I have written before of the frustration I feel for my clients who do not understand why Family Court judges in Vermont seem to be reluctant to enforce family court orders. Recently in three separate cases clients rightly expressed their dismay at not receiving prompt and decisive responses from the court when the opposing party […]
In a contested hearing held in Vermont Family Court, Mother and Father each request sole parental rights and responsibilities of their minor children. Mother brings with her pictures of Father partying, drinking, and in compromising poses with the opposite sex, along with comments about how much he enjoys his night life, all posted on […]
“‘Tis the season” and over the next few weeks people will be gathering at office parties and to celebrate the season’s various holidays. Frequently those celebrations may include lifting a cup of holiday cheer…or two. If you are hosting a holiday party where alcohol is available you should keep in mind the potential liability you, […]
Author’s Note: this article was produced with the able assistance of paralegal Michael Roosevelt, whose background in fine arts, printmaking and lithography (See his website here) sparked his interest in this subject. His practical knowledge of trademark law has have helped clients walk through the process of obtaining valid trademarks quickly and efficiently. As new […]
I confess that I have had frustrations over the years with the Vermont courts’ reluctance to enforce court orders in family court. In New Hampshire, where I practice family law occasionally, the attitude of the courts is quite different: just an allegation of violation of a court order will often result in an ex parte […]
By John H.W. Cole, Esq. In my previous tax planning article I discussed how graduated tax rates worked and how to save on income taxes by deferring taxable income to later years. The saving results from the fact that (1) a portion of income isn’t taxed at all, due to exemptions and deductions, and (2) […]
Tax Planning for Graduated Rates By John H.W. Cole, Esq. This article and several that will follow explore the elements of tax planning. Because a tax plan can be overwhelming when it is all put together my memos will develop the components one at a time. The first component is taking advantage of graduated tax […]
We are excited to announce that we have a new author for the Law Matters Blog John H. W. Cole is an attorney licensed to practice in Vermont, Florida, the District of Columbia New York and Virginia. He is also admitted to practice in the U.S. Tax Court and U.S. Court of Claims. His office […]
Purchasing a motor vehicle is one of the largest and most important purchases consumers make. Most of us, however, have only a basic understanding of how a car operates or how to keep it in good working condition. When we purchase a vehicle (particularly a used vehicle) or bring it in for repair we find […]
Effective July 1, 2011, entrepreneurs in Vermont have a new business entity to consider when determining how to set up shop. The “Vermont Benefit Corporation Act” creates a new corporate model that encourages “for profit” businesses to focus on solving social and environmental problems. Ordinary corporations have a legal duty to protect their shareholder’s interests above […]