Legal Advice: Slander Laws

23. June 2008 admin

Slander laws are those laws aimed at protecting citizens from untruthful and harmful character abuse. Slander is oral defamation that is untrue and causes harm to a persons character. Civil courts process slander laws because the crime is civil in nature rather than criminal.

Damages in civil suits are sometimes limited to actual damages of the slander. In the case where there is special malicious intent to harm it may be difficult to prove but is sometimes not limited to actual damages. If youre the plaintiff or defendant in a civil slander suit then you should consult legal counsel to guide your case.

How to Clarify Slander Laws
Slander is as simple as communicating untrue statements to anyone or any entity that results in physical, emotional, or financial harm to the person youve spoken about. For example, communicating that someone is unable to perform their work duties because you believe they have a disease is slander. It is also slander if you tell people someone committed a crime when they didnt.

The type of slander laws that relates to written slander is called libel. There are clarifications of the law as words spoken on the radio or television are treated as libel rather than slander. If youre involved in a slander or libel suit then you should seek legal counsel in order to protect your assets and your reputation.

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Legal Advice: Small Claims Court

22. June 2008 admin

Small claims courts are usually divisions of a municipal or local court that hear cases involving small amounts of money. The limits for taking suit in a small claims court is normally under $5,000 but varies by state. These courts are intended to serve as facilitation to solve civil disputes with small money amounts.

These courts are normally ruled by an experienced lawyer serving as a pro tem judge. The process is instigated by a plaintiff who brings suit against the defendant in the case. Each party has a short time to present their case, sometimes with rebuttal, and the judge then issues a binding verdict.

How to Survive Small Claims Court
If youre the defendant in a small claims court suit then you should consult legal counsel. A legal advisor should provide you with a defense strategy and prepare you to best represent your side.

If youre the plaintiff bringing suit against someone then you should also consult legal counsel. A legal advisor should prepare you to construct a sound case and increase your chance of a good outcome. Television has devalued the perception we have of courts; however, when youre involved in a court proceeding you should take absolute care in preparation.

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Legal Advice: Spousal Support

21. June 2008 admin

Spousal support is another word for alimony meaning the financial support of an ex-spouse that is ordered by a court. The term is used primarily in California and a handful of other states as an attempt to use non-confrontational language in the legal system. When a divorce is final the judge may declare one party responsible for paying alimony to the other party.

Normally, spousal support is paid by the male to his female ex. There are cases where the primary income-producing female is deemed responsible for providing alimony to her husband. A special twist to this rule is in states with same sex couples where the breadwinner is responsible for paying alimony to his or her partner.

How to get Spousal Support
Spousal support is granted by the ruling of a judge during divorce proceedings. It is, however, not guaranteed and can sometimes be difficult to determine in two income-producing families. Seeking legal counsel to assist your case is paramount in getting your desired outcome.

There are many considerations in determining alimony including: illness, retirement, and loss of income. In terms of tax considerations the alimony payments are tax deductible for the payee and recorded as income for the receiver. If youre dealing with alimony or support from spouses then you should consult legal counsel.

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Legal Advice: Starting A Business

20. June 2008 admin

Starting a business is a popular endeavor because there is more technological infrastructure available to small business owners. The Internet facilitates the largest consumer and business market in the world. The Internet provides opportunities for small business owners to sell their services and products to consumers around the world for reasonable prices.

Along with the influence of the Internet other technological changes have created many new chances for people starting a business. The Internet changed commerce on many fronts especially in creating a totally new classification of online work. It also changed existing classifications of jobs by adding an online element to distribution, communication, pricing strategies, and almost every other function of business.

Key Goals of Starting a Business
Business owners demonstrate incredible courage in being entrepreneurs through difficult economic times. The last few years have found most industries in disarray. Small and large businesses have had to change their business models to intertwine modern communication methods into their normal business activities.

Starting a business used to require entrepreneurs to raise capital, find a downtown location with an attractive storefront, and work long hours to satisfy your customers personally. Times have changed and entrepreneurs have to operate within tighter contexts.

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Legal Advice: Tax Audits

19. June 2008 admin

Tax audits are often time consuming and extremely stressful for those being audited. Even though the IRS audits only a relatively small percentage of returns, they manage to inconvenience businesses and families from their normal functions. Surviving an audit from the IRS or any other regulatory agency is difficult but can be much easier with some legal guidance.

Tax audits require businesses to present extensive records to validate the proper composition of federal taxation policies. Audits require individual taxpayers to present extensive source documentation for exemptions, write-offs, and itemized deductions. These audits are costly in terms of hours and lost productivity.

How to Survive Tax Audits
There are many techniques you can utilize to survive audits. Professional tax and legal advice provide guidance for minimizing your legal risk. With the right knowledge you can make audits less time consuming and increase the chance of getting the best result.

Since tax audits arent predetermined you should prepare to present the most accurate and complete information possible. Most audits are randomly selected and thus do not suggest guilt on the part of the person being audited. Though difficult, knowing your tax rights is important because your personal reputation and financial position are on the line.

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