Areas of Practice
- Business Law/Formation
- Estate Planning
- Real Estate Litigation
- Landlord & Tenant Issues
- Civil Litigation
- Criminal Law
- Bankruptcy
- Personal Injury
Business Law & Business Formation
There are many tax benefits of having a corporation, even if you aren’t quite ready to start your own business.
If you are thinking about starting a new business, taking advantage of tax breaks offered by creating a corporation, or just want advice on how the process begins, please call our office for a free consultation.
We help guide our clients in some of the following areas:
- Choosing the appropriate business entity for the purposes of your business
- Risk Assessment and Management
- Mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations and dissolutions
- Equity structures, executive compensation and borrowing and lending agreements
Our office provides the following services:
- Formation of corporations, partnerships, professional corporations, and limited liability companies;
- Filing required documents with the Secretary of State’s office;
- Drafting of operating agreements, shareholder votes, buy-sell agreements, non-compete agreements, employment agreements, proxies, corporate by-laws, and various other contractual agreements.
Mass Secretary of state’s office
Read a few Interesting articles on LLC’s:
Top 10 Reasons to Hire an Attorney before choosing your business formation
Reuters: Hiring Legal Help with Business Formation
Wall Street Journal: Business Formation Tumbles 10% in Wealthiest Countries
Estate Planning
Don’t wait until it’s too late to make an informed and educated decision about your estate.
Too many people wait until it is too late to draft a will and a plan for the distribution of their estate when they are gone.
The best planning begins when you have the legal capacity to do so; if you are disabled or incapacitated when you begin to implement your estate plan, you run the risk of being challenged by someone who asserts that you were incapable at the time that you drafted your estate plan, and this can be a long, tedious and costly endeavor to take on.
YOU SHOULD KNOW: An effective estate plan also can nominate a person to have legal authority to make decisions related to your estate, as well as be guardians to minors.
At our office, we know too well how important it is for our clients to make sure that they have an effective estate plan in place. We understand that each client has unique goals to be met by their specific estate plan, and that is why we seek to educate the consumer, while making it as simple and stress-free as possible.
Our extensive knowledge and experience over the course of 25 years allows us to deal with numerous and varied situations, like:
- Simple Wills as well as Complex Wills;
- Powers of Attorney and Health Care Proxy;
- Planning for Incapacity;
- Irrevocable Trusts;
- Estate Tax Planning;
- Post-Mortem Estate Planning;
- Marital and Pre/Post Nuptial Agreements;
- Reverse Mortgages (click here for more information);
- 529 College Plans (click here for more information)
Dennis Hopper battling his wife; says she's after his will
If you have any questions about estate planning, wills or trusts, don’t hesitate to contact our office; we would be happy to answer any questions regarding your existing estate plan, or future one.
Kiplinger's article: Cut the Lawyer out of your Will?
We Are Here to Help Protect Your Most Valuable Investment
Our office has had great success in various real estate litigation cases.
- Breach of contract?
- Loss of Deposit?
- Misrepresentation on MLS or by a broker?
If any of these questions has crossed your mind, OR you think you may need an attorney contact our office, and we will work as hard as you have to fight for your acquisitions in real estate.
Tough economic times have challenged the rights of both landlords and tenants. Contact us to help us help you understand your rights as a landlord or a tenant.
http://www.lawlib.state.ma.us/subject/about/landlord.html
With over 25 years of experience, our office can assist you with the many complex issues that arise from landlord tenant issues. We can help you determine the best way to move forward with your case, and the best way to determine what you are entitled to.
Having trouble evicting a non-paying tenant?
Use the links below to help you determine what your rights are as a landlord, and contact our office to start the process for you:
How do I evict my tenant and when can I evict my tenant?
http://www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/housingcourt/housingquestions.html
Read the Massachusetts General Laws on Eviction:
http://www.lawlib.state.ma.us/subject/about/eviction.html
DON’T GET SCAMMED!
With thousands of rental agencies in and around the greater Boston area, it may get confusing to determine your rights and responsibilities as a potential tenant. Use these helpful links to help guide you:
Tenant Rights and Responsibilities
Landlord Rights and Responsibilities
BEFORE YOU SIGN ANYTHING: Massachusetts Law About Landlord and Tenant
Become an informed consumer, know where to begin, and contact us to help you determine your rights.
Civil Litigation
Whether you are entering the civil litigation lawsuit as the plaintiff or the defendant, it is important to have a qualified and specialized civil litigation lawyer by your side.
A civil action is a lawsuit brought to court in order to receive damages or to recover a right. Civil litigation usually involves disputes between individuals, businesses or otherwise.
It is sometimes difficult to determine whether or not you have a case. Since civil litigation can encompass many different scenarios, you should know what you are involved in and contact our office to help you through the process.
Some of the areas that our office covers are listed below:
- Business Litigation
- Small Claims
- Construction Litigation
- Real Estate Litigation
- Tort Litigation
- 93A Demand Letters (sample 30 Day Demand Letter)
- Commercial Litigation
Many civil cases have a statute of limitations, so it is important to contact one of our experienced attorneys to help you determine the best way to proceed. Like always, we offer a free initial consultation, so you have nothing to lose.
Criminal Law
Know your rights as a defendant before you make a detrimental mistake.
Our office has successfully represented defendants in both state and federal criminal cases. If you are currently involved in a criminal case, have one pending, or have been arrested, you need to know your rights.
Contact us for a free consultation and evaluation of your case.
HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN A RECENT CRIMINAL MATTER???
Below is a partial list of the types of cases we handle:
- Drug charges
- OUI
- Identity Theft
- Sexual Assault
- Negligent Homicide
- Larceny/theft
- Shoplifting
- White-collar crimes
- Robbery
- Arson
- Trespassing
- Burglary
One wrong move could change the outcome of your case.
Make sure to contact the experienced attorneys at our office to assist in guiding you through the process and help you make informed decisions for your future.
Bankruptcy Law
Over 1 million Americans filed for bankruptcy in 2009.
At the Law Offices of John Ferris Dow, we understand how difficult it is whether or not to file for bankruptcy, especially during these difficult financial times. That is why we take the time to go through the process with each client, because every situation is different and complex; we understand that this process can be extraordinarily difficult, so our office tries to make it extraordinarily simple.
IS YOUR DEBT BECOMING TOO MUCH TO HANDLE??? Get the basics.
The two most common forms of consumer bankruptcy are Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Depending on your situation, we help guide you towards deciding which is the most beneficial for you and your family.
Remember that filing for bankruptcy does not necessarily mean it’s the end of your financial stability; We will fight the annoying creditors for you, and ensure the protection of your rights and your property.
In many cases, bankruptcy is the best way to get a clean slate on a fresh financial beginning. Call us for a free consultation!
Personal Injury Law
One of the most traumatic events in one’s life can be an injury caused by another person’s negligence. These events happen without warning, and take you by surprise.
With over 25 years of experience in personal injury law, we understand the emotional trauma that you may be suffering, and we work with you to ensure that you are adequately compensated for your injuries. We undertake all of our personal injury cases on a contingent fee basis, meaning that you are not responsible for fees unless we win your case.
Our office handles the following personal injury cases in the following areas:
- Accidents involving automobiles, commercial vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians, including hit-and-run and accidents involving uninsured or underinsured motorists
- Dog Bites
- Slip and Falls
- Medical Malpractice
- Workers’ Compensation
Don’t wait to file your claim; know your rights and contact us.