Estate Tax Considerations for 2022
The state of California is one of the most taxed in the country when it comes to income taxes. But there is some good news for those concerned about estate taxes — the state of California is one of the states that does not charge an estate tax. To learn more about California's transfer tax planning considerations for 2022, continue reading. Tax Exemption on Gifts and Estates This year, the federal estate and gift tax exemption has been increased from $11.7 million to $12.06 million, allowing U.S. residents to give away an extra $990,000 in the aggregate to non-spouse [...]
Key Things to Understand When Leasing Retail Space
Once the ink on a commercial lease for an office building or retail space has dried, it's too late to make adjustments. Commercial leases are important documents that require careful examination and a basic understanding of lease concepts. You want to get the greatest deal for your company, which means before you sign a lease, you want to be sure you have carefully investigated its terms to make sure it meets your business's needs. How Commercial Leases Differ from Residential Leases It is critical that you take the time to carefully consider commercial leases, as they are generally more [...]
Updates to Severance Agreements Under California Law
California's "Silenced No More Act" (SB 331) changed the Code of Civil Procedure and the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) to place additional limits on severance and settlement agreements. In light of the passing of SB 331, employers with California workers or remote workers in California have been directed to examine and update severance and settlement agreements. SB 331 FAQs When did SB 331 go into effect? Agreements signed after January 1, 2022, are subject to SB 331. What are some key excerpts from SB 331? In the context of a settlement, SB 331 broadens prohibitions on nondisclosure. [...]
What Are the Main Mistakes That Are Made in the Formation of an Entity?
Starting a new business venture may be both thrilling and terrifying. Mistakes might cost you a lot of money. While starting an entity, you'll want to avoid these six typical blunders. 1st Mistake: Selecting the Wrong Business Structure When starting a business in California, the first step is determining which sort of entity would work best for your needs. For instance, would you prefer a sole proprietorship, a general partnership, a limited partnership, a limited liability company, a C corporation, or an S corporation? Do you have any future plans to raise money from outside sources in order to [...]
Venture Capital – Best Practices
The majority of start-up and early-stage businesses require capital in order to flourish. A significant difficulty is that many of these enterprises are unable to secure regular bank loans or do not wish to make the personal guarantees often required to gain those loans. As a result, they must resort to alternative sources of funding, such as venture capital. Such money can be difficult to get and is sometimes subject to federal and state legal limitations.What Is Venture Capital and How Does It Work?Venture capital is a type of finance provided by investors to enterprises, the great majority of which [...]
CHANGES IN ESTATE TAX RULES AND THE NEED TO REVIEW YOUR TRUST DOCUMENTS: An issue arising under married couples’ trusts signed prior to 2013
January 2022 Many people create revocable probate avoidance type trusts and then mistakenly believe that they do not need to again look their estate planning documents until a crisis arises. Unfortunately, it may then be too late to avoid expensive steps to correct the issues that may have developed in the meantime. A very common issue has come up in my practice that underscores the need for married couples to revisit their estate planning documents and ensure that they are drafted with the current estate tax rules in mind: Prior to 2013, the vast majority married couples’ living trusts in [...]