Protect Your Assests - Protect Your Family - Estate Planning & Family Services

Estate Planning & Family Services

Wills


Living Will
* Specifies wishes for artificial life support
* Not used to distribute property
* Includes free healthcare power of attorney

Living Trust
* Transfers property faster than a last will
* Includes free pour-over last will and testament
* Does not usually require probate

Power of Attorney (POA)
A Power of Attorney lets you appoint someone you trust to manage important financial and legal matters on your behalf. You can choose to have it take effect immediately or only go into effect in the event of illness or incapacitation.

Common uses for a Power of Attorney include authorizing someone to handle a complex legal transaction or manage your financial affairs while you’re on vacation.

Name Change
* Legally change your name
* Complete document preparation
* Quick and easy filing

Divorce
Divorce doesn't have to be complicated or costly. If you and your spouse can agree on how to divide property and resolve any child-related issues, you can file what's known as an uncontested divorce.

An uncontested divorce does not require an attorney and moves much faster through the court system, saving you time, money and stress. In many cases, you may not even need to appear before a judge.

Small Claims

Protect Your Intellectual Work and Creations - Intellectual Property

The first step to protecting your intellectual property is to identify what you can protect, and how to protect it.

Intellectual Property includes Trademarks, Copyrights and Patents.

Trademark
* Protect your business name and logo
* Prevent others from damaging your brand
* Requires use in commerce

Copyright
* Secure ownership with U.S. Patent Office
* Prevent unauthorized use or manufacturing
* Offered for both utility and design inventions

Patent
* Protect your original creative work
* Prevent unauthorized reproduction
* Does not require use in commerce

Where to Start - Forming a Business - Business Legal Services

What is the best legal set-up for your business? These are some of the common characteristics of legal business entities:

Read more about the types of legal business structures here.

Incorporation
* Personal liability protection
* Taxed at corporate and individual level
* Formal meetings and record-keeping required

Limited Liability Company (LLC)
* Same liability protection as a corporation
* No corporate tax, profits passed directly to owners
* Fewer corporate formalities required

Doing Business As (DBA)
* Not a formal business structure
* Required to legally conduct business under a trade name
* Minimal maintenence required

Suttons Bay Lawyers

Are you thinking of starting a business in Suttons Bay, Michigan? Do you need legal advice concerning real estate transactions, wills, family trusts, asset protection or any other legal matter? If so, Suttons Bay, Michigan is the northern Michigan home for the offices of Dan Penning of the law firm Wright Penning & Beamer. If you need the advice and services of a lawyer contact the law offices of Dan Penning, Wright Penning & Beamer in Suttons Bay.