Small Business Owners - Do YOU Have a Trusted Attorney? 5 Ways Gibbons Can Help.

For about three decades now, Roger Gibbons has been working with small business owners, contractors, trades people and more to provide sound legal advice in the areas of business and corporate law, construction law, contracts, employment law, landlord tenant law, land-use and zoning, real estate laws, Worker’s Compensation, and even accident/personal injury law. Roger is able to bring a diverse legal background to help his clients with all the legal issues they could face as small business owners in mid-Missouri. Over the years he has helped builders, contractors, small businesses, subcontractors, and more. Roger has a great respect for entrepreneurs and a passion to help them succeed. By knowing the legal risks, and safeguards related to your particular business, Roger can help you position yourself in the best way possible. In today’s blog, we wanted to share some of the most common ways small businesses can benefit from experienced legal advice when forming and operating their business. If you are a small business owner or thinking about starting your own business, we wrote this blog for you!

1) Contracts

Most businesses will deal with contracts on a fairly regular basis. You may have contracts with your clients, you may have contracts with different vendors, and you may even have contracts between you and your business partners. It can be tempting to try and save some money by using an online legal service, or even cookie cutter contracts that you just fill in. But your contracts are not a formality, they are legal agreements that will determine what you are able to enforce or what you are liable for should something happen in the future. It is definitely advisable to have those contracts specifically drawn up for your business, your situation, and your location rather than using a generic form. It is well worth the investment considering the risk you’re taking otherwise.

2) Structuring Your Business

Whether you decide to be a sole proprietorship, or an LLC will have a direct effect on your legal safeguards as well as your tax liability. To decide the best structure requires knowledge of your business and knowledge of the legal aspects of the different structures. Roger Gibbons has the legal understanding of the structures and how they will affect you, and after sitting down and talking with you about your business, he can help you decide on the one that will protect you from liability as much as possible, but still give you the safeguards you need as a business owner.

3) Employment Law

There are a lot of legal considerations when it comes to having employees. Again, you want employment contracts that are based on sound legal advice and specific to your business and industry. In addition, just understanding your legal responsibilities when it comes to hiring and firing and knowing how to stay compliant with regulations and laws that you are subject to as an employer is critical to your business. One legal mistake can be devastatingly costly. You are an expert in your field, we are experts in the legal field when it comes to issues of employment law. So, choose an attorney knowledgeable in employment law in Missouri to look out for you and prevent costly problems in the future.

4) Worker’s Compensation

Employers want their employees to be safe on the job, and employees deserve not to be seriously injured while at work. It takes everyone’s effort working together to create a safe work environment. Legally, you want to understand your responsibilities, and you want your employees to understand theirs. Sometimes employees think rules are just to protect the employer but some things that are required for safety are to protect the employees too. Roger Gibbons can help you understand how to look out for yourself, and how to prevent injuries and liabilities with your employees.

5) Landlord-Tenant Law

The above areas apply to landlord-tenant law too. Having a specific contract that clearly outlines the responsibilities and expectations for both parties can make the chances of compliance and enforcement much more realistic. Having a skilled landlord-tenant attorney at Lake of the Ozarks can prevent a lot of headaches and help create a clear understanding between you and your tenants which can contribute to better long-term relationships and profit margins as well. Let us help you maintain a profitable business, by running it in a way that is clear and understandable for everyone involved.

Gibbons Law Firm – Looking Out for the Small Business Owner

As a small business owner, we know you have a specific vision and talent that you offer to the world. You shouldn’t have to be distracted from that to deal with legal issues. That is our world. We are here and happy to help you, and we have the knowledge and legal background to guide you in the right direction. There are a lot of decisions to be made, but when you have an experienced attorney on your team, those decisions are much easier to feel solid about, and much safer to rely on if they ever come to the test. So, if you are a small business owner, or thinking about starting your own business in Central Missouri, we invite you to schedule a free initial consultation with Gibbons Law Firm. We would love to get to know you and hear more about your vision, and help you bring it to life. If you found this blog helpful and would like to hear more legal tips and information from our law firm in Lake Ozark, we have links below for you to follow us on your favorite social media platform.

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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Reasons Why YOU May Need to Update Your Will

Having your will made may feel like a major undertaking, but with the proper legal help it doesn’t have to be overwhelming at all. Once you have your will made, it is also important to keep it updated. Many people put it away and don’t think about it once they have it drawn up. But there are several life circumstances that will trigger a need for you to update your will. Usually those are circumstances that keep you pretty busy and the last thing you think of is having your will updated. So we wanted to give you some ideas in today’s blog so you can be prepared and recognize when it’s time to update your will.

