Posted by Philip E. Hamilton, Esq. | Nov 14, 2023 |
Starting a business partnership is an exhilarating venture, full of hopes, dreams, and the potential for success. In the early stages, it's easy to focus on the exciting aspects of your collaboration: innovative ideas, shared goals, and the promise of growth. However, it's essential not to overlook the importance of the less glamorous side of business – legal documentation. When entering a business partnership, having your contract reviewed by a legal expert is a critical step that modern entrepreneurs should not neglect. In this blog, we'll explore why involving a legal expert is a must in today's fast-paced and often complex business world.
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Posted by Philip E. Hamilton, Esq. | Oct 17, 2023 |
Michigan business owners, brace yourselves for important changes in the regulatory landscape. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has recently rolled out new requirements that will affect how business owners in this region register with their agency. These changes are part of a broa...
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Posted by Ean P. Hamilton, Esq. | Sep 14, 2023 |
During the typical back-to-school routine, very few people think about estate planning. This may be because many people equate estate planning with end-of-life decisions. However, it is important to recognize that estate planning also helps people prepare for the possibility of being incapacitate...
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Posted by Ean P. Hamilton, Esq. | Aug 14, 2023 |
One of the first blogs we published on our website was about changing how you view prenuptial agreements. Although we encourage you to go back and read it, it centers on breaking down some of the myths surrounding them. People envision the monied spouse handing their fiance a document and asking ...
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Posted by Philip E. Hamilton, Esq. | Jul 17, 2023 |
If you have never been involved with a real estate transaction, the due diligence period occurs after you accept an offer. Even though buyers make an offer after touring the house once or twice, they don't fully understand what you are receiving. This is why there is a due diligence period. It al...
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Posted by Philip E. Hamilton, Esq. | Jun 14, 2023 |
In a previous blog post, we explained what contracts were, why business owners should utilize them, and why they are something to embrace instead of being feared. Although we will stick with the topic of contracts, we will approach them from a new perspective, namely that of the employees. Due to...
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Posted by Ean P. Hamilton, Esq. | May 15, 2023 |
We hire attorneys for a variety of reasons. Maybe you're starting a new business, have concerns that a competitor is infringing on your trademark, or are trying to resolve a contentious probate matter. Whatever the reason, it can be extremely easy to let your personal legal matter command your atte...
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Posted by Philip E. Hamilton, Esq. | Apr 06, 2023 |
Apple's trademark is worth almost $30 billion. Before you dismiss the concept of trademarks because your business isn't as big as Apple, we want to point out that this company registered its first mark in 1979—just a few years after it was started by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald ...
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Posted by Ean P. Hamilton, Esq. | Mar 15, 2023 |
Because it has happened gradually, you may not have realized how much the world has changed. If you are in your forties, you likely have memories of typewriters, word processors, and receiving copies of AOL CDs in the mail. Technological growth happens exponentially, and it develops quickly. We...
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Posted by Philip E. Hamilton, Esq. | Feb 06, 2023 |
At Hamilton Law, PLC, we have significant experience working with contracts. When you have a command over properly drafting and understanding how to read contracts, it doesn't matter if they are for employment purposes, a transaction, or whether they are attached to a large or small business. T...
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Posted by Ean P. Hamilton, Esq. | Jan 11, 2023 |
The core of this topic is not centered around gossip, but it highlights how common it is for people to pass away without a will. One of the most common reasons people forego estate planning or even create a basic will is because they assume they don't have enough assets to warrant it. Althoug...
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Posted by Philip E. Hamilton, Esq. | Dec 06, 2022 |
Although you have likely heard the term “litigation” before, you may not fully understand what it means or what the process looks like. Fortunately, most people will never have to experience it. It can be mentally exhausting and stressful. There is also the fear of the unknown because what mo...
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Posted by Ean P. Hamilton, Esq. | Nov 09, 2022 |
We are looking at the importance of estate planning before you travel for two distinct purposes. First and foremost, it is an important step to ensure you are protected. Though we will explain how and why in a moment, that is the primary goal. Additionally, to learn why it is so critical, you mus...
