IMPORTANT NOTICE TO READER OF CIRCULAR
230 CONCERNING RELIANCE OPINIONS, MARKETED OPINIONS,
AND/OR TAX SHELTERS AND AVOIDANCE OF PENALTIES PURSUANT
TO DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL LAW - click here
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Probate/Trust Administration: If your family has experienced
the loss of a family member, our law firm can assist you with
the legal process that occurs when a loved one passes away.
If your loved one had a Will or passed "intestate,"
the family will go through a process called probate. If your
loved one had a Trust, the family will go through a process
called trust administration. Either way, you must have competent
and timely information to complete either process. Let our firm
help you to ensure the proper administration of your loved one's
estate.
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Retirement Planning: Future retirees devote much of their
time worrying about how MUCH they need to retire. The smart
retiree will also ask another question: how will they protect
the retirement income?
But why is protection needed? Taxes and Medicaid
planning should be on the forefront. Other concerns are how
the money is spent if you become mentally disabled and incapable
of managing your financial affairs. Additionally, the smart
retiree will want to protect the retirement income from creditors,
judgments, and divorce.
We can help you find the answers to protecting your retirement.
Whether you are planning on retiring this year, next year or
10 years from now, successful retirement depends on you having
a comprehensive retirement plan that addresses enhancing and
protecting wealth. Calls us today to schedule an appointment
to discuss retirement protection.
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Corporate/Securities Law: The Ratliff Firm has a well-established
and diverse business practice with a long-standing history of
representation of public and private companies in all aspects
of corporate and securities matters. The Firm enjoys a reputation
as one of the leading firms in corporate and securities law
in the States of Virginia and Tennessee. The Corporate and Securities
Practice of the Firm involves a broad business practice ranging
from complex and sophisticated transactional work to institutional
practice involving day-to-day corporate counseling and assistance
to companies and business owners on legal aspects of business.
Our client base is diverse, including small entrepreneurial
businesses as well as large publicly held corporations and ranges
from well-established companies to new start-up ventures. The
Firm serves in the role of general outside counsel to many small
and medium-sized companies.
The Ratliff Firm's reputation in the corporate and securities
field derives from the broad based expertise and responsiveness
of its attorneys. Our corporate and securities attorneys are
business-oriented and focus on a practical approach to business
law. The practice frequently involves a team approach, drawing
from tax, real estate, antitrust, commercial, environmental,
labor and other practice areas within the Firm as
necessary or appropriate.
Attorneys in the Corporate and Securities Practice are also
service-oriented, and are positioned through staffing, administrative
support, technology and significant cross-over of substantive
expertise within the Firm to respond effectively and efficiently
to the tight time deadlines frequently mandated by business
transactions.
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Business Planning: The Ratliff Firm assists business
clients of all types and sizes in achieving their business objectives
in an efficient, practical and expedient manner. The Firm has
extensive experience in the formation and operation of all forms
of businesses, including limited liability companies, corporations,
general and limited partnerships, and joint ventures, matters
involving franchising, licensing and technology and changes
in control, and negotiating and drafting basic business agreements
such as shareholder agreements, buy-sell agreements, option
agreements, employment and consulting contracts.
Attorneys counsel businesses, business owners and mangers on
a wide range of business topics including the responsibilities
and liabilities of officers and directors, corporate governance,
employment matters, general contract law and capital structure
issues. The Firm assists business clients in tax planning, ownership
transfer matters, corporate and partnership reorganizations,
corporate restructuring's and recapitalizations, going private
transactions, exchange offers and dissolutions and liquidations.
Attorneys in this field are also active in the development and
implementation of business strategies to enhance attainment
of client's business objectives and strategies.
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Mergers and Acquisitions: The Ratliff Firm,PLLC has extensive
experience in the acquisitions, disposition and consolidation
of businesses, including mergers, consolidations, leveraged
buyouts, stock and asset purchases and sales and divestitures.
The Corporate and Securities Practice has an active practice
in structuring, negotiating, drafting and consummating transaction
involving the sale or combination of publicly and privately
held companies. The Ratliff Firm also provides counseling
to businesses on defensive takeover measures and assists business
owners and management in evaluating and responding to extraordinary
corporate transactions.
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Fiduciary Law: Individuals and corporations take on considerable
legal and moral obligations when they accept a fiduciary position.
Trustees, executors, guardians, charitable organizations, educational
institutions, banks, trust departments, partners, joint venturers;
and the shareholders, officers and directors of corporations
find themselves held to a lofty standard. They owe the beneficiaries
of their obligations a much higher degree of care and responsibility
in properly discharging fiduciary duties.
With high standards come high accountability. With accountability
comes the potential for litigation. The Ratliff Firm is
frequently called upon to pursue or defend such claims. We are
regularly involved in the following types of fiduciary litigation:
Will
Contests
Probate and Estate Litigation
Trust Disputes
Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims
Federal and State Tax Disputes (Income, Estate, and Gift Tax)
Guardianship Litigation
ERISA-based Claims
Personal and Employee Benefit Trusts
Corporate Fiduciary Duty Claims
Shareholder Disputes
We counsel clients on preventing unnecessary costly fiduciary
litigation and avoiding future claims. We also work with clients
to resolve fiduciary disputes through mediation and arbitration
where appropriate.
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Medicaid/Medicare Planning: Are you prepared for the possibility
of needing long-term care at some point? Have you considered
the effect long-term care costs will have on your assets and
estate?
Many
people are surprised to find that Medicare only covers part
of the costs of long-term care, and with costs of up to $10,000
per month, even a stay of a few months can have a devastating
impact on their financial situation. This problem is compounded
if a healthy spouse needs the use of these assets (especially
the home).
Medicaid
could be the solution since it will cover nearly all of the
expenses for long-term care. The problem is it requires that
you have virtually no assets to qualify for Medicaid. This
is the sad reality for many.
There
are, however, solutions that may enable you to qualify for
Medicaid and keep assets such as a home available for your
exclusive use as long as you need. Planning early is critical!
Generally a solution needs to be in place at least three years
in advance.
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Other Areas: Something not covered here? Would you like
to know if The Ratliff Firm handles another area of
the law? Give us a call! If we do not practice the area of
law you need, we will always help you to find a qualified
attorney in our area. This is just one more way that The Ratliff Firm takes care of its community and client's legal
needs!
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