Posts written by buteralaw

Negotiating Commercial Leases

Our Firm often becomes involved with negotiating commercial leases on behalf of landlords and tenants (never at the same time of course!).  There are several important areas which invariably become central to the negotiation.  Here are some of the many questions which need to be… Continue reading

Estate Planning for Married Couples on the Move

Our normal process for new estate planning clients is to have them complete an Estate Planning Questionnaire.  Normally, most of the questions on this form arouse no comments.  However one question often does pique the interest of married clients; that is the question of whether… Continue reading

Serious Motor Vehicle Infractions

As most Pennsylvania drivers know, the Commonwealth maintains a “point system” of driver “education” which assigns penalty points for various Vehicle Code violations.  An initial accumulation of 6 points qualifies you for driving school and a special examination.  Failure to attend and successfully complete the… Continue reading

Getting Settled In…

We are happy to report that the Firm’s move to Suite 108 came off “without a hitch” in early March.  We are now working comfortably in our new offices and reaping the benefits of a more efficient layout and improved office technology.  We encourage all… Continue reading

The Queen’s English – Shibboleths

In the Book of Judges 12:5-6, we learn that the original shibboleth was an arbitrary word that Jephthah used to spot his enemies: the Ephraimites had trouble with the sh sound, and when asked to pronounce a word with sh in it, they revealed they were enemy spies (“. . .… Continue reading

**Careful How You Address Us **

Effective March 1, 2014 there will be a slight change in our mailing address.  While our offices will remain in Building 630 at Freedom Business Center, our suite number will change, from Suite 212 on the second floor to Suite 108 on the first floor.… Continue reading

Business Debt Collection

We are sometimes asked to assist our business clients with collecting overdue receivables from their customers and clients – typically balances which are over 90 days past due.  A collection case usually goes through several stages, each one ratcheting up the pressure on the delinquent… Continue reading

Careful with Installment Sales

In our estates practice we frequently find debts held in an Estate that are owed by a family member. Frequently these loans are forgiven or are distributed out to a debtor child pursuant to the terms of the decedents Will.  Even when such debts are… Continue reading

Pay Attention to your Loan Terms – A Case Study

Several years ago we were approached by an individual who was having trouble with her bank.  She had paid her commercial mortgage debt each and every month for over 10 years.  However, her credit had deteriorated for personal reasons and she had allegedly violated certain… Continue reading

Streamline Your Estate if you Own Out-Of-State Real Estate

Out-of-state real estate often presents an additional obstacle (and cost) for many estates.  When a resident of Pennsylvania dies with an out-of-state property titled solely in his name or with a fractional portion of a property titled to him as “tenant-in-common”, that property or fractional… Continue reading