Estate Planning Tips for Business Owners With Children

Do you own your own business? If so, you've likely worked very hard putting that business together, so having a professional estate plan put together can be a very responsible decision. This can assure your business ends up in the right hands in the event you pass away at an unexpected time. We understand that this is an unfortunate matter that no one likes to think about but the reality is that having an estate plan can make matters easier on your loved ones that are already mourning your passing. Our estate planning lawyers at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to give you a few tips for that may help with your estate planning process, if you're a business owner with children, in this week's blog. If you are a business owner in need of an estate plan, please call our law firm in Lake Ozark today. Gibbons Law Firm can be reached at 573-348-2211.

Estate Planning Tips for Business Owners With Children

Who would you like to leave your business in the event you pass away? Is it your children, a trusted, long-time co-worker, or maybe you're considering other options? Either way, there are certain things to consider first, such as: 

TAX

This is important to remember. The value of your business can change over time. The taxable eststate would include the value of the business at the time of your death, not necessarily at the time of when you started your estate plan.

POTENTIAL FAMILY ISSUES (If you do plan to leave your business to one of your children.)

Let's say you're choosing to leave your business to one of your four children. It can be a very good idea to have a conversation before making any final decisions here. Matters such as these aren't worth tearing families apart over. There is a gentle way to go about this and just being honest and upfront about your plans beforehand can go a long way.

SUCCESSION PLANS

A good succession plan will let your successor know exactly what needs to happen when it comes to the transfer of the ownership and management of your business. Without this, your business could end up in chaos.

These are just a few of the matters to consider when estate planning for your business, but we encourage you to meet with an experienced attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks when choosing to have an estate plan created. It's a very important document and you can benefit from the attorney's experience of doing this for many years. Your opinion matters, but if you don't have a proper estate plan, it may not actually get heard if you pass away. This is just something to consider, you don't have to have an attorney to create an estate plan, we just strongly encourage it because of the significance of this document.

Are You Interested In Having A Professional Estate Plan Put Together?

All of us here at Gibbons Law Firm hope you found this blog enlightening and helpful in your estate planning process. We are here in you need any help. Please give us a call today. Your first consultation will be free. We can be reached at the phone number listed below. You can also follow us on our social media channels listed below for our latest announcements and more legal tips.

Remember, your initial consultation with Gibbons Law Firm is always free.

Your Trusted Legal Resource

Gibbons Law Firm

2820 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B4

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 348-2211

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The Legal Punishments for Drinking Under The Age of 21

Do you have teenagers living in your home? We were all younger once, right? Everyone makes mistakes and there are consequences for those mistakes. Our law firm at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to give you information on the legal punishments for drinking alcohol under the age of 21. If you're a parent who needs an EXPERIENCED criminal defense attorney in Lake Ozark for your teen, call Gibbons Law Firm at 573-348-2211.

The Legal Punishments for Drinking Under The Age of 21

INCARCERATION MAY BE IN YOUR FUTURE.

A potential punishment for underage drinking is to serve jail time. A criminal charge, like underage drinking, can follow a person around for a lifetime. This type of charge can make it hard to find a job, get insurance, and make major purchases in the future. Avoid being charged with a crime and serving time in jail - the future you will thank you!

YOU MAY POTENTIALLY HAVE TO PERFORM SERVICES AROUND YOUR COMMUNITY.

If you are caught drinking under age, it is likely part of your punishment will be in the form of community service of some sort. If this is your first offense, a judge may give you the option to put in a certain amount of hours doing community service. During this time serving the community, you are to be thinking about the decision you made to break the law and how to avoid this type of action in the future. 

YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE COULD GET SUSPENDED.

You can lose your driver's license if you are convicted of underage drinking. The revocation of your license can put a big damper on your social life. As many people rely on personal transportation for a number of reasons. Work, visiting family, going to school, traveling to friends - these are all popular reasons a person may need access to transportation. If you lose your license, you may have to rely on public transportation or friends and family to get you to and from your destination. 

YOU MAY HAVE TO PAY A FINE.

You may face hefty fines if you are caught drinking under the age of 21. These fines are not worth underage drinking. A fine can put a big strain on your financial situation. A young person typically does not have a big disposable income and a fine can be detrimental to your lifestyle. 

Need An Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney?

Gibbons Law Firm is here for you! Give us a call today. Your first consultation is FREE. We can be reached at the phone number listed below. You can also follow us on our social media channels listed below to stay up to date on our latest legal tips. Gibbons Law Firm represents clients in all types of felony and misdemeanor cases. Roger Gibbons has successfully tried hundreds of criminal cases of all types. We're here for you! Get the legal defense you deserve today.

Remember, your initial consultation with Gibbons Law Firm is always free.

