Articles
Subscribe to our newsletter for quarterly legal updates pertaining to businesses and individuals
(please type "subscribe" in the email subject line)
Changes Affecting Iowa LLCs
April 2010 - A new state law governing LLCs in Iowa – Iowa Code Chapter 489 – took effect on January 1, 2009. This change in law means the members and managers of every Iowa LLC formed under the prior statute (before 1/1/09) must carefully review their operating agreements for potential amendment prior to January 1, 2011, when the prior statute will no longer apply. [read more]
Tax Changes Affecting Individuals in the 2010 Health Reform Legislation
April 2010 - With the passing of the recent health reform legislation, you may be wondering about the effects it will have on you personally. Here is a brief overview of the key tax changes affecting individuals.[read more]
Likely Impacts of Healthcare Reform on Employers
On March 23, 2010, healthcare reform, through the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act ("the Act"), became a reality in the United States. The purpose of this article is to highlight some of the impacts that the reform measures will have on employers. [read more]
Act Soon to Fully Use Midwestern Disaster Area Bonds
February 2010 - A tremendous opportunity exists for the area as a result of the opportunity to fund a project at tax-exempt interest rates with Midwestern Disaster Area Bonds. But you may need to act soon to fully use these bonds. [read more]
A Detailed Look Into Midwestern Disaster Area Bonds
February 2010 - Tax-exempt bonds enable a business to make certain capital investments at a lower rate of interest. The tax-exempt interest rate may be only 70 percent of the taxable interest rate. This information on tax-exempt bonds will address the opportunity for flood impacted businesses AND other businesses to use tax-exempt bond financing for certain capital investments. [read more or view a slide show with more information]
Federal Estate Tax Repealed - Temporarily?
January 2010 - After a lot of discussion and speculation, the 2009 legislative year ended without any legislative changes to the federal estate tax, generation skipping tax and gift tax. As a result, as the law currently stands, the federal estate tax and the generation skipping tax have been repealed for all deaths occurring in the calendar year 2010. [read more]
COBRA Subsidy Further Extended
January 2010 - The Department of Defense Appropriations Act, signed by President Obama on December 19, 2009, extends the period to qualify for the COBRA premium reduction until February 28, 2010, and also extends the maximum period for receiving the reduction to 15 months. [read more]
Disaster Area Bonds
December 2009 - The IRS released very good news regarding Midwestern Disaster Area Tax-Exempt Bonds ("MDA Bonds"). [read more]
Service of Original Notice in Eviction Cases
November 2009 -- The Iowa Supreme Court issued a significant opinion regarding the proper procedure for serving a residential tenant with the Original Notice and Petition in a forcible entry and detainer ("FED" or "eviction") action. In War Eagle Village Apartments v. Plummer, the Court ruled that landlords cannot serve an Original Notice and Petition in an eviction action by certified mail.... [read more]
New Requirements Regarding Private Sewage Disposal Systems
October 2009 -- If you are contemplating a real estate transaction involving property serviced by a private sewage disposal system (e.g., septic system), you should know that Iowa law now requires the inspection of such systems prior to the transfer of the property. [read more]
Charitable Trust Registration
October 2009 -- If you have created or intend to create any trust that has a charitable component (wholly charitable trust, charitable remainder trust, charitable lead trust), you should be aware of a new Iowa law that imposes new registration and reporting requirements on the Trustee. [read more]
Firm Launches Green Initiatives
August 2009 -- The reputation that law firms have as paper mongers has been well-deserved over the years. But our firm is teaming up with the American Bar Association and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help change that image. [read more]
Same-Sex Marriage and Employment-Related Issues
On April 3, 2009, the Iowa Supreme Court upheld a 2007 Iowa district court ruling that determined it is unconstitutional to bar same-sex couples from the institution of marriage. This overturned Iowa legislation...[read more]
Economic Recovery Stimulated by Tax-Exempt Bonds
June 2009 -- In February of this year, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009. This Act creates a new category of bonds intended to stimulate economic recovery in specific zones of our country by achieving tax-exempt interest...[read more]
Fraud Alert
June 2009 -- Among all the mail, email, faxes, advertisements, Twitters, blogs, and more we are bombarded with each day, it can be difficult to know what information is important and what isn't. It can also be tricky to decipher whether official-looking business forms you receive in the mail are legitimate....[read more]
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
March 2009 -- President Obama signed The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ("the Act") into law on February 17, 2009. The Act contains tax provisions for both individuals and businesses...[read more]
Five Major Developments in Employment Law
March 2009 -- The following five major developments in employment law have occurred since January 1, 2009:...[read more]
Disaster Tax Relief for Individuals and Businesses
January 2009 -- On October 3, 2008, federal disaster tax relief was adopted. Certain forms of tax relief are available for individual taxpayers affected by disasters...[read more]
Iowa LLC Update
December 2008 -- Effective January 1, 2009, a new law governing limited liability companies in Iowa will take effect. The new law is...[read more]
Iowa Smokefree Air Act -- No If's, And's or Butts
June 2008 -- Iowa employers and business proprietors should take steps to comply with the state's new Smokefree Air Act, a law banning smoking in the workplace...[read more]
Family and Medical Leave Act is Amended
March 2008 -- Effective January 28, 2008, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2008 amended the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to provide two additional types of leave...[read more]
Written Contracts are Important for Every New or Growing Business
February 2008 -- Faced with the pressures of payroll, the need to get a product to market, the imperative to build sales and the myriad other issues an entrepreneur faces, it is often tempting for young businesses to rely on oral understandings with investors, customers, and vendors rather than fully documenting...[read more]