Category: Blog
Northwestern College Football Players File Suit for Unionization Rights
Although Seattle won the Super Bowl and Florida State is the new college football national champion, the college football players at Northwestern University continue playing, but this time on a different field – the courtroom. On Tuesday, January 28, 2014, with support from the Steelworkers Union, a majority of Northwestern college football players appealed to
Protecting your business’s name, logo, or tag line
You can protect your business’s name, logo, or tag line by having Shinners & Cook file an application for a Federal Trademark or Services Mark (“Mark”) through the United States Patent and Trademark Office. You can register a name, “doing business as” name, logo, combination of a logo and a name, or a tag line
Fake state forms sent via regular mail
We are all used to receiving emails from Nigerian princes trying to flee an oppressive regime or winning an online lottery we never entered, both promising millions of dollars in money if we just provide our bank account information and our social security number. We learned to ignore them. The powers of numbers associated with
Wills and Trusts: What about the Pet?
In Michigan, like most states, a pet is not considered a human and, therefore, is not an Heir or Devisee under estate planning documents such as Wills and Trusts. However, a pet may very well be an important part of the family. In a recent seminar (22nd Annual Drafting Estate Planning Documents-ICLE), one of the
Estate Planning: Does Permanent Portability Mean the End of the Credit-Shelter Trust?
My second read of the “Fiscal Cliff Bill” raises the interesting question concerning the Credit-Shelter Trust. For decades people getting their estate plans done have utilized a vehicle known as the Marital Bypass Trust; the A-B Trust; the Credit-Shelter Trust or some other name which means that the husband and wife each create their own
Wills and Trusts: My first read on the “Fiscal Cliff Bill”
I finally had an opportunity to read the actual “Fiscal Cliff” bill which is H.R.8 “American Tax Payer Relief Act of 2012”. As I write this blog, the Act has not yet been signed by the President, however, he has promised to do so. It does many things; however, I will limit this brief article
Estate Planning for Your Digital Assets
Even if you haven’t thought about your estate plan today, I am certain that you have checked your email, made an online bill payment, or logged into your Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn account. That’s just how the world works these days. But would it surprise you to learn that new legislation is making these “digital
400 Million Reasons to Do Your Estate Plan When You Are of Sound Mind
Early versions of Obama-Care had older folks making end-of-life decisions with a government-payed counselor on the way into a medical facility. The time to make decisions concerning Patient Advocates and Advance Directives is not on your way into a hospital but rather when you are of a sound, clear thinking mind without the numerous stresses
Real Estate Law: Property Tax Appeals in Michigan
Over the last four years, the State of Michigan, in general, and the communities of Mid Michigan, in particular, have been hard hit by the ongoing national recession. In addition to high unemployment and a shrinking economy, we experienced unprecedented reductions in real estate property values. As a result of the recession, municipalities and assessors
How I Protect my Family’s Income with Little Additional Expense
How many people do you know who have been injured in an auto accident to the extent their long-term income has been negatively affected? In Michigan, you’re required to buy automobile liability insurance to protect others if you screw up and seriously hurt someone seriously. Because it’s required, you cannot legally avoid the cost of