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Prada Marfa and her Lone Sentry
Along a lonesome, dusty highway somewhere between Marfa and Van Horn, Texas there stands a solitary dissenter of Italian luxury goods. Jarringly out of place, and with only a lone horse sentinel for companionship, you’ll find Marfa’s ve...
Don’t let death spoil your plans
“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin Did you know that federal and state law provides that anyone that may need to draw Medicaid funds for financial...
Social Media Prenup: No Mudslinging Online
According to the Pew Research Center, the average Facebook user now has approximately 340 friends, and a quarter-of-a-million registered Twitter users are active. Instagram grew 23 percent i...About
The Law Office of Paul W. Brown, P.C. is founded on dedicated client service, competent legal counsel and a commitment to serving the people of Texas. Paul has over 35 years of experience representing small to medium size businesses, from startups to public stock offerings. He also represents individuals in lifetime planning, estate planning, probate of their estate at their death, and the legal aspects of planning for asset preservation. Paul brings a wealth of experience with a commitment to success, and tenacity to get things done – all while focusing on your unique legal situation.
Prior to formation of the Law Office of Paul W. Brown, P.C., Paul has been an Instructor in Legal Research & Writing at the Southern Methodist University School of Law, Business Law Instructor at Dallas Baptist University, and Briefing Attorney for the Court of Appeals of Texas, 5th District.
Paul is licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court; United States Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit; United States Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit; United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Southern & Western Districts of Texas; Texas Supreme Court; Texas Courts of Appeal; and Texas Courts.
Areas of Practice
According to the U.S. Senate, the population of U.S. residents over the age of 65 will more than double to 71.5 million by the year 2030. The Social Security Administration refers to the upcoming onslaught of filings for Social Security benefits by baby boomers as “America’s Silver Tsunami.”
Although Texas law provides the opportunity to use different procedures during our lifetime to permit a quality of life in times of uncertainty or disability, many people are not aware of their availability. It is important to know and understand your options in the event you can no longer care for, or make decisions for yourself. And in each instance, you should leave nothing to doubt. Paul can provide you honest and open counsel on the following:
Advance Directive
In case of a terminal or irreversible condition, you direct whether medical treatment should be provided or withheld when you are unable to state your preference.
Medical Powers of Attorney
If you are unable to approve medical treatments, you appoint an individual to make the decisions on your behalf.
HIPAA Authorizations
If you give someone authority under an advance directive or medical powers of attorney, you should give authorization for them to know the contents of your medical records and information.
Statutory Powers of Attorney
If you are unable to take care of your necessary legal and financial transactions, you appoint an individual to make the legal and financial decisions on your behalf.
Wills and Trusts or Alternative Other Gifting
You have the privilege of directing the disposition of your property upon your death and the ability to plan to avoid estate taxes by planning during your lifetime rather than having your property pass under the Texas Laws of Intestate Succession.
In some situations upon the death of an individual, it is necessary to file a proceeding in the Probate Court to document the disposition and transfer of the decedent’s property in the manner directed by a Will. In other situations in which the decedent did not execute a valid Will to exercise the privilege of determining whom will receive the property, Texas provides Rules of Intestate Succession to be implemented upon the decedent’s death, and it is necessary to probate the estate to document the disposition and transfer of the property in the manner prescribed by Texas law. In both instances Paul has decades of experience and can best counsel you as to how to proceed with the estate.
The range of Business Services offered can be divided into three main categories: Startup Structure, Maintenance, and Litigation. All are equally important to gain the maximum benefit out of your business, and each critical issue is addressed with expert counsel prior to making a decision
Startup Structure
Formation of business structure is driven by tax and liability issues and one should understand the different possibilities prior to deciding on a specific structure. Usually, the alternatives are:
- Sole Proprietorship
- Partnership
- General
- Limited
- Corporation
- C or S Corporation
- Close Corporation
- Non-Profit Corporation
- Professional Corporation
- Specialized Entities
- Professional Association
- Cooperative Association
- Texas Limited Liability Company
- Registered Limited Liability Partnership
One should consider the following issues before choosing the business structure:
- When should the organizational structure be in place?
- What are my alternatives of organizational structure for my business?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of different alternative organizational structures?
- What are the tax consequences of different alterative organizational structures?
- What is the cost of creating and maintaining the organizational structure for my business?
Maintenance
Legal counsel during the business lifetime is necessary to govern internal administration in compliance with the law, create enforceable contracts with third parties, non-competition agreements, buy-sell agreements, and other necessary business and financial agreements and documents. Without proper maintenance, your business structure can be vulnerable and not provide you the benefit and protection which you need.
Litigation
Legal counsel during the business lifetime is necessary to avoid disputes, or alternatively if necessary, to represent the business in litigation and other alternative dispute resolution to achieve a resolution as quickly as possible.
If you are considering the purchase, sale and/or merger of different forms of business entities, Paul Brown has considerable experience in planning for and implementing these transactions.
- Statutory Requirements for Filing ot Implement a Purchase, Sale or Merger.
- Planning for and Implementation of the Althernative for Purchase/Sale of Assets of an Entity, including liability and tax consequences.
- Planning for and Implementaiton of the Alternative for Purchase/Sale of Stock or Membership Interests of an Entity, including liability and tax consequences.
- Planning for and Implementation of an Employee Purchase of Assets, Stock, or Membership Interests of an Entity, including liability and tax consequences.
- Recommendation and Implementation of Ancillary Agreements, including Non-Competition Agreements, Consulting Agreements, and Owner Finance Agreements.
- Planning and Implementation of procedures to integrate the two entitites and the different business plans.
- Planning and Implementation of procedures to integrate the employees into one entity.