What to Do if Your Business is Being Sued

When you need to know what happens in an uncontested divorce while you live on Long Island, you are asking how two people who already agree on all the terms get divorced without having to go to trial. This type of divorce is usually faster and cheaper than a trial, but it's only right for you if you and your spouse get along well enough to deal with your issues together. Talk to a lawyer as soon as possible to find out if this is likely going to be a good route for you. What Happens in an Uncontested Divorce on Long Island? Total Agreement For this to happen, you must both have already decided that the marriage cannot continue, and you must agree that you don't want a judge to referee every question of your divorce. Making a Sworn Statement Most couples who proceed this way choose a no-fault divorce. This means giving a sworn statement that the relationship has been irretrievably broken for at least six months as opposed to blaming the divorce on one of the parties. This six-month period is not a waiting period after filing; it is a condition that must exist before the court will sign the judgment. You can file on fault grounds, but it's rare for one partner to file this way and the other not to dispute it. Filing Your Action With your lawyer's help, one of you will file an action in the Supreme Court of the county where you or your spouse lives. You purchase an index number and file either a summons with notice or a summons with a verified complaint. Those papers must be accompanied by the automatic orders that freeze certain assets and insurance until the divorce is finalized, the notice of guideline maintenance, and, if children are involved, the child-support standards chart. Serving Your Spouse Once you've filed the action, you need to "serve" your spouse the papers. You can't do this personally. You'll need to choose someone who is over 18 and is not a party in the proceedings to do it. If your spouse signs the papers, the case can be placed on the calendar at once. Submitting a Packet Your packet has a lot to it, and your lawyer will help you do it right. You'll need to show, in writing, that every required notice was given, that all barriers to remarriage have been removed, that the income worksheets you've filled out support any spousal maintenance or child support money you're requesting, and that the proposed findings of fact and judgment match the agreement you have reached with your spouse. When children under twenty-one are involved, even more is involved. The Court Reviews Even when you agree, the court still has to sign off on it, which means it will review everything to ensure it meets the standard of the law. For example, a judge will not sign a judgment that tries to set child support below the statutory formula unless you can give a very good reason for it. If there are errors in the packet, you could end up going back and forth for months, which is why having an attorney to help you do it right the first time is so important. If you're considering divorce, contact the Stone Studin Young & Nigro Law Group in Woodbury, NY now to set up a consultation. We serve families and couples all across Long Island and the entire Nassau County area.

If you're about to sign your first business contract in Las Vegas, NV, pause a moment. Before you put your name on that paper, take a moment to search "contract lawyer near me" and get at least a short review. That review could spare you years of expensive cleanup if something goes wrong. How a "Contract Lawyer Near Me" in Las Vegas, NV Can Help This document decides who pays, who owns the work, how long you are bound, and where you must fight if the other side doesn't fulfill their agreement, and once you sign, your leverage shrinks. It's important to get this right. Specific Nevada Issues Nevada has some contract writing rules that can catch first-time signers off guard. A sale of goods priced at $500 or more, for example, is not enforceable unless there is a signed record showing that a sale was made. An agreement that, by its own terms, cannot be performed within one year is void unless it is in writing and subscribed by the person you would try to hold to it. Your Disadvantage Landlords, software vendors, franchisors, and larger customers send their "standard" contracts first, and that paper always allocates risk away from them. Indemnity language may require you to pay their legal bills if a third party sues, for example, and even for harm they caused. All these clauses sit in sentences you will tend to skim because they're often deliberately written to be obscure. And lest you think this is an exaggeration, World Commerce & Contracting has measured what sloppy contracting costs and found that it drains value equal to nearly 9% of annual revenue, on average. Hiring Can Be Tricky Calling someone an independent contractor in an agreement does not settle the question for the IRS. The IRS looks at control: who directs how the work is done, not only what must be delivered. The Department of Labor applies an economic-reality test under the Fair Labor Standards Act. If you treat a worker as a contractor and the law later treats that person as an employee, you can owe back wages, employment taxes, and penalties. And whomever you employ, you have to make sure it's clear who owns anything they produce and what they're allowed to do with information they discover about your company. The contract needs to protect you and clearly cover scope, payment, ownership of work product, and confidentiality. Templates Are a False Economy Templates are cheaper than hiring a lawyer only if nothing goes wrong. A generic form does not know about Nevada's writing statutes, does not know whether your entity is an LLC, can't tell you that you signed in your personal name instead of the company's (which can destroy the liability shield you formed the company to create), and won't catch a conflict between the statement of work and the master terms. Do not sign first and hope the terms will be kind later. Contact us now at the Hutchings Law Group, serving small businesses in Las Vegas and greater Nevada, so we can read through your contract before the signature line becomes your problem.

Forming an LLC in Las Vegas, NV comes with fees, but you can plan around these, and an LLC formation attorney can help you sort through the numbers so nothing catches you off guard. By the Numbers: Forming an LLC in Nevada The mandatory state cost to create a Nevada limited-liability company is at least $425. That total covers three required items that have to be filed together with the Nevada Secretary of State: The Articles of Organization ($75) The Initial List of Managers or Members ($150) The State Business License ($200) There are other fees that might apply. For example, if you want to file for a DBA, the fee will vary depending on the counties you'll be doing business in. Then there's the possibility of city permits. These again vary by city. In Las Vegas, the fee is between $55 and $700, depending on the size of the business. You can also pay for 24-hour expedited service, which is $125, for two-hour service at $500, and for one-hour service at a fee of $1,000. Once the LLC is set up, expect a minimum of $350 in fees annually. How Your LLC Formation Attorney in Las Vegas, NV Helps With Fees Clarifying the Fees As you go through the paperwork, it's easy to become confused about which fees apply, particularly if you're asking for faster service or are trying to figure out your city fee. There are also higher fees that apply for foreign-owned LLCs and special fees if you won't be serving as your own registered agent. One of your lawyer's primary services is making all this clear and ensuring you don't pay a single dime you don't have. Moving Things Past the Fees After the state accepts your filing, you still need an Employer Identification Number from the IRS if you plan to open a bank account, hire anyone, or file certain tax returns. The IRS issues the number free of charge, but you can only apply after the state has formed the LLC. Your lawyer can make sure this goes smoothly. Your lawyer can also help you set up your operating agreement. This isn't filed with the state, so you don't need this to get your LLC registered, but without it, the state's default rules apply to your ownership percentages, voting rules, profits are split, and exit procedures. Those rules might not be what you want. Keeping Up With Annual Costs By the last day of the anniversary month of your LLC formation, you have to file an Annual List of Managers or Members for $150 and renew the State Business License for $200, for a combined $350. If you file late, there's a $75 penalty, and continued non-compliance can lead to your business being revoked: if that happens, you have to pay not only the back fees but also a $300 reinstatement fee. Your lawyer will make sure this doesn't happen by keeping track of dates, filings, and the law. If you are ready to form an LLC, or if you want a clear picture of the full cost for your situation, contact the Hutchings Law Group here in LV for a consultation. Our business is your business, and we serve clients throughout Greater Nevada.