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Posted by Philip E. Hamilton, Esq. | Oct 13, 2022 |
ADR is the common abbreviation for alternative dispute resolution. ADR can not only deliver you a solution while saving you the cost and time associated with civil litigation, but it can give you more of a voice. Appeals aside, when a judge makes a decision, it's final. There is no room for fur...
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Posted by Ean P. Hamilton, Esq. | Sep 01, 2022 |
You will accumulate assets that you have legal ownership over during your lifetime. Your name is on the title of your car, the deed to your home, and you—and perhaps your spouse—are the only ones who can access your bank accounts. There are levels of protection to ensure that what we own cannot...
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Posted by Philip E. Hamilton, Esq. | Aug 10, 2022 |
Your business is more than its product or service. People build companies based on shared values and standards. There's a certain feeling and mindset that people enter into when they use your product. For instance, Jeeps may draw consumers seeking adventure and exploration. Businesses use words...
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Posted by Philip E. Hamilton, Esq. | Jul 15, 2022 |
The term 501(c)(3) is pulled directly from Title 26 of the U.S. Code, referred to as the IRS tax code. These apply to taxes, but there is a specific section dedicated solely to non-profit organizations—which is section 501(c)(3). Any organization that meets the criteria can be exempt from pay...
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Posted by Philip E. Hamilton, Esq. | Jun 01, 2022 |
When you form a company, you should meet with a business law attorney to discuss your different choices for entities. The purpose of doing so is to ensure your personal assets remain separate from your business assets. For example, imagine that someone opens a bookstore without forming a Limi...
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Posted by Ean P. Hamilton, Esq. | May 13, 2022 |
A will doesn't prevent your assets from passing through probate. Before we explain why, it is important to note that we are not trying to dissuade you from creating a will. They are precious estate planning tools. The attorneys at Hamilton Law draft wills for our clients, and we wouldn't do s...
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Posted by Ean P. Hamilton, Esq. | Apr 06, 2022 |
Michigan has an anti-lapse statute. When you understand how these work in conjunction with estate planning, you can ensure your assets go to your intended beneficiaries. Additionally, you could prevent your estate from triggering probate litigation after you pass away. People build estate plans to make things easier for their loved ones. With that in mind, let's go over the impact an anti-lapse statute can have on your estate and how you can plan for it.
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Posted by Ean P. Hamilton, Esq. | Mar 14, 2022 |
Estate planning is vitally important. Although we have said it before, it bears the need to be repeated: estate planning is a selfish act that you do for the benefit of those you leave behind. Without one, your family has the monumental task of navigating settling your affairs. For instance, im...
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Posted by Philip E. Hamilton, Esq. | Feb 22, 2022 |
The laws surrounding cannabis can be confusing. Many people grew up under the premise that marijuana was a Schedule 1 controlled substance. These drugs have a high potential for abuse and possess no medical use. On a federal level, it continues to live under that classification. However—and this ...
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Posted by Ean P. Hamilton, Esq. | Jan 19, 2022 |
To better understand the beneficial power of attorney, you must first know what you lose by not having one. No one plans on being incapacitated or seriously injured. But if it happens, we have loved ones and family members to take care of us, to talk to the doctors on our behalf, to pay the mor...
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Posted by Ean P. Hamilton, Esq. | Dec 10, 2021 |
A business succession plan is where business and estate planning intersect. If you own a business, you must have a plan for how it will run without you. If something were to happen to you unexpectedly, would the company continue in your absence? Even a significant majority of family businesses ...
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Posted by Philip E. Hamilton, Esq. | Nov 11, 2021 |
Intellectual property is extremely valuable. To prove it, consider the following: Think about your favorite fast-food chain. If someone had the power to erase every store in the world magically, would that company still be worth money? Absolutely. Despite their inventory and stores being gone, ...
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