As a California tech entrepreneur, you’ve invested countless hours, creativity and hard work into building your business. While your focus may be on scaling your company and achieving success, it’s equally important to consider estate planning, a process that will secure your legacy and protect your assets. Start early Estate planning should begin as early as possible in your entrepreneurial journey. Don’t wait until you’ve achieved significant success or until a life event p

California residents who follow developments in the entertainment sector will probably know that Microsoft has offered $68.7 billion to acquire the video game developer Activision Blizzard. The proposed acquisition is fiercely opposed by Microsoft gaming rival Sony, and The United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority has blocked the deal. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has also voiced opposition to the acquisition. Federal judge blocks acquisition Industry experts e

Building a business starts with a relationship. Fundamentally, you have a buyer and a seller. As your business grows, so do the number of relationships you form. The more relationships you form and the bigger your business becomes, the more chances there are for disagreements. You cannot satisfy every client, employee, distributor, manufacturer, shareholder, member of the board or investor in your business. Disputes are bound to happen. Business litigation begins when a third

Running a small business comes with its ups and downs. Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you may face a year of financial losses. The good news is that you can potentially leverage these losses to reduce your overall tax burden. Here is what you need to know about writing off small business losses on your taxes. Utilizing business losses for tax benefits If the structure of your business is that of a sole proprietorship, limited liability company (LLC), partnership or S c

Most California residents understand the importance of estate planning to protect their assets and loved ones. If you’ve taken steps to start it, you probably have beneficiaries named. Paying close attention to your beneficiary designations is crucial. Beneficiary designations and your financial accounts Part of your estate planning involves naming beneficiaries on all your financial accounts. This might include your bank accounts, life insurance policy and retirement plans.

Tenant issues are a complex field of law in the state of California. While the idea of a tenant renting from a landlord may seem simple, conflicts that do not have clear resolutions may need to be settled in court. You should also be aware that the state has clear legal distinctions between leases and rental agreements. What you have can determine your rights under the law. What is a lease? A lease is an agreement between a landlord and tenant that can exist in either written

There are various reasons for California renters to move out of their homes. While many of these reasons are entirely out of their control, renters often move based on personal preference. Understanding these reasons allows landlords to understand better what their tenants are looking for in a home. Rent is too high Perhaps the most important thing on the list of tenant matters is rent. No matter how nice a property is, people won’t want to rent it if the monthly rent is too

In California, people or companies quickly buy available properties in the state’s hot real estate market. However, one person might need financial assistance to purchase a property or land for sale. In these situations, another party might help someone buy property or land in exchange for shared ownership. A legal arrangement called “tenancy in common” could be the perfect solution when deciding ownership percentages. Understanding tenancy in common Tenancy in common is a le

The California Budget & Policy Center reports that 17 million Californians live on rental property. Considering that, it’s no surprise that California real estate is lucrative. If you own residential property, you might be interested in renting it out. You may also consider renting individual rooms to several tenants. Receiving multiple rent payments is a plus, but there are risks with multiple tenants. Temporary tenants Most landlords like it when tenants stay around – espec

As many people grow older in California, they can deal with ailments and situations affecting their decision-making abilities. You and your loved ones can have help making crucial decisions by choosing someone to be your attorney-in-fact. Someone who lives close by During the estate planning process, there are usually important meetings that happen with lawyers, physicians and other professionals. If you appoint an attorney-in-fact, this person often must attend meetings on y

If you are considering renting a commercial building in California, it is vital to consider the different types of leases that may be available. Each has its advantages and disadvantages based on your circumstances. Therefore, it is essential to read the lease carefully. Gross lease Sometimes called a net lease, with a gross lease, the tenant pays the base rent and utilities. The owner takes care of maintenance costs, insurance and real estate taxes. These leases, often in bu

California landlords and renters need to be aware of a landlord’s responsibilities. Unfortunately, landlord/tenant relationships can sometimes experience friction. Understanding the role of a landlord, as well as his or her legal obligations, are often critical in navigating conflicts. Landlord/tenant matters can go beyond the basics, but in all cases, a landlord has significant responsibilities. These include managing deposits and maintaining rental properties. Initial oblig

