Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Apr 25, 2019 |
While mediations help many people with legal disputes, they do occasionally fail. When a mediation does not go well, participants should focus on what to do next.
Why Would a Mediation Fail?
A mediation “failing” usually means that the people participating in the mediation do not reach a r...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Apr 22, 2019 |
When your business first begins to have financial difficulties, you should take action quickly to increase its stability. You have options such as refinancing and consolidating, or you can look to insolvency or liquidation proceedings.
Assess the Financial Situation
First, assess you...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Apr 18, 2019 |
If you have assets in multiple different countries, you may need more than one will. Your estate planning requirements could vary greatly depending on which assets you own and where they are located.
Why Might You Need Multiple Wills?
Lawyers may recommend that you sign multiple wills that ...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Apr 15, 2019 |
All businesses may need ongoing legal advice on corporate governance, including operations and internal processes. While businesspeople could feel that they can handle these issues themselves, a lawyer provides more insight into the reasons behind corporate governance requirements and helps de...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Apr 11, 2019 |
Your business might need a lawyer not only when it first opens its doors, but also for ongoing legal advice about employees. Many legal issues involving employment may arise as your business grows, especially if you have more than a few employees.
Preparing Employment Contracts
Most business...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Apr 08, 2019 |
If you would like to form a business in The Bahamas, you may not even think about getting a lawyer. Often, though, finding a business lawyer who takes care of the formalities has many benefits.
What Does a Business Lawyer Do?
A lawyer experienced with business matters can greatly assist in s...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Apr 04, 2019 |
Many people believe that they do not need estate plans, but often they actually should do some estate planning now. Estate planning can help you distribute your assets according to your wishes, protect relatives, and give you peace of mind.
Distributing Assets According t...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Mar 26, 2019 |
When your business starts entering into agreements with other businesses, you should sign commercial contracts to document these agreements and protect yourself in case of a dispute. There are many different kinds of commercial contracts, and a few basic types are highlighted below.
Purchase a...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Mar 21, 2019 |
If you have a written contract for business services, you will want to make sure that your contract is legally enforceable in The Bahamas. You can enforce a contract through the court if the other party is not following the contract terms. Without a written contract or with only a verbal contract...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Mar 19, 2019 |
If you are thinking about relocating your business to The Bahamas, you can start preparing now. You may need to meet any number of legal requirements and budget for different kinds of expenses than before.
Entity Choice in The Bahamas
Business owners who plan to form new entities in The Baham...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Mar 14, 2019 |
Moving to The Bahamas creates several questions and issues from a legal perspective. If you are making the move or have newly made a move here, you should make sure to comply with your legal obligations and understand the differences between Bahamian laws and those from your previous home.
Wor...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Mar 12, 2019 |
The Bahamian financial services sector holds many advantages for people interested in investments and financial growth. From a legal perspective, The Bahamas offers opportunities for businesspersons in the areas of choice of business entity, regulation, and taxes.
Entity Choice in The Bahamas
...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Mar 07, 2019 |
If you are involved in a civil court case in The Bahamas, you may wonder whether a jury trial is available. In civil court cases, only a judge presides over Bahamian court trials without a jury present. In criminal cases, though, a jury usually hears the evidence.
What Is a Jury Trial?
During...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Mar 05, 2019 |
If you are thinking about leaving your assets to family or friends, you may wonder if a handwritten will is enough to pass on your wishes. Typing up a will or going to see a lawyer may seem like a waste of time if you can simply write everything down on a piece of paper. While technically your wi...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Feb 28, 2019 |
There are several different courts in The Bahamas, and which one hears your case will depend on a few factors. Sometimes, the Magistrates' Court is the proper forum in which to begin your legal case.
What Are the Different Courts in The Bahamas?
In The Bahamas, there are three main courts that ...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Feb 26, 2019 |
If you are thinking about planning your estate and have a non-traditional family in The Bahamas, you may be curious about the laws concerning whether adopted children and stepchildren can inherit. Estate planning is very important for many people because not doing any planning can lead to unexp...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Feb 21, 2019 |
Companies can engage in mediation, just like individual people with disputes. In fact, many mediations happen between an individual and a company, or between two companies. When a company is involved, a mediation may proceed a little differently than you might expect.
Who Represents a Company ...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Feb 19, 2019 |
When you first decide that you need legal advice, you may not know which kind of lawyer you need. In The Bahamas, lawyers practice in different areas of law. You need to identify which area of law applies to your case (or at least have a rough idea) so that you can find a qualified lawyer to he...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Feb 14, 2019 |
Minority and majority shareholders play different roles in Bahamian companies. Balancing their rights and needs in a company helps the company continue to run smoothly.
What Are Minority and Majority Shareholders?
A majority shareholder owns more than fifty percent of a company's shares. This i...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Feb 12, 2019 |
A power of attorney can protect you and your affairs in case you need help managing them or you are unavailable. If you want to sign a power of attorney, you may have some questions about the details of how they work.
Are There Different Types of Powers of Attorney?
Yes, there are different t...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Feb 07, 2019 |
When sales or mergers of banks and trust companies begin, the process can seem complicated. There are many moving parts to ensure a successful transition. If you work for a bank or trust company planning a sale or merger, here are a few thoughts to consider.
Is the Merger or Sale a Good Idea...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Feb 05, 2019 |
If you learn that someone has sued you in court, you may have only a brief time to respond. You will need to prepare legal documents and probably engage a lawyer, all within a matter of days of being served with the legal documents.
When Does the Court Action Begin?
When someone with a lega...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Jan 31, 2019 |
When two or more people decide to form a legal partnership, they may want to negotiate a partnership agreement. This kind of agreement can modify the standard rights, duties, and powers that partners have under the law.
Why Would Partners Want a Partnership Agreement?
In The Bahamas, the Partne...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Jan 22, 2019 |
Setting up a captive insurance company in The Bahamas has several important benefits. Captive insurance involves setting up a subsidiary or affiliated company that provides insurance to the parent company or group of companies. As a result, you do not have to obtain insurance from an outside co...
Posted by M. Margaret Gonsalves-Sabola | Jan 15, 2019 |
If you are planning your estate and want to help your family for years to come, think beyond your immediate heirs to the next generation. There are a few techniques you can use to plan for giving to many members of your family.
Trusts and Multi-Generation Estate Planning
Setting up one or more ...