No matter the size of your estate or the complexity of your circumstances, it is important to have the proper estate planning documents in place to protect you, your family and your assets. Unfortunately, many people fail to have any plan in place, and even if they have something, they are often outdated, incomplete or…
As expected, the Federal Department of Labor (“DOL”) has issued new rules regarding the threshold “white collar” exemption from overtime pay. The DOL has increased the minimum pay threshold from $23,660 to $47,476 per year. The minimum threshold in New York State is already $35,000 per year. The DOL has also increased the minimum salary…
If you’re a business owner and have employees, you need to know that the New York State Legislature has recently passed a new law that will greatly impact you and your business over the next 5 years. Specifically, in the next three to five years (depending on where your business is located within New York…
Entering the coming year it is critical that New York based employers understand recent changes to various federal and state employment laws that will significantly affect their business as they proceed forward. NEW YORK CHANGES IN WAGES Effective January 1, 2016, New York has increased the minimum wage for all employees to $9.00 per hour….
So, you’re thinking about buying a franchise? Maybe you thought about it on your own, or someone has approached you about buying one. Many people will have you believe that buying a franchise is a fast track to success and riches. Like buying any other business, there are pros and cons. In this article, we…
There are many complex legal issues that can arise when negotiating a commercial lease, whether it be a lease for office, retail, warehouse or industrial space. Here are five reasons why you need to consult an attorney when leasing commercial space. 1. Commercial Leases are Favorable to Landlords. Commercial leases are drafted by the landlord,…
What is BYOD? Bring Your Own Device or BYOD refers to a program of permitting employees to bring personally owned mobile devices, such as laptops, tablets and smart phones to the workplace and allowing employees to use those devices to access confidential company information and applications. With an estimate of 95% of employees using at…
Would a lawsuit or other unexpected legal issues have a negative effect on the continued success and viability of your company? A Legal Check Up is a preventative tool which will reduce the liability exposure of your company. Unexpected liabilities arise from the use of outdated forms, failure to be aware of new laws, or not having…
So, you are considering purchasing a bar or restaurant? If you have been checking out the classifieds then you probably realize that there are many bars and restaurants listed for sale. That could be good or bad, depending on your outlook. While the failure rate among restaurants may be higher than some other businesses, that…
Now that your child has reached the age of 18 and may be starting college or has entered the workforce, there is something very important that you as parents should do, and that is to ask your son/daughter to sign a Power of Attorney and a Healthcare Proxy naming you as their agent. Why? In…
I am sure by now either you or your employees have received those annoying red light tickets or the school zone speeding tickets. Nassau County has collected over 1.4 million dollars since school started, and projects to receive as much as $25 million a year from those annoying and costly speed camera tickets. In 2013,…
Whether you are a large or small business, it is important to have a well-organized hiring package for new employees. A hiring package is essentially a packet of employment-related forms and documents for the new employee, which is provided at the start of employment to help streamline the on-boarding process. The hiring package provides an…
