JDSA's Law Talk

You do work, but you don’t get paid. It happens often in the construction industry. But there is a legal mechanism that can help you. Depending on where you live, it may be called a construction lien, or property lien. So, what is it, how do you engage - or avoid - this legal action, and how might it affect your rights. In this episode of JDSA’s Law Talk, attorney Matthew Hitchcock discusses what you need to understand about Contractor’s Lien Rights – and The Importance of Perfection.

Workplace Discrimination is an all too common topic. Partly, it’s because people have become more empowered to stop and report what they see as unfair treatment of themselves, or others. But what really is the definition of workplace discrimination? How do we know what is or isn’t actual discrimination under the law? How are companies protected? And how should employers act to protect their employees? In this episode of JDSA’s Law Talk, attorney Stephanie Boehl joins the show to discuss Workplace Discrimination – And What You Need to Know About It.

Your ideas have value. And if you want to earn a living from your ideas, you need to own them and control them. If you create the next big thing, you’ll likely want to create the next, Next Big Thing. So, in order to keep creating, you need to license your ideas – your intellectual property – and let others sell it for you. But, now you have to sort out license scope, revenues, timelines, enforcement, and more. And that’s when you learn, licensing intellectual property is exactly as complex as it sounds. In this episode of JDSA’s Law Talk, attorney Colleen Frei offers Five Tips for Licensing Intellectual Property.

When you buy a property, it’s yours, correct? No one can come on your property. But can the utility company have access? It’s possible they can, because of an encumbrance. An encumbrance allows access for a variety of reasons. Some are voluntary, while others - such as a utility easement - are involuntary. All are perfectly legal, yet some may deter you from purchasing a property. In this episode of JDSA’s Law Talk, attorney Matthew Hitchcock discusses what you need to understand about Encumbrances – and The Issues They May Cause.

Your vacation home. It’s the family cabin. It’s where you and your family share incredible memories. And like all families, you want these memories to last - and you want new ones to be created in the years to come. So passing the cabin on to the next generation is important to you. Yet, how exactly do you do this? Are there tax implications? What do you need to know? In this JDSA Law Podcast, JDSA attorney Lindsay Weidenbach explains what you need to know and how to proceed in - Recreational Real Estate – Tips for Passing Down the Family Cabin.

Your property. Before it was yours, it was someone else’s. Over the years, as properties change hands, assumptions are made about borders such as existing fences or landscape boundaries. So, what if you have a border dispute with your neighbor? Do you know who has a right to come onto your property, and why? Do you know for certain where your property boundary is? In this episode of JDSA’s Law Talk, attorney Matthew Hitchcock talks about dispute resolutions, property boundaries, and the importance of surveying.

It’s difficult for most people to discuss estate planning. But, it’s important we make the tough decisions ourselves - especially if we have a family. Decisions like, what if both parents die in an accident? Who will take care of the kids? What about our furry and feathered family members? Can we legally give someone our passwords for our digital identities? What if we’re on life support? None of these questions should be left to the courts, and they are all covered in this episode of JDSA’s Law Talk as attorney Colleen Frei discusses some Uncomfortable—But Necessary—Questions About Estate Planning.

Your property. Before it was yours, it was someone else’s. Over the years, as properties change hands, assumptions are made about borders such as existing fences or landscape boundaries. So, what if you have a border dispute with your neighbor? Do you know who has a right to come onto your property, and why? Do you know for certain where your property boundary is? In this episode of JDSA’s Law Talk, attorney Matthew Hitchcock talks about dispute resolutions, property boundaries, and the importance of surveying.

It’s difficult for most people to discuss estate planning. But, it’s important we make the tough decisions ourselves - especially if we have a family. Decisions like, what if both parents die in an accident? Who will take care of the kids? What about our furry and feathered family members? Can we legally give someone our passwords for our digital identities? What if we’re on life support? None of these questions should be left to the courts, and they are all covered in this episode of JDSA’s Law Talk as attorney Colleen Frei discusses some Uncomfortable—But Necessary—Questions About Estate Planning.

We’d all like to pay less tax. At the same time, we want more investment within our communities. And if you have some savings you’d like to invest, a tax shelter - of any kind - is always a consideration. Essentially, people are always looking for opportunity. Yet, with opportunity comes risk that should be properly vetted and include a solid understanding of the terminology. In this JDSA LawTalk Podcast, attorney Lindsay Weidenbach highlights the key points to consider when investing in Opportunity Zones.