Your Trusted Legal Resource

Gibbons Law Firm

2820 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B4

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 348-2211

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How To Present Yourself To The Court As A Good Parent

Not knowing how a child custody case will turn out can cause a lot of anxiety and uncertainty. As a parent, you likely want the best for your child and can't imagine them not getting to see you as much as they'd like. Our child custody lawyers at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to give you a few tips on how to present yourself as a good parent to the court in this week's blog. If you have any questions about your child custody case, please do not hesitate to give us a call for your free consultation. Gibbons Law Firm can be reached (573) 348-2211.

CONTROL YOUR EMOTIONS.

If you are prone to impulsive outbursts, ranting or raving in person or over technology mediums, you are instantly jeopardizing your custody arrangement. Judges will not be lenient if they have evidence that you are a parent that regularly loses control of his/her anger and temperament. You will be at a disadvantage if you can be described as a loose cannon by friends, family and others in your social network. Going through divorce and custody issues in court is probably not a comfortable chain of events; however, you must be mindful of self-control.  

BE SMART AND LISTEN TO YOUR LAWYER.

Your attorney is trained and experienced in providing the best legal advice and guidance to you. They have experience with the struggle you’re going through and should be an advocate by your side. They will advise you on matters of behavior and conduct, and it is critical that you follow their instruction. It can be hard to filter strong feelings, but for the sake of your child’s involvement, it is imperative and exactly what you need to do to avoid a reduction or additional stipulation on your custody agreement.

BE COOPERATIVE WITH YOUR EX. 

Being friendly can sometimes be difficult when dealing with an ex, but keep in mind that judges often look favorable on parents who show a solid effort to have a temperate relationship with the other parent. If it is alleged that you are consistently critical and reproachful of the other parent through text messages, emails and/or through the child him/or herself, this behavior is negatively influencing the child and will be frowned upon in court. A change to your custody arrangement will almost certainly result if this is proved. You want to show the courts that you intend to support the other parent by adhering to an agreeable tone when discussing or dealing with the child and other parent.

BE PRESENT IN YOUR CHILD'S LIFE.

Are you aware of your child’s day care provider or teacher’s name? Have you been present at a doctor’s appointment or attended a sporting event your child is participating in? If your answer is, “No,” then you may need to consider prioritizing these moments in your life to avoid changes to your current custody arrangement. 

Call Gibbons Law Firm Today For Your Child Custody Help!

We understand that any divorce involving children is going to get emotional, so let us help you make smart decisions during this tough time. Give us a call today at the number listed below for your free consultation. You can also follow us on our social media channels listed below to stay up to date on our latest announcements.

Remember, your initial consultation with Gibbons Law Firm is always free.

Your Trusted Legal Resource

Gibbons Law Firm

2820 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B4

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 348-2211

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How To Be Proactive With Your Divorce

Divorce - no one sees it coming when they say "I do", but the reality is that fifty percent of marriages end in divorce. That is just the plain, sad truth. However, while divorce can be really sad, there are ways of being more proactive with your divorce. Keep reading this week's blog for a few examples. Have questions about your divorce? Call our law firm in Lake Ozark today. Your first consultation is free. We can be reached at 573-348-2211.

How To Be Proactive With Your Divorce

Schedule a consultation with an experienced divorce attorney as soon as possible.

You can really claim some peace of mind when you simply get your questions answered. This divorce is uncharted territory for you and you have probably heard many horror stories from friends or co-workers who have got divorced before. Keep in mind that every divorce is unique. It's not a one size fits all format. So, just because your friend had a very difficult, emotional divorce doesn't mean yours has to be. You can get your worries put to rest by meeting with an experienced divorce attorney who can clear any confusion you may have up. 

Assure your ex that you want to cooperate respectfully for the sake of your children.

No matter what reason you may be getting divorced due to, your children are innocent in all of this. Keep that in mind. With any case involving child custody, the court rules in the best interest of the children, despite whether you agree with their decision or not. Knowing that, reach out to your ex and just be cordial. Go into this process with the shared goal of creating the best situation for your children.

List some realistic goals you would like to see happen in your divorce and stay on course with that.

Divorce can be messy and if you let your emotions get the best of you, you may forget to see the big picture here. To help prevent that from happening, make a list of goals you would like to see happen in your divorce and talk to your attorney about it. Such as:

• You would like to have the children live with you 2 weekends a month.
• You would like to spend every Christmas with your children.
• You would like to see the house not sold and for it to remain in the family.
  
  
  
  
  

Gibbons Law Firm is Here For Your Free Divorce Consultation.

The legal aspects of divorce can be highly complex and highly sensitive and emotional because of the personal nature of the disputes. An experienced and knowledgeable attorney—with the ability to listen and counsel clients, investigate and negotiate cases, to defuse conflict, and, when necessary, to litigate a case—is important to a successful outcome of a family law case. Gibbons Law Firm assists clients with all types of divorce cases. We are committed to providing legal counseling and advice that clients need in such disputes. Find out more about how we can assist you by contacting our Firm and making an appointment today.

Remember, your initial consultation with Gibbons Law Firm is always free.

Your Trusted Legal Resource

Gibbons Law Firm

2820 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B4

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 348-2211

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