Online LEGAL Documents

Incorporations Incorporating your business is a great way to protect your personal assets from company liabilities such as creditors or lawsuits. In fact, many people incorporate for this reason alone. But that’s not the only advantage. The corporate business structure also saves you money in taxes, provides greater business flexibility and makes it easier to seek outside investment.	LLCs (Limited Liability Co.) A Limited Liability Company (LLC) protects your assets like a corporation, but without the burden of corporate maintenance. (Compare: LLCs vs Corporations.) That's why it's becoming the most popular way to start a business. With a LLC, you can elect to be taxed as a corporation, or avoid "double taxation" by choosing to be a "pass-through" entity.
DBA / Business Names DBA is an abbreviation for “doing business as.” Registering a DBA is required if you plan to operate your business under a name that differs from your company’s legal name. With a DBA you can legally open a bank account and conduct other transactions using your trade name. This is a critical first step toward building name recognition for your business.	LP / Limited Partnerships The limited partnership, or LP, has become an increasingly popular choice for business owners, especially those involved in real estate or other investment ventures. Unlike general partnerships, LPs can limit the liability and the involvement of certain partners. This is useful for attracting investment partners who’d like to participate in the profits of the business but not necessarily its risks or daily operations.
Non Profit Corporation Forming a non-profit is a great way to support a worthwhile cause. As a non-profit, you are eligible to receive private and public grants and apply for tax-exempt status from the IRS. Plus, you'll be able to solicit tax-deductible donations, which are critical to your fundraising efforts. Non-profit recognition also reassures potential donors that you are a legitimate organization.	Limited Liability Partnerships A limited liability partnership, or LLP, is a business structure designed for partners who want an equal voice in managing their business, but not an equal share of the liability. Generally speaking, a partner in an LLP is not responsible for the debts or liabilities of the other partners. This makes the LLP a popular choice for professional service organizations such as accounting, architecture, or law firms.

Wills If you're like most Americans, a will could be the most important legal document that you ever sign. Without one, the courts - and not you - decide what happens to your assets. They can even decide what happens to your children. The good news is you don't need an attorney or a lot of time to prepare a custom, high-quality will.

Living Trusts The popularity of the living trust has soared in recent years as more people discover its significant estate planning benefits. Like a last will, a living trust allows you to transfer property to beneficiaries—but with one key difference. A living trust is not subject to probate, which can tie up your estate for years and consume a large portion of its value in court fees.

Living Wills A living will lets you specify decisions about artificial life support in advance. It not only ensures your wishes will be heard, but also protects your loved ones from having to make these difficult, deeply personal choices for you.

Power of Attorney A Power of Attorney lets you appoint someone you trust to manage important financial and legal matters on your behalf. You can choose to have it take effect immediately or only go into effect in the event of illness or incapacitation. Common uses for a Power of Attorney include authorizing someone to handle a complex legal transaction or manage your financial affairs while you’re on vacation.

Trademarks A trademark is the one of the most important business assets you’ll ever own. It’s your name, your logo, or any other symbol that distinguishes your company or products in the marketplace. Registering your trademark prevents others from using your business identity to market their own products, which can confuse your customers and damage your brand.	Provisional Patents Receive immediate "Patent Pending" status and secure a priority filing date for a full 12 months. A Provisional Patent protects the way your invention works and how it's used. It's a quick and inexpensive way to protect your machine, manufactured item or business process.
Design Patents Design patents protect the unique appearance (but not the function) of items that can be manufactured, such as furniture, containers and clothing.	Copyright Copyrighting your creative work protects it from unauthorized use. With a registered copyright, you control how your work is reproduced, distributed and presented publicly. Copyright original works of authorship including books, movies, songs, paintings, photographs, choreography and website content.

Divorce Divorce doesn't have to be complicated or costly. If you and your spouse can agree on how to divide property and resolve any child-related issues, you can file what's known as an uncontested divorce. An uncontested divorce does not require an attorney and moves much faster through the court system, saving you time, money and stress. In many cases, you may not even need to appear before a judge.

Name Change Legally changing your name doesn’t have to be complicated. You can easily obtain a court-ordered name change. Once granted, you can change your name on all financial and government records. A legal name change also ensures your identity and history are linked to your new name.

Power of Attorney A Power of Attorney lets you appoint someone you trust to manage important financial and legal matters on your behalf. You can choose to have it take effect immediately or only go into effect in the event of illness or incapacitation. Common uses for a Power of Attorney include authorizing someone to handle a complex legal transaction or manage your financial affairs while you’re on vacation.