The economy is recovering from the hits it took during the last couple of years when the pandemic turned lives upside down. Despite the uncertainty caused by global events, many entrepreneurs are finding this is a good time to launch or grow their businesses.

Having the right kinds of business insurance can make the difference between staying in business after a catastrophe and watching your life’s dream of owning a business disintegrate. When you own a business, you likely search for ways to cut expenses, but saving a few dollars on insurance premiums could cost you everything.

Some business arrangements are still made with a handshake. Business owners discuss working together on a project or joint venture. A few colleagues have an idea and decide to develop it. Unfortunately, they could inadvertently create a joint venture or partnership if they do not consult a Maryland business attorney before they embark on their business deal.

Business owners need to consider liability protection as a priority when creating a business entity. Creating a separate entity for the business can protect the business owner from personal liability. Our Maryland business attorney discusses the concept of the corporate veil, how to create it, and what happens when a company’s owners fail to maintain the corporate veil. Keep reading to learn more about why you may need to seek legal advice now instead of when your company is sued by a creditor, employee, or another party.

When you launch a startup business, you will likely need to recruit some serious talent to make the business venture work. You will want people who know what they are doing and are experts in their field. Usually, these people already have jobs, so you might have to lure them away from their existing job security.

A fiduciary is someone who owes a fiduciary duty to another person to act in that person’s best interest. Generally, the fiduciary duty relates to a financial matter. It is the highest legal duty a person can owe to another person. Fiduciaries have a duty to act with honesty and loyalty in all matters on behalf of the person they represent.

Probate is the judicial process of distributing a person’s assets to heirs. If the person had a Will, the property is distributed according to the Will. However, when a person dies without a will, the Maryland intestate laws determine who receives the person’s property. Below are frequently asked questions about the Maryland probate process answered by our Maryland estate planning lawyer.

The metaverse encompasses technologies that once were only possible in science fiction movies. The past two decades have seen an unprecedented increase in e-commerce. The virtual marketplace continues to expand and grow beyond what we thought was imaginable. How we interact with cyberspace has also changed, causing a change in how we protect intellectual property and digital assets.

Qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs) have been around for quite a few years, but few people have a working knowledge of how these documents work. A QDRO might seem of little importance when negotiated, but the long-term implications on an individual’s retirement finances can be significant.

You might want to talk to a Maryland tax attorney about the tax implications of a proposed QDRO when going through a family court matter like a divorce or legal separation that involves the distribution of one or more retirement plans. Here are some FAQs about Qualified Domestic Relations Orders.

An arbitration clause is an often-used clause that a Maryland business attorney includes in small business contracts to reduce contract disputes. This article explains what arbitration clauses are and how they work.

After your close relative dies, you might find yourself overwhelmed with having to handle all the estate administration tasks. It might seem as if there is a never-ending list of things you must do and impossible deadlines by which to do them. The good news is Maryland law does not require you to perform these functions by yourself.

Trusts can be useful for asset protection and tax planning. They may also be designed to provide resources for special needs individuals. Trusts can also support charitable causes, protect a family business, and provide for the education of children and grandchildren.

This collection of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) can be a valuable resource if you need a quick answer to a question about starting or operating a business in Maryland. From general business issues to business taxes, employer withholding, business licenses, required reporting, alcohol, and EFTs, here are the top 25 FAQs about doing business in Maryland:

When they realize how much time and work is involved in handling the accounting processes for their companies, many business owners decide to delegate these tasks to the professionals. This overview of business accounting fundamentals from a Maryland business attorney will provide some of the information that could help you with that decision. A Maryland business attorney could help you with many of these accounting functions.

Before requiring employees to get vaccinated, learn about the implications. There are several legal issues to consider when making this decision, such as government mandates and individual rights.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced inflation adjustments for over 60 tax provisions, most of which will affect individual income tax filers in 2023. Get up-to-date with the changes that could impact your tax return.

The 2020 tax season was frustrating, confusing, and overwhelming for many taxpayers. Pandemic relief bills resulted in numerous changes for tax filings. Some changes were limited to the 2020 tax years, while other changes were extended to 2021 and 2022.

If you had trouble keeping up with the changes for tax filings, you were not alone. Many tax preparers and IRS agents had trouble keeping everything straight.

Tax issues can be confusing. Recent tax laws regarding payments to independent contractors may add to the confusion. Knowing when to issue a 1099 to independent contractors is crucial for every business.

In most cases, businesses must report to the IRS annual payments made to any single vendor totaling $600 or more. Payments include those to individuals, LLCs, or partnerships. Generally, a business owner does not file 1099 forms for payments to S or C-Corporations. Businesses that do not comply with tax laws can face severe penalties, interest, and additional taxes.

If you are already doing business in Maryland or are considering doing so, there are many things you need to know. Whether you are a domestic company or a foreign business operating in our state, there is a great deal of information ​you need.

Are you a Maryland entrepreneur looking to start or grow your business? If so, it's important to understand the basics of business terminology. In this blog post, we'll define 15 basic terms every Maryland entrepreneur should know. By understanding these terms, you'll be able to communicate more effectively with your accountant, Maryland business lawyer, and other professionals who can help you grow your business.