Blog

Estate Planning

Why The Need to Plan?

Estate planning attorneys often times run into situations where clients undermine the importance of having an estate plan. After the Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts (“TCJA”) was passed, the estate tax exemption nearly doubled to $11.18 million for single individuals and $22.36 million for those that are married. Due to the immense increase in the exemption, the market for secession planning has encountered a short decline. However, planning is necessary so that your best interests are adhered to in the event you’re unable to adhere to them yourself.

Kathrine Karimi September 29, 2020

What is Copyright Cancellation?

Copyright cancellation is when the Copyright Office eliminates a copyright as the registration was invalid. There’s a number of reasons why the Copyright Office would find grounds for cancelling a registration. For example, the Copyright Office will cancel a completed registration in cases where no registration should have been made because the work does not constitute copyrightable subject matter or fails to satisfy the requirements for obtaining copyright.

Silvino Diaz September 29, 2020

EPGD Business Law

Do Non-Married Partners Have Inheritance Rights In Florida?

Long-term relationships and domestic partnerships are becoming more common in today’s society, which brings with it a host of legal issues, especially when it comes to estate planning and death. Unlike in a traditional marital relationship, when one of the partners becomes deceased, there are no marriage laws to protect the surviving partner when claiming the assets of their now deceased partner’s estate.

Kathrine Karimi September 24, 2020

trademark

Can Fictional Character Obtain Trademark Protection?

Yes, fictional characters can obtain trademark protections. In the realm of Trademark law, trademarks are awarded to source indicators used in

Silvino Diaz September 22, 2020

Can Fictional Characters Obtain Copyright Protection?

Yes, fictional characters have copyright protection. In copyright law, copyrights are awarded to literary and artistic works that are: (1) original works of authorship and are (2) fixed in a tangible medium of expression. Therefore, in order for a literary or artistic work to be eligible for copyright protection, it needs to be a product of the imagination of its author(s), rather than a copy of someone else’s work.

Silvino Diaz September 22, 2020

Trusts & Estates

Batalla del conservador de la princesa pop

Desde que se convirtió en un icono del pop adolescente a principios de la década del 2000, Britney Spears no ha sido ajena a la controversia y a los titulares de las revistas. Después de un colapso público en 2007, con la cabeza afeitada y atacando a los paparazzi, Britney comenzó una serie de estancias en centros de rehabilitación. Mientras Britney se centraba en su salud mental, su padre, Jamie Spears, fue nombrado por un tribunal para que examinara a Britney y sus finanzas, también conocido como tutela. Desde entonces, Britney ha mantenido un perfil bastante bajo. Sin embargo, recientes publicaciones en medios sociales y una serie de peticiones judiciales han vuelto a poner a Britney en los titulares. Específicamente, Britney ha solicitado a la corte que retire su tutela y los fans están llamando a “#freebritney” para que deje de estar bajo el control de su padre.

Kathrine Karimi September 16, 2020

Contract

What is the Florida Construction Defect Statute (FCDS)?

Due to the frequency of issues arising out of faulty construction, the Florida legislature has created an alternative method to resolve such disputes that would reduce the need for litigation while protecting the rights of property owners. Under the Florida Construction Defect Statute, a property owner or a condominium/homeowner’s association is required to send a written notice of claim to contractors, design professionals and/or developers to resolve alleged defects before resorting to further legal process.

Eric Gros-Dubois September 15, 2020

Trusts & Estates

Pop Princess Conservator Battle

From the time she became a teenage pop icon in the early 2000s, Britney Spears has been no stranger to controversy and magazine headlines. After a very public breakdown in 2007, complete with head shaving and attacking the paparazzi, Britney began a series of stints in rehab facilities. While Britney was focusing on her mental health, her father, Jamie Spears, was appointed by a court to look over Britney and her finances, also known as a conservatorship. Since then Britney has maintained a fairly low profile. However, recent social media posts and a series of court petitions have put Britney back in the headlines. Specifically, Britney has petitioned the court to remove her conservatorship and fans are calling to “#freebritney” from the control of her father.

Kathrine Karimi September 15, 2020

Litigation

What is Suspension and Debarment Under the Federal Acquisition Regulation?

The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is the statute that prescribes the policies and procedures governing the debarment and suspension of contractors by federal government agencies. It provides that all federal contractors debarred, suspended, or proposed for debarment are excluded from receiving contracts, and agencies shall not solicit offers from, award contracts to, or consent to subcontracts with these contractors, unless the agency head determines that there is a compelling reason for such action.

Silvino Diaz September 10, 2020

Government

What is the Federal Acquisition Regulation?

The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is the primary regulation for use by all executive agencies in their acquisition of supplies and services with appropriated funds. It became effective in 1984 to govern the policies and procedures for contracts to sell goods or provide services to the federal government. It was created with the intention of having a comprehensive set of rules for agencies across the executive branch, but over time agencies have created supplements to the FAR, adding their own specifications.