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Being self-employed comes with its own unique challenges and responsibilities. As the owner and often the sole employee, you have the freedom to make your own decisions, but you also bear the weight ...

If you have recently lost your job, you are not alone! Inflation has skyrocketed in the United States over the past couple of years. Some smaller businesses have not been able to survive the increased ...

Starting on January 1, 2024, under a new law called the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), owners of certain business entities must file a report with the federal government including details regarding ...

How Business Executives Can Set and Meet Their Estate Planning Goals As a business executive, you are used to strategizing and creating goals as part of your job. But have you devoted time to ...

An LLC (limited liability company) can be an essential tool in your estate plan to protect your assets and avoid probate. This business structure can own many types of property, such as real estate, ...

The California Department of Public Health has announced that beginning March 15, those with serious health conditions between the ages of 16 and 64 can be vaccinated. These conditions include: Cancer ...

Protecting your family is important, especially when you have minor children, and even more so now that we are living through a pandemic. With all of the unknowns of our current situation, you need ...

After months of near confinement in our homes, many of us are stir-crazy and eager to travel to a vacation destination. Although more states are opening up, there are several precautions to consider ...

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has officially released its annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) figures for 2025. These newly issued numbers will have an impact on monthly Social Security ...

The Social Security Administration (SSA) advises you to apply for retirement benefits three months before you want your benefits to begin. Even if you have no plans to receive retirement benefits, you ...

(Excerpt Source) Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 43 which significantly updates California’s conservatorship laws for the first time in more than 50 years. Californians experiencing serious mental ...

Being an adult comes with freedom and responsibility. You can now make important decisions on your own without consulting your parents or guardians. While this may feel incredibly liberating, it is ...

You have likely been preparing for weeks to get your new college student off to school. It is exhilarating, and your heart may be bursting at the seams. You are probably prouder than words can express ...

Congratulations! You are now legally an adult. Although you may not feel any different, from a legal standpoint, a great deal has changed. When you were a minor (under age 18), your parents were your ...

Enriching Life with a Third-Party Special Needs Trust A special needs trust (SNT) allows an individual to provide for a disabled beneficiary without jeopardizing the beneficiary’s eligibility for ...

We know it is difficult, even horrific, to imagine someone else raising your children. However, you must consider who you would choose to fill this important role. Otherwise, a judge—a stranger who ...

As a parent, you are responsible for the care of your minor child. In most circumstances, this means getting them up for school, making sure they are fed, and providing for other basic needs. However, ...

On March 10 th, Ivette Santaella was a guest on “Your Legal Rights” podcast with host and Bay Area attorney Jeff Hayden. For more than 30 years, “Your Legal Rights” has provided KALW listeners with ...

Managing Attorney Ivette Santaella joined Lawyer Business Advantage to discuss how she utilizes her passion for law to power the success of her marketing and business development efforts. Click here ...

If you’d like to make sure that your loved one with a disability or special need is financially supported when you’re gone, you should consider creating a special needs trust. This is because, ...

There is great news for clients with certain family members or other beneficiaries – this year brought with it a huge change in the law that benefits beneficiaries who are disabled or chronically ill. ...

When your child is under the age of 18, you, as their parent, can make most, if not all decisions, on their behalf. However, when your child turns 18, the law views them as an adult, and you no longer ...

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has released its General Explanations of the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2025 Revenue Proposals. Commonly referred to as the Greenbook, this document lays out tax ...

The Internal Revenue Code assesses a tax (gift or estate) on the transfer of money or property from one person to another during life or at death, with some exceptions. If you own accounts or property ...

By now, you have likely heard about the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (SECURE Act) and the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, ...

Veterans Administration Pension Benefits are paid to veterans who were in military service during wartime and who have little or no income. Veterans who have serious disabilities may qualify for Aid ...