Your Trusted Advisers for all Small Business Legal Matters

Having an attorney you can rely on is essential for open communication and to build trust. From business succession planning to intellectual property law, the skilled attorneys at Carosella & Associates have extensive experience in many facets of business law, and our business lawyers will work hard to protect your interests and help your small business thrive.

Our Legal Services

To protect both your personal and business interests, legal assistance with the drafting of documents such as corporate by-laws, stockholders agreements, and other types of contracts is vital. Our business lawyers are experienced in drafting documents such as license and royalty agreements, trademark and copyright registration, the sale and transfer of intellectual property and more.

Our attorneys provide many different professional legal services for businesses, and can assist you with:

 

• Bankruptcy litigation
• Commercial and residential real estate and zoning issues
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Formation of business entities and partnerships
• Intellectual property law
• Business succession planning
• Litigation avoidance strategies
• Nonprofit corporations
• Construction
• Estate planning

Litigation Avoidance Strategies

Regardless of your organization’s size or reputation, managing your business requires practical solutions. One of the most important services we provide is to help clients incorporate litigation avoidance strategies into their business planning, which can help you prevent legal problems before they start.

Settlement and Litigation

Sometimes legal issues are impossible to avoid, and our attorneys are committed to using their skills and experience to provide our clients personalized, professional legal representation. The business lawyers at Carosella & Associates, P.C. have successfully negotiated and settled thousands of cases for businesses in many different types of matters.

Providing counsel, outlining options, suggesting strategies, reviewing documents and protecting your interests are critical elements of our legal services. Regardless of the legal issues you may be facing, we can create and provide your small business with a Customized Business Litigation Plan that includes: a Case Budget; a Litigation Plan; a Discovery Plan; a List of Alternative Options; and an Estimate of Time, Costs and Options at every stage. Our attentive legal team will listen to your concerns and use our combined legal skills to provide advice in sensible terms that are easy to comprehend.

Legal Professionals You Can Trust

Our practiced and professional legal staff is committed to client confidentiality. We value the trust our clients put in us, and believe in using objective and independent judgment consistent with the highest ethical standards. In addition to offering legal counsel in business matters, our firm’s attorneys offer specialized assistance in the areas of estate planning, wills & trusts, probate, bankruptcy, family law, immigration, real estate and criminal matters as well.

Helping you find the right solutions for your business and protecting your interests is our top priority. Carosella & Associates’ experienced lawyers are dedicated to providing quality legal services that meet our small business clients’ needs. Our responsive team of legal professionals will be there for you when you need us. If you are in need of diligent, conscientious and practical legal services, please contact our lawyers in West Chester, PA or Montgomerycounty today!

This blogs was originally posted at http://carosella.com/trusted-advisers-small-business-legal-matters

How to Start Preparing for a Divorce

Going through a divorce can be an overwhelming and complex process. If you are considering divorce, there are steps you can take ahead of time that can make the process less stressful and help you stay organized and focused.

Manage Your Finances

It is important to start putting money aside so you can pay your legal fees and living expenses on a single income. If you are working, deposit all or part of your paycheck into a separate account that your spouse cannot access. Keep track of finances such as your income, your spouse’s income, household expenses, assets and debts.

Reduce unnecessary spending. Refrain from splurging on items you don’t need or making large purchases while you are preparing for a divorce.

If possible, close joint accounts. Typically, both parties on a joint account must give the bank permission to close it. If your spouse agrees, close joint bank accounts and split the money.  If you have credit cards together, either cancel them or remove one person from the account. Be sure to keep copies of all bank statements, credit card statements, pay stubs, tax returns and investment and retirement account statements.

Keep these vital documents in a safe place away from your home, as documentation of all your finances will be very important for your attorney. Open a safe deposit box in your name or store them at a trusted friend’s or family member’s home.  Meet with a financial professional such as an accountant or financial planner. He or she can help you prepare for the economic impact of your divorce.

Prepare for Custody Disputes

Document everything regarding your children in writing. Note which parent takes them to appointments and attends activities such as sports games, recitals and other extracurricular activities. Get records from your children’s school that show who attends parent-teacher conferences and other school functions. Documenting these things will show how involved you are in your children’s lives.

Unless there is violence in the home, stay with your children until your divorce is finalized. If there have been any incidents involving the police or child protective services, get copies of all reports. Drug & alcohol and psychological evaluations may also help to determine why your spouse is ill-equipped to take custody of your children. Store these documents in a safe place. They will be an integral part of determining custody.

Take Care of Yourself

Find a therapist and see him or her regularly. It may be a good idea to have your kids to speak to a child therapist as well. This type of support is essential for your emotional well-being and can help your children get through the divorce process with minimal stress.

Engaging the counsel of a skilled divorce attorney can help make the divorce process easier and less stressful. Our compassionate and experienced divorce law team in West Chester and Chester, Montgomery & Delaware Countieswill support you through the process and make sure your interests are protected.

This blogs was originally posted at http://carosella.com/how-to-start-preparing-divorce

Difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

If you are considering filing for bankruptcy, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure about where to begin. Struggling with debt can make it seem like you are powerless, but it is possible to take that weight off your shoulders and achieve your financial goals.

One of the aims of bankruptcy is to wipe out certain debts to give an individual a fresh financial start. Depending on your situation, Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy may be the right option for you.

What’s the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?

Most individual bankruptcies filed are Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 cases. With Chapter 7 bankruptcy, only your non-exempt assets are used to repay debt. If you file Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you must repay at least a portion of your debt.

Your income, assets, debts, and financial goals all play a part in determining which type of bankruptcy is the best choice for your circumstances. Consulting with a bankruptcy attorney who knows the ins and outs of bankruptcy law can help you come to a decision that best fits your needs.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Chapter 7 is a liquidation bankruptcy that is designed to get rid of unsecured debts such as medical bills and credit cards. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is typically for debtors with few assets who want to wipe out unsecured debts.

When you file for Chapter 7, a court-appointed bankruptcy trustee will determine if you have any nonexempt property to sell for the benefit of creditors. He or she will also review recent financial transactions to see if any can be undone to free up assets to repay to your creditors. The trustee will ensure that your non-exempt property is sold to pay creditors as much as possible of what you owe them. If you do not own any non-exempt assets, your creditors will not receive anything. Typically, a seasoned Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorney will be able to protect most, if not all of your assets and all of the unsecured debts will be discharged.

Although there is no homestead exemption in Pennsylvania, Chapter 7 allows consumers to use federal exemptions that protect up to $23,675 of home equity. If you are married filing jointly you may double this exemption. If you are married, jointly held property cannot be taken to satisfy the individual debts of one spouse.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

If you make too much money or have considerable non-exempt assets to qualify for Chapter 7, you may have no choice but to file Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. Also called a wage earners plan, Chapter 13 is a reorganization bankruptcy designed for debtors with enough income to pay back at least a portion of their debts over a span of three to five years.

It is similar to a consolidation loan in which you make payments to a trustee, who then pays creditors. However, it is interest free and often a much lower payment than if you were outside of bankruptcy. Chapter 13 can protect your home from foreclosure, allow you to catch up on missed mortgage payments and give you the opportunity pay off debts such as spousal or child support arrears.

Whether you are considering filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, there are many advantages and drawbacks to consider. Our experienced attorneys in West Chester will assess your case and help you determine the best course of action to take. For more information, contact Carosella & Associates to schedule a consultation.

This blogs was originally posted at http://carosella.com/difference-chapter-7-chapter-13-bankruptcy