Are you really prepared for all of the possible scenarios? I coach softball and before every game I make sure that I’m prepared for anything that may happen. I have all of the softball gear that the team should need. I have drinks and a parent bringing snacks after the game. I have a first […]
Our annual roundup of answers to business law queries. by Michael Puente Summer is the time for beaches, backyard barbeques and just having fun. But it’s also a time for Hoosiers to adjust to new laws passed by the Indiana General Assembly back in the spring. Indiana has a host of new laws – namely
The timing of business valuation is important. When a business owner divorces in Indiana, the business is most often inventoried as a marital asset, and must be valued for purposes of equitable distribution between husband and wife. The date of valuation can be a critical issue. Indiana uses the date of filing as the date
Reduce costs and boost productivity, retention and morale. Test. Just the word may make your palms a little sweaty. But employers have no need to sweat over pre-employment tests. This is a test you want as a strategic part of your hiring process. Employers face a number of human-resource challenges, a number of reasons to
Law guarantees veterans a place back on the “escalator.” The return of our soldiers from Iraq refocuses attention on the re-employment rights of employees who were called into active duty. The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) protects employees who are called into active duty. One provision – the escalator concept – is
Tax law changes have made it a moving target. When President Barack Obama signed the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 last December, it changed the federal estate tax. The estate tax dates back 1916, when it was imposed at a rate of 10 percent on the portion of estates
Do your due-diligence, then be generous in your support. Most of us are involved at some level with a non-profit organization. Perhaps you donate money to support their cause or volunteer your time. Maybe you serve on their board of directors. There are many worthy causes to support. Is your favorite non-profit worthy? The Internal
Insights from some of the area’s leading business attorneys. by Michael Puente How can a small business handle delinquent customers? What are the pitfalls of obtaining legal advice online? What issues are overlooked by entrepreneurs when starting a new business? These are some of these questions on the minds of Northwest Indiana business owners. Each
Don’t assume good service will just happen; it takes training. So many exciting things are happening in Northwest Indiana, with new bike trails connecting our communities, the addition of sports arenas, pavilions and great parks, along with the many improvements happening along our lakeshore. Those organizations working to assure that we are considered a destination
The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Northwest Indiana. Small business incubators dot the region’s landscape – from Valparaiso to Hammond, from Merrillville to South Bend. As the landscape for small business changes from traditional pursuits in manufacturing to high-tech ventures, new questions arise among entrepreneurs on how to ensure success. To help answer