Having a Child

Having a child can change a lot of things, and it definitely will affect your estate planning. It may trigger you into thinking about things like life insurance, and also your will. Even if you already have children, when you have another child you want to make sure they are included in your will and your estate plan.

Your Child Turns 18

When your child has their 18th birthday, they will legally be considered an adult. So, when your child is approaching their 18th birthday and getting ready to graduate, make an appointment with your estate planning attorney Lake of the Ozarks to make sure you have considered how that will affect your will and estate plan. For instance, you will no longer need to include plans for guardianship for your adult child past their 18th birthday. 

Grandkids

Once you experience the joy of having grandchildren, there’s no doubt you’ll want to include them in your will. This can include financial assets, and sentimental heirlooms. If it is your wish that grandkids receive certain parts of your estate, Gibbons Law Firm can make sure they are included in your will and your wishes are known.

Change in Beneficiary

If something happens to your beneficiary, and they pass away, you will need to update your will to name a new beneficiary. That can be a very sad and devastating situation, and we will help you through that with understanding and compassion at a time of loss for you.

Charity Donation

If you have become very involved with a charity organization since your will was last drawn up, you may want to update your will to include that charity in your estate plan. That is definitely something that we can help you with.

Keep Your Will Up-to-Date

Life changes happen, and some of them will affect your estate planning and choices regarding your will. It’s easy to let a will become outdated, life is busy and it’s not exactly the first thing we think about every day. But that is why we wanted to share this blog with you. Just having it top of mind that when certain situations happen in life, you should give us a call to bring your will up-to-date at Lake of the Ozarks. It doesn’t have to be complicated, in fact, we make it easy for you. So, if you have experienced one of these life-changing circumstances since the last time you updated your will, give us a call and we’ll get you taken care of. If you enjoyed this blog and would like to hear more tips and information from Gibbons Law Firm, we have links to our social media channels below so you can follow us on your favorite platform.

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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Legal Tips for Landlords at Lake of the Ozarks

The Lake of the Ozarks is in need of more rental housing, there is no doubt about that. Gibbons Law Firm wants to encourage you if are considering becoming a landlord at the Lake of the Ozarks. It can be a great way to create an income stream and provide much-needed housing for the area. But there are certain legal issues that are involved when it comes to getting into the rental business at Lake of the Ozarks. Having a relationship with an experienced landlord-tenant lawyer at Lake of the Ozarks can be a huge asset in your rental business. If you are curious about what legal issues you might need to be prepared for, and how our law firm in Lake Ozark could help, we will describe 3 for you in today’s blog.

1) Contracts

It all starts with a properly drawn up lease agreement. You want your tenants to know exactly what their rights and responsibilities are, and as a landlord, you want to know what your rights and responsibilities are as well. When these things are clearly lined out for both parties, it makes compliance and enforcement much more successful. By having an experienced attorney in mid-Missouri draw up your lease agreement, you can be in the best possible position if you ever have to enforce that legal document. Some things that your lease agreement should specify Include the exact terms of the lease, precisely who the tenants are, what the payment amounts and due dates are, as well as deposits, fees, fines, etc. When you work with Gibbons Law Firm, you can rest assured that your lease agreement will include everything it should clearly and specifically.

2) Eviction

Unfortunately, sometimes it becomes necessary for a landlord to evict a tenant. It is not a fun situation, and can be quite stressful, especially depending on your contracts and the way you go about the eviction process. Both parties have rights and it’s important that you take the correct steps in the right order to be successful with an eviction. We can help you handle that situation legally and effectively.

3) Property Damage

This can go both ways. Sometimes tenants create significant damage during the course of time they are renting. If you experience major property damage because of your tenants, we highly recommend seeking the help of a tenant landlord attorney to analyze the situation and see if you have a case. We can also guide you through the process of seeking compensation. In addition, a landlord-tenant attorney can provide legal guidance if you have a tenant that claims they have suffered property damage because of e.g. an unsafe environment, or something like a leaky roof. They can walk you through the process to assess your responsibility or legal liability, and proper course of action. Gibbons Law Firm can help you through this scenario if you ever face it.

Get the Guidance You Need at Gibbons

In general, it’s just really a good idea to have a relationship with a landlord tenant attorney if you are thinking about getting into the rental business. Having a local attorney with the knowledge to guide you in the variety of legal issues you may face as a landlord is not only an asset to your rental business, it is a load off your mind allowing you to focus on your business rather than worry about legalities. We do offer free initial consultations, so if you’d like to come in and get to know us and learn a little bit more about the legal issues you want to be prepared for as a landlord, we invite you to give us a call and schedule an appointment. Would love to sit down and talk with you. If you enjoyed this blog and would like to hear more legal tips and information from our law firm, we have links below for you to follow us on social media.

