| Read Time: 2 minutes | Business Law

What’s an Operating Agreement and Why do I Need One?

One of an entrepreneur’s first legal decisions often is deciding to create a limited liability company (“LLC”). This can be a great decision as it helps provide a limitation on the entrepreneur’s personal liability. But filing the paperwork to create an LLC is the beginning of the formation process, not the end. In order to preserve the limited liability...

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| Read Time: < 1 minute | Massingill News

Massingill Appointed to Texas Bar Committee

Joshua Massingill, Principal Attorney at Norton & Massingill, PLLC – a boutique law firm in Cedar Park, Texas practicing in the areas of business law and estate planning – has been appointed to the Texas State Bar’s Law Practice Management Committee. His term will begin in June 2016 and expire in June 2019. The State Bar of Texas Law Practice Management Committee is...

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| Read Time: 2 minutes | Estate Planning

Do I Really Need an Estate Plan? (Spoiler Alert: Yes)

If you don’t have an estate plan, the state of Texas will ultimately decide who receives your property after your death, and a judge will decide who cares for your children (and pets). If this scenario makes you uncomfortable, consider making a comprehensive estate plan. There are many reasons to make an estate plan.  The three reasons most commonly...

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| Read Time: < 1 minute | Business Law

Think Before You Ink:  The Importance of Contract Review

Contracts are a part of everyday life.  Buying a phone, joining a gym, opening a bank account — all typically require you to sign a contract.  For most people, signing agreements or clicking to “accept our terms and conditions” is simply routine. At times, this carelessness can come back to haunt us. It costs how much to cancel my...

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| Read Time: 2 minutes | Estate Planning

Thanks, But No Thanks: Reasons to Disclaim Inheritances

The “laughing heir” (one who inherits property and laughs all the way to the bank because his relation to the deceased is too distant to warrant grief) is a common conceit in television and movies. A woman opens the mail to find a letter explaining that one of her long-lost relatives has died and, as the relative’s only surviving...

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| Read Time: 2 minutes | Estate Planning

Lame Excuses for Not Devising a Comprehensive Estate Plan

Most people don’t spend much time thinking about planning their estate.  It’s complex, daunting, and quite boring.  (Editors’ Note: We actually find estate planning incredibly fascinating!  But we understand that’s not normal.) Here are some of the top excuses people make for not devising an effective estate plan… Estate planning is for wealthy people. This is a common misconception...

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| Read Time: 2 minutes | Estate Planning

Do I need an estate plan even if I’m not wealthy?

A common misconception is that estate planning is only for wealthy people.  In reality, there are a multitude of reasons for ordinary people have an effective will.  Let’s consider a hypothetical example. Anna is a secretary who lives in Cedar Park and works in Leander, earning $40,000 per year.  She is 29 years old, married, and has two daughters.  Here are...

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