Take a look at our newsletter this month!
714-533-9210 www.surfcitylawyers.com FEBRUARY 2018
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What started off as an incredible friendship, has turned into a passionate joint pursuit of competent representation. When we joined forces a few years ago, it wasn’t just to benefit from our collegial relationship. It was also because of the alignment of our views of right and wrong. We both strive to make a meaningful difference through what we do, helping others find YOU AREN’T JUST A CLIENT, YOU’RE FAMILY We’re More Than Just Lawyers Perhaps our biggest passion is dispelling myths of stereotypical attorneys. We are proud that when people look at us, they don’t see stiff robots in pantsuits. We used to view it as an insult when our clients would say, “You don’t look like an attorney.” Now, we see it as our biggest compliment. It’s not because we don’t look the part or can’t rock a pair of stilettos — because we absolutely can. It’s because our clients see attorneys who smile and who care. By being genuine and accessible people, we break the mold of what others have come to expect from lawyers. Furthermore, we want to foster understanding of what we do and who we fight for. We take great pride in helping people in the areas of estate planning, probate, business law, and bankruptcy. Estate planning is something we view as pivotal to all of our clients in order to protect their family and assets. Very few people understand the process and regulations surrounding this, and that’s where we come in. Our desire to educate carries over into the comprehension of bankruptcy, too. The rules of the financial system are stacked against you and are designed to bury you in debt. Bankruptcy can be a practical solution because it’s a more cost-effective and faster way to get out of debt than almost any other strategy. newfound freedom in their lives. We saw this as an opportunity to come together under this unifying concept and do just that.
We see ourselves as empathetic problem-solvers. We know what it’s like to be lost and feel like there’s nowhere to turn for your problems. It’s what drove us to practice law in the first place. This empathy is why we treat clients like our grandmothers taught us to — like family. We’ve shared this mission since we first got together. Our purpose is to put that personal touch back into law and make a significant difference in your experience. Whether it’s writing a thoughtful note or providing service that is above and beyond the norm, when you walk out the doors of our office, we want you to feel human. This means we’re not just going to regurgitate legal jargon back to you, but rather, we are going to approach your situation with the genuineness and authenticity it deserves. When we’re not at work, you can find us investing in what keeps us grounded to these values — our families. Christine is a proud grandmother of two beautiful grandbabies, and Anna loves to spend time with her husband and son. Perhaps the biggest bond we share together is crochet corner. Yes, you heard that right, and yes, it’s as awesome as it sounds. We both love to take time to digest our cases or further our bond by crocheting. We even have dedicated a spot in our office to do so.
Together, we combine to make an incredible team. Christine loves the thrill and challenge of arguing a good case, and Anna loves digging into paperwork to find the real story. We fill each other’s weaknesses in every way, and when we run into trouble, we invest in the deep friendship that carries our productive partnership. It’s not just a relationship for us, either. We want you to be a part of it. Come join us for a Duffy ride this spring and let us show you what we believe being a lawyer is all about.
–Christine Kingston and Anna Serrambana
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MAKE THE MOST OF
YOUR OFF-SEASON
BUILD STRONGER CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS During the busy season, you don’t have time for every special client retention project that pops up. But, during the off-season, you more than likely have time to spare. Don’t wait for the next season to ramp up your referral campaigns or customer outreach. Get that marketing pitch off the ground and get people excited about your business. That way, when your busy season returns, your customers or clients will be ready. Do everything you can to keep your business top of mind. Send them newsletters (like this one) or send them a card. If you don’t, you may end up with fewer customers than expected when things pick up again. Your existing customers and your prospects may have legitimately forgotten about you. AUDIT YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE Run a review campaign for your Google or Facebook profiles. Turn it into a contest and get people involved. When you keep customers or clients engaged, they will be more likely to be there for you when the off-season comes to a close. Even better, take a holistic look at your web content. How is your search engine optimization working for you? While you may have an off-season, Google definitely doesn’t, and they constantly update their web standards. Check your blog and make sure your own web standards are up to par, and confirm that your business’s contact information is correct on Google Maps.
