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Business Branding 101: Registering Your Business Name to Comply with the Law
Becoming a business owner is an overwhelming prospect, especially when it comes time to acquainting yourself with the myriad of business laws for which you will be held accountable as you commence your new role. Branding in particular will be an imperative foundation for your marketing efforts, and it all begins with one critical task: selecting a business name.
Doing Business As (DBA)
Whether you are an existing owner looking to start another side business or are embarking on a brand-new business venture for the first time, it is important to be aware of the requirement to legally register your business name with the proper authorities to ensure you remain compliant with the law. Filing your “Doing Business As” name (also called your DBA) is the process of officially registering your chosen business name. This name must be different from your real, personal name and will be required on a number of government forms and applications, such as your employer tax ID application and license paperwork.
Leaving an Inheritance to a Paid Caregiver in Texas
If you rely on a paid caregiver to help you with daily activities, such as dressing and bathing, there is a good chance that you will develop a strong relationship with the person who cares for you, even if they are not a part of your family. Over the course of months and years, the relationship you have with your caregiver may actually become even closer than the relationships you have with your blood-related family members. With this in mind, you may want to include considerations for your caregiver in your estate plan.
Under Texas law, you have the right to choose anyone you wish as beneficiary in a will or trust, including a non-family caregiver. However, there are some concerns that should be taken into account before making this decision. An experienced estate planning lawyer can help you understand some of these concerns and how to keep them from becoming problems down the road.
The Importance of Discussing Your Estate Plan with Your Family
An estate plan is an important tool that everyone should have. It is not only a way to protect your assets and ensure they are used the way you want them to be, but it is also intended to give your family the peace of mind that their future will be taken care of. However, it is important to discuss your estate plan with your family before anything happens so that you can reduce the likelihood of misunderstandings or disputes. Here are some reasons why you should discuss your estate plan with your loved ones.
Preventing Discord and In-Fighting
It is natural for families to disagree on certain issues, especially when it comes to money and possessions. Without having a conversation about how these items will be distributed, disagreements can arise quickly and lead to discord among family members. By discussing your wishes with your loved ones ahead of time, you can help ensure that conflicts do not arise after you pass away.
Strategies for Helping Your Small Business Grow
As any business owner can attest, owning and operating a small business takes hard work. It is important for a business owner to always be coming up with new and innovative ways to promote the company’s success. If you are a small business owner, you should be trying to think of ways to help your business grow. You should be looking for new opportunities to expand your client base and drive up your profits. While there is not a one-size-fits-all plan for growing a small business, there are a few general guidelines that could help you achieve your goals.
Playing to Your Strengths
Are customers drawn to your business for a particular product or service? Are there patterns regarding your most loyal clients? It may be tempting to try exciting new ways to generate revenue, but it is very important to keep your primary focus on your basic strengths—or the “bread-and-butter” if you will. For example, if you run a coffee shop and customers love your custom roasts, you may wish to look for new ways to market your products with strong sales as opposed to eliminating your own brands in favor of new products.
Your Will Could Be Used to Create a Testamentary Trust
A will is an invaluable resource in ensuring that the assets that comprise your estate will go to the individuals and institutions of your choice after your passing. If there is no will, Texas’ default rules—known as the laws of intestate succession—will determine which individuals will inherit your estate and in what proportions they will inherit. Generally, intestate succession laws stipulate that a deceased person’s estate will go to the decedent’s surviving family members, starting with their spouse and children.
In some instances, it might be acceptable to rely on intestate succession, thereby avoiding the cost and delay of probating an estate in probate court. For many people, however, a will brings both specific direction and peace of mind in the distribution of wealth, property, and heirlooms after death. A will is a powerful and flexible estate planning instrument that is capable of regulating many distributions over a long time in lieu of a one-time bulk sum. The intra-will device that allows for this is what is known as a “testamentary trust.” If you have young children or relatives, a testamentary trust is something well worth considering, as is working with an experienced estate planning attorney.
What You Should Know About Breach of Contract Claims
For many business owners and, in fact, people in everyday life, a promise and a handshake mean more than anything that could be captured in a legally binding document. The physical manifestation of a person giving his or her word regarding an agreement or transaction still carries a great deal of psychological weight, even in today’s litigious society.
