Author Archives: Stephen Kosa

9 Ways to Make Social Media Work for Your Business

Social MediaAs a business law attorney, I enjoy assisting my Wisconsin and Minnesota clients with their business startups. I help them choose the proper business entity, draft their operating documents, ensure their compliance with applicable laws and regulations, etc.  But once the business is up and running, I find they often lack experience on how to market their business for continued success.

For instance, it is impossible to run a business these days without having some presence on social media channels. All of your customers are out there, many of whom are speaking about your company. Are you meeting those customers where they are? Are you on the right social media channels? If you are, are you sure you are marketing yourself correctly? Are you ensuring that you are protecting your business while building brand engagement and customer loyalty?

One of my colleagues, a content marketing consultant, recommends that business owners check their efforts against these 9 tips to make sure their social media efforts are benefitting their businesses. Continue reading

Estate Planning: Preparing a Will, Hudson Wisconsin

Need Help Making out a Will? Preparing your Will is Important Business.

Elderly Lady Planning a WillAs an Estate Planning Lawyer, I often meet new clients who tell me that they’ve been putting off having their will prepared for several years. It’s certainly an easy thing to postpone. When we’re younger we often feel invincible – as if we’ll live forever. We don’t think about preparing a Last Will and Testament until we’re prompted by a certain event in our life such as a death in the family, a medical crisis, or even taking a long-distance vacation. But it’s never to soon to be prepared – every adult should be thinking about their estate plan. And drafting a will should not be taken lightly, it’s very important business. Continue reading

Starting a Business: Business Law in Wisconsin and Minnesota

Starting a Business?  Consult with a Business Lawyer to be Sure you Consider all of your Options.

Business Law Attorney Hudson WIAs a Business Law Attorney I’ve had the pleasure of helping many clients start their first business venture. The first step a client is usually faced with is choosing which type of legal organization to choose. The most common organizations or entities are: sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporations. Business Law is a complex topic, and a comprehensive comparison between these various types of business organizations is beyond the scope of this blog post. That being said, I will attempt to address some of the basic characteristics of each type of entity. Continue reading

Estate Planning: Second Marriages and Blended Families

Estate Planning Becomes Challenging for Second Marriages and Blended Families

 Estate PlanningWhen one or both spouses are on their second or subsequent marriage, or in cases where families are blended together in a non-marital environment, Estate Planning can present some unique and challenging issues.

As an Estate Planning Attorney I often work with clients who are on their second or third marriage, and each spouse may have children from a previous marriage or relationship. They may also have children together. Other clients may live in a long-standing marriage-like relationship and they, too, frequently have children together or children from previous marriages or relationships. Continue reading

Estate Planning: Assistance With Beneficiary Designations

Beneficiary Designations to Avoid Probate

estate-planning-lawyer-hudson-wisconsinBeneficiary Designations to Avoid Probate can be a Great Estate Planning Tool When Properly Used. But Use Caution to Avoid Common Pitfalls.

You may have heard that you can avoid probate upon your death by simply placing beneficiary designations on your assets. Beneficiary designations, sometimes referred to as Pay on Death or POD designations, can be a great estate planning tool when properly used. Individuals who are named as beneficiaries on your various bank and investment accounts, insurance policies, retirement plans and so forth, can receive their share of the asset or plan upon your death directly from the institution or company involved, without the asset or funds being included as part of your probate estate. Depending upon the nature of your assets, sometimes probate can be avoided entirely with properly designated beneficiaries. However, be sure to use caution to avoid some very common pitfalls. As an Estate Planning and Probate Attorney I’ve seen various unexpected results with beneficiary designations, including the following: Continue reading

Is a Limited Liability Company (LLC) Right for me?

Creating a Limited Liability Company (LLC)? Use Caution…Starting a Business is not always a simple venture

Limited Liability Company (LLC)So you’re starting a new business? It can’t be that difficult…can it? You do the research and decide that a Limited Liability Company (LLC) is the best entity for your new venture. You may event go online and register your new entity with proper state agency. But use caution. Before you open the doors of your new business be sure you consult with a qualified Business Law Attorney to ensure that you’ve covered all the bases. Continue reading

Annual Gift Tax Exclusion and Medical Assistance Help Hudson WI

Elder Law and Estate Planning Attorney serving clients in Hudson, WI and surrounding communities

Gift Planning and Medicaid…Use Caution!

Annual Gift TaxThere are many reasons why we make gifts to our children or loved ones. Whether we’re helping them with college tuition, buying that first home, or assisting with a medical or financial hardship, we’re compelled to take care of our family. As an Estate Planning Attorney I find that many of my clients in their senior years often feel the need to begin gifting their assets to their children or grandchildren. But great care should be taken when making gifts in our later years. Careful planning with an attorney experienced in Estate Planning and Elder Law is necessary to help ensure that your gifting is not jeopardizing your eligibility for the Medicaid program should you ever need assistance with your medical expenses or long-term care needs. When I explain this to my clients, their first response is always to remind me of the annual gift tax exclusion, which allows them to gift a certain sum of money to each child and/or grandchild each year without gift tax consequences. Well, that’s true, but read on. Continue reading

Real Estate Law: Protect You Real Estate Investment with a Real Estate Attorney

For Sale By Owner Attorney

The real estate market is finally beginning to recover. Whether you’re working with a realtor, or venturing out on your own to buy or sell a property, it’s always a good idea to consult with an experienced real estate attorney. This is especially true with a For Sale by Owner transaction, also know as a FSBO.For Sale By Owner

A real estate transaction often begins with a document referred to as an Offer to Purchase.  While this document may appear to be a fairly innocent looking form, it is in fact a legally binding contract that consists of several important provisions. Unsuspecting sellers and buyers often have no idea of the legal consequence of these provisions. Great care must be taken to ensure that a real estate offer is properly prepared, and that all necessary contingencies and terms are included. Each contract should be custom tailored to each set of circumstances.

Continue reading

Make Proper Estate Planning a New Year’s Resolution

Goals 2014Proper Estate Planning can Avoid  Legal Battles.

New Year’s Resolutions. We all make them; we all break them. But estate planning is one resolution that’s too important not to keep. Whether you live in my home town of Hudson, WI or across the river in the great land of MN, you’re never too young to have your affairs in order with a suitable Last Will & Testament, Revocable Living Trust, Power of Attorney documents, and a Living Will. Continue reading