Douglas A. Turner, P.C.

Along with other temporary estate and gift tax changes in 2011 and 2012, Congress made a deceased spouse’s unused estate tax exemption portable. At first glance, this sounds like a good thing. However, most married couples would be better off just pretending that this so-called benefit doesn’t exist. Here is why.

The year is almost over and a new tax year is almost upon us. Below are some highlights of the temporary estate and gift tax rules for the remainder of 2011 and 2012. The key word is “temporary”. Absent action by Congress, these provisions will expire on January 1, 2013.

What do you do when somebody owes you money but not enough to justify a lawyer? The answer is small claims court. If you end up there, here are some tips to increase your chances of success.

Homeowner assessments are charges levied by the homeowner association to pay for common expenses of the community. Some assessments are nominal. In other communities, the assessments can be substantial because the homeowner association pays for utilities, playgrounds, snow removal and other expenses typically paid for by the homeowner.

To domesticate a foreign judgment in Colorado is relatively simple so long as the Colorado judgment debtor does not contest the process. Colorado follows the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign Judgments Act when domesticating a sister state judgment.

Piercing the corporate veil is when a court reaches through a business entity and finds the owners, officers or employees liable for actions taken by the business. Business owners and officers want to know whether they are personally liable for business liabilities. The answer depends upon the facts and circumstances of each situation.

Federal and state laws protect the rights of disabled individuals who need a service dog or other service animal in places of public accommodation. Unfortunately, some individuals take advantage of this federal law to allow their pet to accompany them.

Trade secret and confidentiality agreements are typically reserved for high paying jobs or jobs in fields requiring certain expertise. However, it is not just salespeople, managers and executives that possess confidential information. Employers may want to consider having all employees execute trade secret and confidentiality agreements to protect valuable company information.

The Colorado State Patrol has published an FAQ page about Colorado gun laws.

Thinking about buying or selling a business? Colorado is full of entrepreneurs and startup companies feeding their ideas and powering the local economy. Many of these companies are up for sale along with established companies with track records of success. To successfully buy or sell a business takes a combination of intelligence, skill and on occasion, a good dose of luck.