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Pre-Paid Funeral Arrangements

When people think about putting their affairs in order they typically sit down with an attorney to put together a Will or Trust. But for many people that isn’t enough. They also want to make sure their funeral arrangements are set ahead of time. Prepaid funerals have become a popular alternative, but before you put down any money with a funeral home you need to know what to look out for. Pre-Paid Funeral Arrangements (sometimes called “Pre-Need Funeral Arrangements”) can be a good planning tool if you want to make sure things go the way you want them to or if you want to save your family from having to make major decisions during what is sure to be a stressful time. You also can lock in the cost of these arrangements now. But while the concept of pre-paid funeral arrangements is a good one, it doesn’t come without some serious legal considerations.

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When Your Private “Medical Business” Goes Public

A few years ago, the HIPAA Privacy Rule went into effect to address people’s growing concern about personal medical records becoming public information. But what you may not realize is that even with the laws currently in existence; your “private medical business” can be legally accessed by hundreds of strangers.

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Keeping Personal Information Private – What You Can Do Legally To Protect Yourself

If you’re thinking that your personal and financial information is being kept private by the companies you do business with, you may need to think again.  You may not realize it, but certain information can be shared, sold or traded unless you take action! Make sure know who you are doing business with and what their particular policies are when it comes to your personal information!

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Legal Ins and Outs of a Selling Your Home

In today’s real estate market, putting your house up for sale is a big move, but knowing the legal ins and outs can bring the deal home. Before you decide to jump into the real estate market, take time to interview brokers. When you hire a broker you are entering into a contract that will most likely give them the exclusive right to sell your house – so you want to make sure they are qualified, have experience with your type of property, and are cutting you a competitive deal. Shop around, ask questions and don’t be afraid to negotiate. There are different types of representation a broker can provide so make sure you get a disclosure in writing.

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Uncovering the Mysteries of Your Mortgage

It’s all over the news. Some of the nations’ biggest mortgage lenders are in financial trouble, and if you are like many people you’re concerned that trouble is about to come knocking on your front door! A recent survey* found that over a third of all homeowners have no idea what type of mortgage they have, and that many are worried about being able to make their payments within the next year. So how do you make sure you are on solid ground?

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Buying or Leasing a New Car

Most people love driving a new car off the dealership lot – but the stress of cutting a good deal can break even the toughest consumer. Before you head out and take advantage of some great deal or sale, you need to educate yourself on the legal aspects of buying or leasing a new car – so no one takes advantage of you! Here a few things you need to consider. (more…)

Legal Options That Hit Home

Whether you’re on solid financial ground or your finances are bit rocky, if you are like most people your home is one of your biggest assets. But what are you supposed to do to protect that asset? There are a number of great legal options available to homeowners, but you need to be careful to choose the option that is right for you. Depending on your particular circumstances, picking the wrong option can hurt you more than help you.

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Homeowners’ Liability Over the Summer Months

All across New England, homeowners are looking to enjoy the last few weeks of summer – and for many that means backyard barbeques and pool parties. But before you let the good times roll at your house you should do a quick legal inventory to make sure your assets are covered. You need to know that one unfortunate accident where a guest gets injured on your property can put your house and other assets on the line. So making sure you take reasonable precautions and knowing what your homeowner’s insurance does and doesn’t cover is critical! (more…)

Making Sure Your Wedding Goes Off Without a Hitch

What many brides and grooms-to-be forget is that a little pre-wedding legal planning can go a long way to making sure their big day goes off without a hitch! If you’re like most people who are planning a wedding, you and your family put a lot of time and effort into choosing the right caterer, the best florist, an amazing band, the perfect everything. What you probably didn’t put a lot of thought into, though, were the contracts you were signing with those vendors. But even if your wedding day is right around the corner, it’s not too late to protect yourself!

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Choosing a Business Entity

Common business entities include Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Corporation (S-Corp and C-Corp), and LLC (Limited liability Company).  Some business entities help you shield yourself from liability and protect your personal assets (but you should still look into having good insurance as well). Depending on your situation, one entity form may be more desirable because of the tax consequences.  It is very important to discuss your options with a legal and/or tax advisor before making a decision on what entity for will be best for you!

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