Lincolnton North Carolina Legal Blog

Get your estate plan ready before the busy holiday season

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Estate Planning on Friday, November 9, 2018.

As the holiday season approaches, most people want to focus on the fun aspects of this time of year. There is one task that all adults should complete now that can ensure their loved ones have one of the best gifts of all – a plan for what happens to their assets when they pass away. Your estate plan is a set of documents that does this, as well as a few other tasks.

We know that you might not want to tackle this right now, but you will probably enjoy going into the season with the plan in place. Come the first of the year, you won't have to worry about finding the time to do it. We are here to help you get everything together so that you can ensure your wishes are clearly outlined in a legal manner.

Can the seller back out of our real estate deal?

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. on Wednesday, October 31, 2018.

While some are lucky enough to find the house of their dreams and close on the sale within a few weeks, not everyone is that fortunate. In fact, for many, the whole process may take several months, provided you do not anticipate any snags with your financing.

When you find a house you love, you may be excited to learn that the seller is motivated and eager to make a deal. However, what can you do when a seller is not so motivated and decides to back out of the sale?

Plan for the holiday season with your child

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Family Law on Friday, October 26, 2018.

The holiday season is coming up quickly. This means that divorced parents will need to revisit child custody arrangements for the season. Not only do they have to determine the schedule for the actual holidays, they also have to decide who will supervise them when the kids are on their winter breaks from school.

If this is your first holiday season as a single parent, you might not be fully prepared for what's to come. Depending on the ages of your children, you may have to plan for child care when they are out of school. Before you do this, you need to know when they will be with you and when they'll be with your ex. From there, you must determine which parent is going to be responsible for child care and whether the same provider will be used in both homes.

Plea deals might help you get your criminal case resolved

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Criminal Defense on Friday, October 12, 2018.

People who are facing criminal charges often want to have those taken care of as quickly as possible. This is especially true when they know that they did commit the crime and don't relish the idea of going through a jury trial. For these individuals, a plea deal might be beneficial to resolve the criminal matter.

It is important to note that most prosecutors aren't going to work directly with a defendant to determine the plea deal. Instead, they work with the defense attorney to come up with the terms of the deal. These can vary greatly, so anyone who is working on one should consider the specifics of the case before making any decisions about what is going to work.

Your estate plan must take your goals into account

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Estate Planning on Friday, September 28, 2018.

Long-term financial planning includes the need to have an estate plan. When you are thinking about estate planning, you must remember that almost all adults should have at least a will. Even if you don't have a lot in the way of assets, you can still outline some basic other things in your estate plan. Think about these items as you determine what to do about your estate:

By creating an estate plan, you might be able to save some of your family's private business from being made public. Probate court records are public, so if your estate has to go through the process, anyone can look at what happened. The alternative to this is that you can set up trusts that will enable your estate to be doled out without the probate process. This increases the privacy that your loved ones have.

Know about property zoning and land usage before purchasing

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Land Use and Zoning on Friday, September 14, 2018.

Land use and zoning laws set forth the possible intended usage possibilities for properties. This gives municipalities a chance to keep specific types of developments near each other and away from others. Typically, residential units are going to be around each other. Within this type of dwelling, the zoning laws will determine what types of residential units can be in the area. This means that it might be possible to build single-family homes or multifamily buildings.

Commercial and industrial developments are two other types that are found in zoning plans. For the most part, you wouldn't want to build a house in the middle of a set of factories. The zoning ordinances help to ensure that there is some sort of uniformity within the municipality.

How to make your commercial lease work for your small business

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. on Tuesday, September 11, 2018.

North Carolina business owners face varying challenges when trying to start and operate a successful small business. One of the most significant challenges includes finding a space to run the business with affordable rent and enough space for operational needs. Upon finding an appropriate space, it can be important to negotiate a fair lease before signing.

If you are considering leasing a commercial space for your business, you may not know you have the right to negotiate the terms of your lease. These are legally binding agreements, and it can be crucial for you to pursue fair and reasonable terms that allow for your long-term success. You do not have to negotiate these terms on your own, but instead, you can seek help for this important step.

Determine your parenting style after your divorce

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Family Law on Friday, August 31, 2018.

When you go through a divorce and have children, you will have to work quickly to establish the new rules of the house. This isn't always easy for parents to do. Not only are you dealing with an emotionally trying time, your children are dealing with similar challenges. You might be tempted to let things slide for a while so that everyone can adjust and life can calm down. This isn't really a good idea since it might make it even harder for your children.

One of the most important things to do when you end a marriage is to decide what your new parenting style will look like. Think about the current rules and decide which ones are going to carry over to your home. There is a chance that some of the rules your ex instituted aren't suitable for your new life. Now is the time to make changes where it is necessary.

Work out your parenting plan quickly after a split

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Family Law on Friday, August 17, 2018.

Parents who have minor children have a long road ahead of them if they decide to end their marriage. They will have to work through the child custody issues that come with this split. It is difficult to think about not being able to see your kids daily, but this is what happens in these cases. We know that you might have some concerns about what the arrangement might be like.

One thing to remember is that you and your ex will likely be able to work together to come up with the child custody agreement. This gives you some control over what the final parenting plan will be like. This is usually best since a child's parents know the intimate details about the situation and can work together to come up with a plan that puts the kids first.

Review your estate plan at least once per year

On behalf of The Jonas Law Firm, P.L.L.C. posted in Estate Planning on Friday, August 3, 2018.

Many people put off creating an estate plan because they don't want to think about the end of their life. This is problematic behavior, as you just never know when your family members are going to need to the guidance and protection of the estate plan. We are here to help you learn about what tools you can use to make your wishes known.

One thing that everyone needs to remember is that a thorough estate plan isn't something that you make once and then forget. Instead, you need to review it at least once a year. This gives you a chance to ensure that the terms of the plan still accurately reflect your wishes.