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...
Hamilton Law Blog
Trademarks: A Fundamental Component Of Running A Business
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 ...
Developing A Plan For Your Digital Assets
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...
A Fresh Look At Contracts
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...
Even Celebrities Neglect Estate Planning To Their Detriment
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...
What Litigation Looks Like
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...
Estate Planning Is Essential For Traveling
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...
What ADR Looks Like In Michigan
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...
What A Living Trust Can Do For You
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...
The Value Of Trademarks
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...
Non-Profits & 501(c)(3) Organizations
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...
Protecting Your Personal Assets Through An LLC
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...
A Will Won’t Prevent Probate
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...
Lapses, Updates, & Probate Litigation
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.
Why After-Death Services Are Important
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...
The Basics Of Michigan’s Cannabis Laws
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 ...
The Benefits Of A Power Of Attorney
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...
Preparing Your Business To Face The Future
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 ...
Understanding Trademarks
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, ...
Why Everyone Should Create An Estate Plan
When the subject of estate planning gets brought up, people may quickly think either of the following: Estate planning is only for the elderly Estate planning is only for the wealthy Estate planning is for both groups of people—and they are for you as well. You would have a challenging ...
How To Make An Offer On A Home
Whether you are buying your first home or the one you plan to retire in, the key is to focus on what you can control. When you enter a competitive seller's market, you can be quickly overwhelmed by how much the process relies on other people. For instance, the seller has to accept your offer....
Overcoming The Hardest Part Of An Estate Plan
For many couples who are creating their estate plan, choosing a guardian for their minor children is the most challenging part of the process. It isn't uncommon for parents to take more time on this piece than the others. People create estate plans because they want to control their assets, pro...
Change The Way You Look At Prenuptial Agreements
Prenuptial agreements are more common than you think. There is no shame in creating one, nor does having one make your relationship with your future spouse any less significant. Though no one goes into a marriage planning for it to end in divorce, they still happen nonetheless. Statistically, m...
How Will Coronavirus Affect Contractual Relationships and Obligations?
The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted practically every aspect of American life. Whether closed by government order or by concerns about public safety, millions of businesses around the country have seen their operations come to a halt. Despite the overwhelming effect of COVID-19, it is not a ...
Understanding How COVID-19 May Have Affected the Value of Your Estate
The economic and personal upheaval triggered by the COVID-19 outbreak is likely to warrant a review of your estate plan, no matter how thorough you think it is. As Americans cope with health fears and financial volatility, it's worthwhile to determine whether a will, trust, advance medical direc...