Monthly Archives: July 2006
New Uses for the Old IRAs
Much of the press given to the changes in Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”) in the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 has been directed at the new Roth IRA. However, there are other changes that benefit those who have existing “traditional” IRAs. The biggest change is… Continue reading
Five Practice Areas You Should Be Aware Of
Many of our clients have come to know us as a commercial law firm with strong emphasis on real estate, tax, corporate and financial areas of practice. This is certainly true; however, clients are sometimes surprised to learn that our practice touches other fields with… Continue reading
Subdividing Your Property
From time to time clients ask us to represent them in connection with subdividing a property into two or more separate parcels. Exactly what is subdivision and how is it accomplished? In its simplest form, subdivision is the division of a single tract of land… Continue reading
Cyberspace Privacy
Now that computer online services are becoming more prevalent in the workplace and accessible by an increasing number of employees, what privacy rights does an employee have in his or her personal e-mail or internet access? To what may an employer rightfully have access? Suppose… Continue reading
The Queen’s English – Pronouns That Challenge!
What, which, and who are often used interchangeably, but each has its special meaning, and they are not synonymous when used at the beginning of clauses in complex sentences.Where a clause is “restrictive”, or necessary, to the meaning of a sentence and refers to a… Continue reading
The Explosive, “Hidden” Branch of Government
When the U.S. Constitution was formally adopted, the drafters envisioned a government essentially consisting of three branches: executive (President), legislative (Congress), and judiciary (Supreme Court).It was obvious that the three branches would need administrative assistance to operate, but until early in the Twentieth Century the… Continue reading
You Are Your Credit Report
Important decisions are made based on the information in your credit report; not just about whether you receive a credit card or a car loan, but even whether you get insurance or a job. In most cases your credit report will be the determining factor… Continue reading
What is Negligence?
In our litigious society, we seem to hear it all too often – one person claiming in a lawsuit that another was “negligent”, often seeking millions of dollars in damages. The news media probably make more of these cases than would otherwise be justified, and… Continue reading
Planning for Nursing Home Costs
As the cost of nursing care skyrockets, we seem to be receiving more and more inquiries concerning nursing home planning. Unfortunately, such questions are typically asked a few weeks or even days before nursing home care is inevitable. By this time it is usually too… Continue reading
Increasing Estate Tax Exemption
For many years, the federal estate tax scheme provided essentially that by virtue of a dollar-for-dollar credit against the federal estate and gift tax liability (the “unified credit”), up to $600,000 worth of property could be sheltered from estate tax. As a result, basic estate… Continue reading