Legal-Ease column: “Condos, PUDs and homeowner associations differ by what’s owned versus shared”

Traditionally, people own houses with adjoining yards, driveway, garages and other outbuildings.   The person owns that property without neighbors or anyone else dictating the use, look and layout of the property, except for local governments who enforce zoning and public safety laws. However, some people feel that the value of everyone’s homes can be increased […]

Legal-Ease column: “Judges: thankless umpires”

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts headlined last week’s news as he presided over President Trump’s impeachment trial. Justice Roberts explained his role as being that of an umpire in a baseball game, calling balls and strikes. Nevertheless, some people disagreed with whether Justice Roberts should only be calling balls and strikes and other […]

Legal-Ease column: “Powers of attorney and their effectiveness”

If someone is unable or unwilling to make decisions, the only way that someone else can make their decisions is if that other person has been empowered to do so by a local probate court or through a written power of attorney signed by the person giving the authority (the principal). Court appointment of people […]

Legal-Ease: Numbers, numbers and business numbers

Similar to today’s technology requiring the memorization of a lot of different numbers and passwords, businesses also require an array of numbers and passcodes. 

As part of the filing of an LLC, the Secretary of State assigns a document number to identify the actual, filed articles. The Secretary of State also assigns a business its charter number, which helps identify the organization. And usually following an entity’s establishment, a business will get an employer/tax identification number, also called an EIN. 

Legal-Ease: Three pillars of nursing home planning

Long-term health care, LTC, can have a lot of uncertainty around its planning. Horror stories abound of people losing their life savings due to needing LTC, such as a nursing home. 

Many aspects should be considered when planning for long-term health care, but three pillars compose the foundation. Each should be used at least five years in advance of needing LTC. 

Legal-Ease: Breaking up can be hard to do

Many people inherit real estate and other assets with siblings or other people. Co-owners of real estate have access to all of the property, unless the co-owners have an agreement for another arrangement. If one co-owner doesn’t want to co-own the property, a partition lawsuit can be initiated.