A Legal Moment
Where Do I Live? Properties On, Near, or Straddling State Lines
Effective January 1, 2017, some property owners along the North Carolina/South Carolina border moved from North Carolina to South Carolina, or vice versa, thanks to an Executive Order adopting an historic re-survey of the common boundary between the two states. This poses any number of legal issues for people selling land that runs along the boundary.
Retroactivity of a Community Association's Amendments to Its Covenants
Question: if your community association passes an amendment to its covenants, is that amendment enforceable against owners who purchased their home or unit prior to the adoption of the amendment, or is it just enforceable against owners who purchase their property following the adoption of the amendment?
Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation and Confidentiality Agreements
Disfavored by the law, restrictive covenants in employment agreements must be carefully tailored to the circumstances.
2017 Estate & Gift Tax Update
While 2017 brings only incremental increases in the Federal exclusion amounts for bequests and lifetime gift-giving, the significant changes in, and uncertainty about, exclusion amounts over the past 5-10 years warrant careful review of tax planning provisions in older estate planning documents.
Some Laws about Manufactured Homes
Identifying Whether the Home is "Mobile" or "Modular" is Just the First Step in Understanding What the Law Requires.
New FLSA Regs on Exemption from Overtime Pay
New "Salary-Test" Regulations set the Monetary Bar Significantly Higher on Whether a Salaried Employee Performing Executive, Administrative or Professional Duties is Exempt from the FLSA’s Overtime Pay Requirements.
Cellular Data Privacy 101
Our always-on, always-ready phones may gather as much information about us as they provide to us, creating a host of privacy issues.
Asset Titling: How is Your Car Titled?
The manner in which assets are titled can have significant repercussions in terms of transfer at the owner’s death -- and potentially in other areas. With that in mind, you may wish to take a moment to check the title to your car; what you find may surprise you.
New Real Estate Laws in 2016
A Host of New North Carolina Laws Impacts Developers and Individual Property Owners Alike.
GBS and SIRVA Injuries Poised to be Added to Vaccine Injury Table
HHS Proposes to Upgrade Two Common "Defacto" Table Vaccine Injuries to the Formal Table, Thereby Presuming Injuries Caused by Vaccine and Administration.
When the "Sovereign" is Negligent
In spite of the ancient doctrine of "sovereign immunity," it is possible to sue the United States government for negligence.
Community Association Leaders -- A Cautionary Tale!
A Recent North Carolina Case Illustrates the Potential Pitfalls of Using Inappropriate Pressure to Wrest Payment of Late Dues and Assessments.
2016 Estate & Gift Tax Update
Recent increases in the Federal exclusion amounts for bequests and lifetime gift-giving warrant reviewing existing estate planning documents.
Can My HOA Do That?
A homeowner association must act in conformity with its governing documents -- but even then its actions may not be legal.
A Primer on Legal Issues Small Businesses Face
If you are a small business owner, an entrepreneur, or about to start-up a business, a basic understanding of the legal issues small businesses typically face is essential to avoid economic failure or unforeseen litigation.
PODs & TODs: Proceed (or Not!) with Caution
Setting up "Payable on Death" and "Transfer on Death" accounts warrants extreme caution, and in many cases, it may be better to forego such designations altogether.
Can I Get There from Here?
It is Important to Know Who Owns — and Who Pays For — the Roads to Your Property Before You Purchase It.
It's a Bird, It's a Plane! No, It's a UAS!
Drones are an increasing feature of our governmental, commercial, and personal Landscape -- and Lawmakers are scrambling to keep up.
Pending Bill Would Impose New Requirements on Subdivision Developers and Associations
Proposed Amendment to the Planned Community Act Seeks to Hem in Developers, Raise an HOA's Record-keeping Requirements, and Liberalize an Association's Authority to Amend its Declaration
IRA & Life Insurance Beneficiary Designations: Time for a Tune-up?
Reviewing Your Primary and Contingent Beneficiaries in Non-Probate Assets Can Make a Critical Difference Later.