At the Law Offices of Erin C. Callahan, we work with our business law clients to identify and understand the needs and goals of their business to create practical strategies and solutions to make their lives easier, and companies run smoothly. Let us take the legal worries of running and starting a business off your plate so that you can concentrate on your business. Whether you are starting a new business or you own a 100-year-old family business, we can help. We are here to help you navigate the ongoing process of growing and maintaining a company.
Entity Selection/ Business formation:
How you choose to structure your business can have significant legal and financial implications– we advise and execute the right business structure for your needs now and in the future.
Employee Handbook Development:
Employees help you run your business but make sure that you have appropriate policies and procedures in place not only provides for consistency and clarity but also helps you to avoid one of the most common and expensive issues that plague small and large businesses- employee legal disputes. We will put together an employee handbook that is clear, comprehensive and helps shield you from legal disputes.
Internal Policies:
Similar to the importance of a Texas employee handbook, legally sound internal policies are critical as your business grows. Whether some policies need to be refreshed or if you have yet to put any in place, we are here to help make sure that your internal policies are set up to grow with your business.
Independent contractor agreements:
- A Texas independent contractor is not the same as an employee and establishing this important distinction can save you money and avoid any lawsuits down the line. Your independent contractor agreements should be comprehensive and clearly define this special legal relationship.
Non-compete agreements:
The departure of an employee that knows the ins and outs of your business and how and why it is successful can be a scary proposition but it does not have to be with a strong non-compete agreement in place. When you are dealing with employees, independent contractors and vendors it is important to not only make sure that you are getting what you want our of these business relationships but also thinking about the terms of how they will end, whether planned or unplanned. While you go into any business relationship with the best intentions, this is extremely important protection you will want in place.
Confidentiality Agreements:
As a business law attorney, Erin C. Callahan has been writing customized confidentiality agreements for a range of business and will create one for you that fully takes into account the need for privacy and discretion. Depending on the nature of your business, failure to have a legally enforceable confidentiality agreement can mean financial issues down the line, do not make this mistake.
Risk Management:
Minimizing risk is essential to running and growing your business. We will not only advice on risk management but also on how to make sure that your personal assets are protected from any professional issues that may arise.
Our goal is to make sure that we are providing you with the legal direction that helps you run your business efficiently and within the confines of the often complicated Texas business laws. The federal, state and local requirements of operating a business in Texas can seem daunting and demanding but when you hire the Law Offices of Erin C. Callahan, you do not need to worry about a thing. You can concentrate on the demands of running and growing your business without the legal worries that come with it.
In addition to a full-service business law practice, Erin also has years of experience with wills and estate planning which is also an essential part of your overall business plan. Ensuring that your intentions are in place for your business is something that too many business owners overlook, don’t make this huge mistake. If you are looking for a League City business law lawyer, look no further than the Law Offices of Erin C. Callahan. We look forward to hearing from you!
What’s Involved?
Creating a will is a multistep process that involves making decisions about who you want to be the guardian of your children if you have any, and how you want your assets distributed. The following are a few of the key decisions that need to be made.
- Select An Executor
An executor’s job is to handle the proper distribution of your assets after your passing. They will be solely responsible for ensuring all friends and family members are receiving your assets in the manner that you had originally intended. Usually, the person chosen for this role is one of your children or a close family friend. - Select Your Beneficiaries
Name a beneficiary or beneficiaries in your will who will inherit your property in case of death. This is also a good time to double check that you have a beneficiary and contingent beneficiary listed on your bank accounts, 401k accounts, and insurance policies. - Choose your children’s legal guardian
Any children that are under the age of 18 will need a new legal guardian to take care of and make any legal decisions for them. This is a big decision to make, as your children’s wellbeing is at stake, so I strongly suggest having your immediate family or willing and able parties becoming the new legal guardians. - Attach A Letter To Your Family
Some people choose to leave a final letter behind to be read upon distribution of assets. Usually, this is an overall message to the family or a personalized description of why assets were divided the way they were. This is not a requirement, however, the option remains in the event you should want to leave some last words for your family to remember. - Power of Attorney
Choose who will be in charge of making important life decisions for you in the event you are unable to make decisions for yourself. This includes any medical, business, legal and financial decisions that will need to be made. Be sure to pick someone trustworthy and who has you and your family’s best interests at heart. This is a very important decision to make and I guide you through how to the absolute best person for the job. - Maintain Your Estate Plan
One of the keys of Estate Planning is maintenance. Keeping your estate planning documents up to date is key. One of the top mistakes in Estate Planning is thinking that it’s a one-time event. I recommend reviewing your will annually.
Why your business needs an attorney to minimize liability?
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Will Writing Process of Erin C. Callahan
You can expect a specific step-by-step process when creating wills and estate plans to ensure that nothing is missed and all of your assets are properly distributed. The following are the six steps you can anticipate:
- Call Us!
During this part of the estate planning process, you will provide us with basic contact information and begin to identify and express your goals and concerns. - FREE Consultation
We will meet with you to discuss your background, family, goals, and concerns all free of charge. This is when we will gather all the information we need to draft your will. At the end of this meeting, we will provide you with the estimated cost to implement your estate plan - We Draft Your Will
We will take all the information gathered during your free consultation and draft an estate plan that is tailored to your needs. - Review Your Will
We will deliver your estate planning documents (digitally or in person). This is the time for you to provide us with any updates or changes. - Sign Your Estate Plan
We will meet you at our office or at your choice of locations (i.e., at home on the weekend or at work during your lunch break). We will have all of your estate planning documents with us to be signed and notarized.