent months due to a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed rule to ban them. This move comes on the heels of an executive order from the Biden administration asking for the FTC to do exactly that. Federal officials claim these clauses are mostly used to suppress wages and result in limited competition and innovation. Businesses are pushing back, Read More

Proper estate planning requires a thorough approach to your situation. You need a plan that covers all of your needs and plans for everything that life throws your way. Our team focuses on a holistic approach to planning that provides significant financial advantages but also ensures you’re protected. You have worked hard for the wealth and assets you own today and part of estate planning is dictating what happens Read More

Is your company using severability clauses in standard contracts? These provisions are often considered boilerplate language to ensure that your contracts are protected should one or more provisions be found to be unenforceable by the courts. In most cases, courts forced to review a contract will view the contract only as solid as its weakest point. If the court determines that a single material provision within Read More

We recently highlighted the tax advantages of establishing an Intentionally Defective Grantor Trust (IDGT) and how selling assets into the trust opened the door to significant tax savings for high-net-worth individuals. Now, an IRS ruling and a bill signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom are rolling back many of these tax advantages. California Senate Bill 131 was passed into law on July 10, 2023, Read More

After years of handling by Congress, new reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) take effect on January 1, 2024. Government officials and supporters of the bill claim it will help eradicate money laundering by nefarious businesses and business executives. For businesses that are conducting themselves morally, however, the law creates unnecessary extra work. California businesses of all Read More