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Practice Areas

Business Planning

If you are interested in starting a small business, obtaining the help of a knowledgeable, skilled lawyer should be an essential part of the process. This can help you avoid any unnecessary pitfalls that can cause future problems.

 

 Our lawyers can help you with complex legal issues such as:

 

  • Forming a limited liability company (LLC), sole proprietorship, S corporation, partnership or some other type of business

  • Regulatory compliance

  • Establishing bank accounts and operating agreements

  • Getting a tax ID number and other tax planning decisions

  • Ownership structure agreements

  • Applying for Small Business Administration loans, including through the 8A program

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The business organization process is complicated, and there are many issues that you may not know about. Our attorneys have worked with manufacturers, retailers, tribal entities, health care workers and many other types of businesses.

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Our attorneys will take the time to get to know you and your specific needs for your business, giving you the tools to make informed decisions about the future. We thrive on helping businesses complete transactions and solve their most complex legal issues.

Business Planning

Estate Planning

There is no doubt that for many people, thinking about the future can be quite scary. By taking the necessary steps to create an estate plan now, however, you can make your wishes known, which will limit the possibility of disputes arising later.

 

We help many individuals and families establish comprehensive estate plans using instruments such as:

 

  • Wills

  • Trusts

  • Powers of attorney

  • Advance directives

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We can help you with complex trust planning.  Our attorneys will not take a one-size-fits all approach when it comes to crafting your estate plan. If you have a large estate, we can take steps such as setting up and administering a trust to minimize the estate tax burden on your beneficiaries, avoid probate and control who you want to leave certain assets to. Types of complex trusts include:

 

  • AB trust: Spouses can use this type of trust to minimize estate taxes.

  • Medicaid "Miller" trust: This type of trust can help you meet income requirements to be eligible for Medicaid-funded nursing home care.

  • Life insurance trust: This can shield the proceeds of a life insurance policy from the portion of your estate that is subject to estate taxes.

 

With extensive experience not just in estate planning law, but also in business and tax law, there is no issue that is too complex for our lawyers when it comes to helping you create a plan. We can use creative strategies that will protect your beneficiaries and honor your wishes for how you want your estate to be distributed.

 

It is never too early to start planning. Contact us if you have questions about the estate planning process, are ready to start or wish to update your plan. 

Estate Planning

Taxation

We understand the anxiety that comes with managing your taxes. Our firm is well-equipped to help you address all of your tax issues. Senior attorney Valerie R. Devol has 20 years of extensive tax law training and dedicated a large part of her legal work to helping business owners with tax planning. 

Our attorneys can assist you with:

  • Bankruptcy Filing

  • Income Tax Dispute

  • Innocent Spouse Relief

  • Tax Liens and Levies

  • IRS Letters

  • Tax Penalties

  • Debt Settlement

  • Abatement Issues

Taxation

Government

Tribal Government

Our attorneys possess a wealth of experience providing comprehensive legal representation for numerous Native American Tribes throughout Oklahoma.

 

While we are located in Edmond in the Oklahoma City area, we have worked for numerous Tribes throughout the country on all types of complex legal issues. Our lawyers put their deep knowledge of tax law, estate law, business law and litigation to use on behalf of Tribal clients who need effective solutions.

 

In Oklahoma and throughout the United States, Tribes must comply with certain laws and regulations due to their sovereign status. We can assist with all manner of legal needs, including:

 

  • Writing statutory language and advising on governance issues

  • Economic development, including business acquisitions and financial planning for commercial activities

  • Negotiating and reviewing contracts with outside businesses and vendors

  • Regulatory compliance, including federal gaming regulations

  • Business organization and tax planning

 

Whether you are part of a Tribal entity or wish to do business with a Tribe, we understand how intimidating this area of the law can seem. We are also aware of how important it is for Tribes to be able to successfully conduct business to provide services for members. 

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Municipal Government

Our firm has assisted in a variety of services in regards to the Town of Jones and Town of Luther here in the state of Oklahoma, including:

  • Writing city codes, ordinance, and contracts

  • Resolving contract disputes 

  • Establishing public entities (i.e. library)

  • Acting as the city's legal counsel at meetings

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Government
Bankrupcy

Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy can be a fresh start on finances for individuals or businesses. Each situation is unique, and so is every bankruptcy. There are different kinds of bankruptcies and one of those ways might be right for you or your business. The three most common types of bankruptcies are:

  • Chapter 7

  • Chapter 11 or

  • Chapter 13.

We can help you determine which of these might be right for you, or if there are other debt relief options available for you.

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