Almost every business — no matter the industry or niche — has an off- season. Year after year, it takes people by surprise. You may plan to have fewer customers, but then when the time comes, your savings aren’t adequate or your budget isn’t tight enough. The reality is, some businesses don’t survive their off-season because they fail to properly prepare for it. Don’t be that kind of business! DIVERSIFY YOUR SERVICES In the northern parts of the United States and Canada, landscaping businesses retool for the winter. They plow snow, clear ice, and haul and cut firewood when the weather won’t quite allow for their normal work. Meanwhile, golf courses let their patrons know the clubhouse is available to rent for corporate and family events during colder seasons, and when it comes to the green itself, courses often offer significantly reduced rates to players. An alternative revenue stream keeps your business up and running no matter the season and it keeps your team employed. Just don’t try to overdiversify and enter a niche you’re not equipped to handle. Be smart about it. For instance, landscapers have trucks and trailers, both of which make it easier to plow snow and haul wood. What can you use or repurpose that you already have access to? One of the most important services we offer at Surf City Lawyers is what we do for probate hearings. This is generally a twofold process that is included in estate planning. The first priority is centered around preventative maintenance. This is where we help you set up an estate so that you can avoid probate court at all costs. The second priority is when probate becomes inevitable, and this is when we take on the challenge of helping you through the process. DRAWN OUT PROCESS Probate takes up to six months to even get a court date set. From there, the actual date is 3–4 months out from that point. This leaves you waiting for a year just to make sure all the items of an estate go where they need to. By setting up a clear line of succession through complete estate planning, we can make sure you avoid this monster. WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE TO GO TO COURT? Sometimes probate is unavoidable due to a litany of circumstances. In this case, we step in and help in any way possible. How we help is really up to you. Many clients like to organize things on their own, in which case we provide a checklist and oversight for all the items needed. In other cases, clients are too busy to handle the mounds of paperwork that go into probate hearings. In this instance, we’ll go through all the information for you and make sure your case is foundationally solid and ready for court. DON’T LEAVE YOUR VALUABLES UP TO THE COURTS Avoid Probate by Setting Up an Estate
Regardless if you go to court or not, it’s important to be understanding throughout this process. Something that doesn’t matter to you may have extreme importance to someone else. Money and valuables are very touchy subjects, and this is why keeping an open door and mind is key to having a smooth and seamless probate process. If you find yourself needing help with estate planning or going to probate court, contact us today at 714-533-9210 and ask for Anna.
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TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NEWTAX CHANGES
START BY INCORPORATING YOUR BUSINESS
2. Your corporation has an unlimited life. Corporations can continue indefinitely regardless of the life of who started the company or who is running it. 3. You can raise capital through sale of securities. Attracting investors becomes much easier to a corporation because of the liability limits and the transferability of shares.
As 2018 begins to take shape and tax season descends upon us, now is a great time to incorporate your business. By filing your paperwork today, you could save thousands with the new opportunities provided by the most recent reform. Unsure of what this might mean for your company? Here are a few pointers to help you get started. WHAT INCORPORATING MEANS Incorporating is giving your company qualifying status to be treated as its own entity. A corporation functions as a viable person in the eyes of the law. It can buy and sell property, be taxed, commit crimes, and bring lawsuits. BENEFITS OF CORPORATION STATUS By giving your company corporation status, you inherit a whole slew of benefits, but here are four big ones. 1. Corporations protect their owners from personal liability, such as financial debt. Shareholders are not responsible for the corporation’s liabilities.
4. Corporations create tax benefits. Your company is subjected to a different tax rate than your personal income tax.
TAX CUT So how does the new tax bill fit in with all of this? Well, the tax rate for corporations and businesses just received a historic cut of 14 percent. What was an original tax rate of 35 percent has been slashed to 21 percent. In addition, the alternative minimum tax for corporations has been adjusted to free-up more potential buying power for businesses of all sizes. Now is the time to take advantage of incorporating your business. With tax rates this low, not having corporate status could have you missing out on massive benefits for your company. Contact us today and let us help put your business on a path to success.
M E M E S
“GREAT THINGS IN BUSINESS ARE NEVER DONE BY ONE PERSON. THEY’RE DONE BY A TEAM OF PEOPLE. ” -STEVE JOBS
RECIPE RIGHT HERE
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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You Aren’t Just a Client, You’re Family
Out of Options for the Off-Season?
Why You Need to Start Your Estate Plan Now
What Does the New Tax Bill Mean for Your Business?
Memes
The Most Romantic Destinations on Earth
T
E ’ S
TO FANTASIZE ABOUT
POSITANO, ITALY More than perhaps anywhere in the world, this place looks like it was lifted straight from a sappy romance novelist’s imagination. You and your partner can kick back on a balcony overlooking the entirety of this seaside town, taking in the century-old multicolored Italian architecture perched precariously on the verdant mountainside. Too small to accommodate swarms of tourists, it’s the perfect place to while away the hours ambling from shop to shop, sampling the delicious local cuisine, and maybe taking a dip along the 300-meter beach. THE MALDIVES From a water villa smack dab in the midst of the glassy, ultra-blue Indian Ocean, you and your main squeeze can enjoy utter seclusion. Sip champagne in the shade of a palm overlooking an otherworldly sunset or get a little more adventurous, strap on a mask, and check out the abundant aquatic wildlife. Many hotels in the area even include access to an array of boats, perfect for your own private excursion along the mild waves. Of course, you could also always just stare, dumbfounded, into the horizon, wondering how such a place could actually exist on Earth.
Valentine’s Day is for fancy
dinners, heart- shaped boxes packed with subpar chocolates, and fantasizing about the magical places
you and your love would have escaped to — if only you had the PTO. So grab a glass of wine and cuddle up next to your special someone, and envision yourself being whisked away to one of these picturesque fantasy lands. UDAIPUR, INDIA These days, meandering through the cobblestone streets of Paris with your loved one is très passé. All the real high-rolling romantics are migrating southeast to the famous Oberoi Udaivilas hotel in western India. Set in a traditional Mewari palace, visitors will feel like royalty as they stroll around the labyrinthine gardens that surround the elaborate cream-colored structure. Travelers can relax beside one of the many glassy pools sprinkled throughout the estate, all of which are enthusiastically attended by an unparalleled service staff.
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