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Offering fresh perspectives steeped in a long-standing traditionof legal know-how. We tackle tough legal issues from estate planning and property matters to business problems to help companies, entrepreneurs, family-owned businesses, and individuals move forward. Informative pieces on legal topics on creating your legacy, building business, entrepreneurism, wealth transfer, real estate, brand protection and bankruptcy. Brought to you from the seat of the California Republic and the oldest law firm in Sonoma County.
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Securing Your Digital Property and Passing it Along
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In this day and age of websites, blogs, coaching programs and such, if you own a business that has these things, if something were to happen to you, what would happen to these things?
These sort of things are what is referred to as ‘intellectual properties’ and if you have a will or estate plan that includes directives for your business you might think more about protecting these aspects to your business or endeavor.
Under the law, in the broadest sense an intellectual property is an abstract item such a concept, ideas or formula and so on. To protect things … Read More
Important Documents for College Students Leaving for College
No doubt many parents are wishing that colleges these days would decrease tuition as online curriculums for fall classes commence. Yet in this time of COVID-19, here are some important things to reckon with as you prepare to send your 18-to-19 year- old to college.
Your car insurance policy might have your daughter or son listed as a dependent. Even so, currently in the eyes of the law your 18 to 19-year-old college bound student is considered an adult.
What that means is that you as parent must be extra prepared to manage through a potentially difficult bureaucratic labyrinth of … Read More
AB5 and UBER
This past summer the State Supreme Court drummed in again to Uber & Lyft that ride-share companies like themselves must be in compliance of CA State Law AB 5, meaning that they must classify their drivers as employees.
Uber and Lyft are the largest ride-share companies that use app-platform technologies to conduct business. In fact, as noted by the San Francisco Chronicle, Uber is proceeding to buy Postmates, a food delivery app that is similar to DoorDash and GrubHub for over $2 billion in stocks.
Some experts note that Uber and such companies have been able to operate and be … Read More
Name Changes & Legality
Recently as marriage equality and identity classifications have been critiqued more closely by the LGBTQ community, here’s some info about name changes.
Basically it’s not that difficult.
Anybody can change their name legally. Just make sure it is not to commit fraud or make a false identity.
The simplest and most common is when people marry.
Today’s customs and attitudes about marriage lets women keep a “maiden name” or allows for a hyphenated name.
Hyphenated names are used in England. Historically, it has been part of the class or caste-system in English society. Hyphenated names were passed down as a … Read More
Beginner’s Guide to Bankruptcy
by Mary Piasta
When we talk of asset protection, many think of bankruptcy. But there is a social norm with this type of word preventing many from considering it seriously. The truth is that many very wealthy individuals in our country are not so dissuaded and utilize filing for bankruptcy as a means to preserve wealth.
For example, one entrepreneur went through bankruptcy four times in his life and left a legacy including a private foundation. For others it means wiping the slate clean to rebuild their wealth.
Historically speaking bankruptcy was a way to depart from the English precedent … Read More