California residents who follow business news may have heard the term “horizontal integration”. This is the merger of two companies that operate in the same industry and at the same point in the supply chain. Horizontal integration unites competitors and increases market share and influence, but it also has some disadvantages. Horizontal mergers between market leaders are closely scrutinized by the Federal Trade Commission, and the larger companies that emerge from these tran

Whether your first marriage ended because of a divorce or the unfortunate passing of your spouse, finding love again and remarrying often feels like a fresh start. However, California residents who remarry should be sure to update their estate plans. Estate planning for blended families Remarriage often leads to the blending of families when both spouses come into the second marriage with children. Regardless of the age of the children, it’s important to consider the expansio

When media outlets in California and around the country mention mergers, the transactions they are reporting on are usually acquisitions. A merger is the joining of two companies of approximately equal size, which does not happen very often. An acquisition is the outright purchase of a company by a (usually) much larger company, which is far more common. Merged companies combine their assets and liabilities. A company that completes an acquisition assumes the assets and liabi

California adults may have a hard time accepting they will need an estate plan sooner rather than later. Even if you’re not ready to create one, it’s still important to create some sort of document for your loved ones in case of an emergency. What goes into an emergency financial file? An emergency financial file will usually contain copies of important documents, such as your Social Security card, birth certificate, and other items. This can include a copy of your last will

In California and other states, if you plan on selling a business or investment property and have already identified a replacement property, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows you to defer capital gains from the sale using a like-kind or Internal Revenue Code 1031 exchange. With this method, instead of using some of the sale proceeds to pay taxes on your profits, you can use the money to purchase a new property, as long as it is of “like-kind.” The rules and restrictio

When a privately-held company in California gains a majority stake in a publicly-traded company, this is known as a reverse merger. This is typically undertaken so that they can bypass the traditional initial public offering process, which tends to be expensive and takes a lot of time. It’s important to note that a reverse merger should make shareholder value for every stakeholder and it also should offer access to capital markets when the merger is done well. What are some c

California residents are usually over the moon about becoming parents, and excited about all that goes into it. A less talked about step to becoming a parent is creating an estate plan to ensure your child is cared for should the worst happen. Have living documents Living documents address who gets to make decisions on your behalf if you cannot. There will usually be a health care proxy, who will make decisions about your health, and a power of attorney. A power of attorney w

Anyone interested in renting commercial property must take steps to protect their financial interests. Signing a lease for inappropriate property or paying too much rent could undermine any positive economic outcomes for the California business. Signing an unfavorable contract would be equally unhelpful, so negotiating a proper lease could be a good idea. Preliminary steps Performing necessary research into the rental market might be a vital step to take at first. Potential r

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in California are complex transactions that can benefit companies, such as economies of scale, access to new markets and diversification of products and services. However, M&A transactions have a high failure rate despite the potential advantages. According to a study by Harvard Business Review, up to 90% of M&A deals fail to achieve their intended objectives. Culture clash One of the main reasons why mergers and acquisitions fail is the clash o

Dealing with losing a loved one is hard enough when there aren’t complications in legally passing down property. When an executor in California does a bad job, you must know how to stand up for your rights. Is suing even an option? The short and simple answer is yes, you can sue the executor of your will. But bear in mind that it has to be a special circumstance because most of the time in probate litigation, an executor isn’t liable for any debts of an estate that they’ve ad

Blended families in Roseville, California, can take thoughtful steps to ensure that each child in their family, either biological or through marriage, is protected. Factors like nominating guardians, planning each inheritance, and selecting an executor must be considered. Estate planning for blended families is complicated yet essential The complicated nature of estate planning for blended families does not minimize its importance. The better things are planned, the easier it

Although the Internal Revenue Service might send an audit letter to a California resident’s home, that does not necessarily mean the taxpayer did anything wrong. The IRS could request proof to substantiate deductions, and the taxpayer may present receipts. Most taxpayers would likely wish to avoid an audit, so it could be helpful to avoid making mistakes that raise audit red flags. Common red flags Six red flags often draw attention to a tax return and could trigger an audit.