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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What YOU can do to Fight a Personal Injury Case Successfully!

Dealing with a personal injury as a result of someone else’s actions or inactions can be a very overwhelming situation. You have to deal with your physical injury and everything it takes for you to recover. You also have to deal with the financial burden of not being able to work. On top of that, you have the stress of the unknown regarding your personal injury case. As personal injury attorneys in mid-Missouri, we are advocates for those who have been injured, and we understand how important it is that you have a successful outcome to your case. We know victims can feel very helpless during a time like this, but there are things that you can empower yourself to do that will help your case and your future. So, we wanted to share five things in today’s blog that you can do to help your personal injury case at Lake of the Ozarks.

1) Seek Medical Care Immediately

Many people will self-assess and think they are just fine after an accident. They just think they may be sore or shook up, but not actually injured. But it is actually possible to have broken bones and not know it for days. So, it is essential that you do seek professional medical care to make sure you don’t have injuries that you are not aware of. Another important reason to seek professional medical care is so that your injuries can be documented officially. That may become very important to your personal injury case later. In addition, you want to be sure that you follow the advice of your medical professionals. You don’t want an insurance attorney trying to make you look as though you were causing your own limitations or not helping your own situation. By following medical advice, you will show that you’re doing everything you can to improve your situation, and you will effectively highlight the genuine limitations that have been created by your injury.

2) Know Your Rights

The earlier you can seek legal advice the better. Your personal injury attorney at Lake of the Ozarks will want to start investigating as soon as possible to find out exactly what happened so they can start building your case. Memories fade with time, so it’s best to interview and gather information as early as possible. You also want to stay in touch with your attorney throughout the case and keep them informed of any changes when it comes to your medical conditions or your abilities to work. Your attorney should be considered a partner with you throughout the whole process during your personal injury case. They are there to look out for your best interest, so you want to work with them and cooperate with them as a team.

3) Journal and Document Your Journey

You’re going to go through a lot during this time. There will be a lot of discussions related to your health and the accident that caused your injury. First of all, you want to remember everything you can at the time of the injury. What happened, what conditions may have contributed to it, who did what, etc. It will be hard to remember those things later, so you want to write it down as soon as possible. Then your recovery process will have a story of its own. When you get news from the doctor or you get results from a test, you want to document that and journal it so none of it is forgotten. You want every detail possible available for your attorney to use, so put it on paper and take notes after every doctor visit, every meeting related to your injury, and every conversation with your insurance company.

4) Have Your Attorney Present When Giving Statements

You want to be very careful about what you say to anyone and everyone during your personal injury case. Gibbons Law Firm knows exactly what kind of things can be used against a claimant in a personal injury case. We also know the techniques that are used to try to get people to say things that can be construed as guilt or responsibility. That is why you should always have your attorney with you when giving statements so they can help you avoid being drawn in to saying something that could be a detriment to your own case.

5) Be Honest, But Don't Volunteer Information

It’s a good rule of thumb not to volunteer any information regarding your case, especially before it is settled. Talking about any details regarding how the accident happened, your pain, your injuries, or even an inspirational quote on social media saying how you are persevering and rising above the challenge, can be misconstrued as though the injury is really not affecting you as much as it is. It really is best just to not talk about your case, even with friends and extended family. Don’t volunteer information. On the flipside, when you do need to share the facts on your injuries, your limitations, your pain, and the cause of the accident, you want to be very clear and forthcoming and honest. Don’t exaggerate, don’t underestimate, just be factual.

Schedule a Free Initial Consultation with Gibbons Law Firm!

Our attorneys in Lake Ozark have a special heart for people who are suffering with injuries as a result of someone else’s negligence. We know how important it is for you to have a successful settlement in order for you to move forward with your life and reclaim some of what was lost. We know how critical it is for personal injury victims to be informed of their rights and to have guidance through the process. So, we want you to remember we offer free initial consultations. Just give us a call and set up an appointment to learn more about what your rights are and what your course of action should be. We look forward to meeting with you and helping you through this difficult time. We also want you to know that you do not have to have money for us to represent you. We do most of our personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means we will be paid when you win your case. Don’t go this alone, and don’t just suffer with your injuries. Talk to Gibbons Law Firm, and let us help make a game plan for you. If you found this blog helpful and would like to hear more legal tips and information from our law firm in Lake Ozark, we have links below for you to follow us on your favorite social media platform.

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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