Legal-Ease: Practical estate planning considerations

While not all of us will have millions to give away upon our death, confusion and discrepancies can arise during the settling of an estate, now matter how substantial its resources. To avoid many of these painful disputes, I recommend a number of practical tips for planning the settling of your estate.

Legal-Ease: Copies or originals

A common question is whether an original is needed or if a copy will suffice for legal needs. Documents that are actually signed are considered to be the originals, and reproduced representations of the originals are referred to as copies. Generally in Ohio, a copy of a document is considered to be as good as the original.

Legal-Ease: Basic snow and ice law

Since we live in northwest Ohio, snow and ice are very much an expected part of our winters. Snow removal is in order, and the act of salting roadways and removing snow from the surfaces is a “government function.” A lot of rules exist surrounding snow and ice.

Legal-Ease: Valuing a business

While there are many ways to value a business, three approaches to business valuation are commonly used. The “asset approach,” the “income approach” and the “market approach” are the three most common approaches when it comes to business valuation.

Legal-Ease: Is scalping event tickets legal?

The term scalping refers to the original practice of selling counterfeit tickets. Now, scalping just means selling any tickets individually instead of through a service. While some states allow scalping, many have rules and restrictions dictating what can be done with tickets.

Legal-Ease: Should my farm lease be in writing?

Crop yields in recent years have made farmland leases a necessity for a responsible farmer. While these leases should be in writing, some states (including Ohio) accept verbal leases.

When a lease isn’t in writing and on record at the county courthouse, people other than the tenant and landlord may not be required to honor the lease.

There is also an Ohio law that requires any farmland leases longer than three years to be notarized and recorded at the county courthouse.