While it would be wonderful to be able to consistently rely on another’s good word in business dealings, the reality is that contracts are often necessary, and, sometimes, one party fails to comply with his or her end of the deal. When that happens, your only option may be a breach of contract claim.
Three Main Elements
All contracts represent some form of a legally enforceable promise. Some, of course, are more complicated than others, but all provide certain rights and responsibilities to each involved party. In the context of business, most contracts address the purchase of items, goods, or services rendered. When the other party fails to comply with the terms of an agreed-upon contract, you may be able to bring a claim for breach of contract before the court. To win your claim, you will be required to show:
What You Need to Know About Powers of Attorney in Texas
The process of estate planning can be extremely difficult for some people, as it is certainly not enjoyable to confront one’s own mortality. Of course, none of us is going to live forever, and with a comprehensive estate plan, you can provide your family and loved ones with security and peace of mind that extends well beyond your lifetime.
Some estate planning elements can be set up to take effect during your lifetime, if necessary, so that you can ensure that your affairs will be properly managed. Among these are powers of attorney, and they are often forgotten about by people who are not familiar with how they work.
What Is a Power of Attorney?
A power of attorney is a legal document that gives someone else the authority to act on your behalf. In Texas, there are two primary types of power of attorney: general and limited. A general power of attorney gives the person you appoint (known as your "agent") broad powers to handle your affairs. A limited power of attorney, on the other hand, only gives your agent specific powers, such as the authority to sell your home or sign documents on your behalf.
Can a No-Contest Clause Prevent My Will from Being Contested?
When a person dies, the loss can be extremely difficult on that person's surviving family members and friends. The intense emotions associated with such a situation can lead a grieving loved one to act uncharacteristically and even to unnecessary disputes over a variety of considerations. One common point of a contention is often the decedent's will, and a contested will can create instability within the surviving family for many years to come, if not forever. If you hope to keep such a fight from dividing your family after your death, you might consider adding a no-contest clause to your will.
Understanding No-Contest Clauses
A no-contest clause, also called an in terrorem clause, is a provision that can be added to a will that threatens to disinherit any person who contests the validity of the document. The clause essentially says that if anyone challenges the will, they automatically forfeit their inheritance or receive a very small percentage of what was originally intended for them.
Understanding Transfer on Death Deeds in Texas
If you own property in Texas, you may be wondering what a "transfer on death deed" is and how it works. The short answer is that a transfer on death deed is a relatively simple estate planning tool that allows you to pass down real estate property to a chosen beneficiary without having the property pass through the Texas probate process. This alternative to traditional probate can save time, money, and stress for everyone involved.
What Is a Transfer on Death Deed?
A transfer on death deed (TODD) is a legal document that allows you to transfer ownership of your real estate property to someone else upon your death. The TODD does not take effect until after you die, so you can change your mind at any time and revoke the deed.
In order to create a valid TODD in Texas, you must be at least 18 years old and the owner of the property in question. The deed must clearly describe the property in question and specifically identify your chosen beneficiaries. Then, it must be signed and notarized in front of two witnesses, who must also sign the deed. The TODD must then be filed with the county clerk's office where the property is located. Once the TODD is filed, it becomes a public record.
Common Types of Business Owner or Partner Disputes and How to Resolve Them
Business disputes between owners and/or partners are not uncommon. While some disagreements can be resolved easily, others may require the help of a mediator or even legal intervention. The most important thing is to communicate openly and honestly with each other to try to reach a resolution. Below, we will discuss some of the most common types of business disputes and offer tips on how to resolve them.
1. Disagreements Over the Direction of the Business
One of the most common types of business disputes is disagreements over the direction of the business. This can happen when partners have different ideas about where the business should go or what it should do. If you find yourself in this type of dispute, it is important to try to see things from your partner's perspective and to compromise where possible. If you are unable to reach a resolution, you may need to seek outside help, such as from an attorney, mediator, or arbitrator.
From our office in Fort Worth, we represent clients throughout the DFW area, including Dallas, Arlington, Haltom City, Richland Hills, Watauga, Kennedale, Forest Hill, White Settlement, River Oaks, Saginaw, Hurst, Euless, Bedford, Grapevine, Coppell, Farmers Branch, Carrollton, Plano, Dallas County, and Tarrant County.
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