BERYS LAW | Business, Real Estate, Wills/Trusts

Starting a business is exciting. You have an idea, a plan, and the motivation to make it work. In the rush to launch, licensing and permits can feel like annoying paperwork that slows everything down. But skipping or delaying them can create serious problems later. Proper business licenses and permits aren’t just formalities. They are a key part of running a legitimate, protected, and sustainable business.

Legal Compliance and Peace of Mind

At the most basic level, licenses and permits allow your business to operate legally. Different industries, locations, and services require different approvals, and those rules exist to protect both business owners and the public. Operating without the required permits can lead to fines, penalties, or even forced closure.

Having everything in place gives you peace of mind. You can focus on serving customers and growing your business without constantly worrying about inspections or compliance issues popping up unexpectedly.

Protecting Your Busine...

A will is often seen as the ultimate safety net for your estate. You write down who gets what, sign the paperwork, and assume everything will unfold smoothly. In reality, having only a will can still leave plenty of room for confusion, conflict, and even courtroom battles. Probate disputes happen more often than people expect, and a will by itself doesn’t always stop them.

Here’s why.

Wills Still Go Through Probate

The first thing to understand is that a will does not avoid probate. In fact, probate is the legal process that proves a will is valid and oversees how assets are distributed. This process can be slow, public, and emotionally charged. During probate, family members or other interested parties have the opportunity to challenge the will. That’s often where disputes begin.

If someone believes the will is outdated, unfair, or improperly signed, they can raise objections. Even a clearly written will can end up under scrutiny once it enters the probate court.

Ambiguity Create...

Medical emergencies are stressful enough. When family members disagree about what care a loved one should receive, that stress can quickly turn into conflict. These situations are more common than people realize, especially when decisions must be made quickly and emotions are running high.

Understanding how these disagreements unfold and how they’re usually resolved can help families navigate them with less damage and more clarity.

Why disagreements happen

Family conflict around medical care often starts with different interpretations of what’s best. One person may focus on preserving life at all costs, while another prioritizes comfort or quality of life. Past family dynamics, guilt, religious beliefs, cultural values, or unresolved relationships can also influence opinions. In many cases, disagreement isn’t about the medical facts but about fear, love, and the pain of potential loss.

The role of the patient’s wishes

When a patient has clearly documented wishes, such as a living ...

A living will isn’t just a legal document. It’s a way to speak for yourself when you can’t. If you’re ever seriously ill or injured and unable to communicate, your living will guides doctors and loved ones on what you want and what you don’t. The challenge is knowing what questions to answer clearly so there’s no confusion later.

Here are the most important ones to think through.

1. What kind of life-sustaining treatments do you want?

This is the core of a living will. You’ll need to decide how you feel about treatments like ventilators, feeding tubes, dialysis, or CPR. Would you want these used in all situations, only temporarily, or not at all if recovery isn’t likely? There’s no right answer here. Some people want every possible measure taken. Others prefer comfort-focused care if the outcome is unlikely to improve their quality of life.

2. How do you define “quality of life”?

This question is deeply personal, but incredibly important. Would you be comfortable living with sever...

Life changes fast. Marriages, divorces, new children, career shifts, and losses all affect how we plan for the future. One detail that often gets overlooked during these transitions is updating beneficiary designations. It may seem minor, but forgetting to update a beneficiary can lead to serious financial and emotional consequences.

What Is a Beneficiary and Where It Applies

A beneficiary is the person or entity you name to receive assets after your death. Beneficiaries are commonly assigned on life insurance policies, retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs, pensions, payable-on-death bank accounts, and investment accounts.

These designations are powerful. In most cases, beneficiary forms override what is written in a will. That means even a carefully drafted estate plan can be undone by an outdated beneficiary designation.

What Happens When Beneficiaries Are Outdated

If you forget to update your beneficiary, the asset typically goes to the person listed on the account, regard...

Buying a home often comes with a long list of paperwork, and one of the most important items is the home inspection contingency. While it can sound technical or intimidating, this clause plays a key role in protecting buyers and setting expectations for sellers. Understanding what it really means can help both sides navigate the transaction with fewer surprises.

What Is a Home Inspection Contingency?

A home inspection contingency is a clause in a purchase agreement that allows the buyer to have the property professionally inspected within a specific timeframe. If the inspection reveals issues the buyer finds unacceptable, this contingency gives them options. They can request repairs, ask for a price adjustment, negotiate credits, or, in some cases, walk away from the deal without losing their earnest money.

This contingency is not about finding a “perfect” home. It is about understanding the condition of the property before fully committing to the purchase.

What the Inspection Typi...

A commercial lease is more than a monthly rent agreement. It sets the rules for how a business operates in a space, how costs are shared, and what happens when circumstances change. Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, understanding key commercial lease terms before signing can prevent misunderstandings, protect your investment, and avoid costly disputes down the road.

Lease Structure and Rent Type

One of the first things to understand is the lease structure. Commercial leases commonly fall into three categories: gross leases, net leases, and modified gross leases. In a gross lease, the tenant pays a flat rent while the landlord covers most operating expenses. Net leases shift some or all of those expenses, such as property taxes, insurance, and maintenance, to the tenant. Modified gross leases fall somewhere in between.

Knowing exactly which costs are included in rent and which are not is essential for accurate budgeting on both sides.

Lease Term and Renewal Options

The lease ...

In commercial real estate, timing and flexibility often matter just as much as price. That’s where option agreements come in. An option agreement gives a potential buyer the exclusive right, but not the obligation, to purchase a property within a specific time frame. For investors, developers, and landowners, this tool can create opportunities while managing risk, if everyone understands how it works.

What Is an Option Agreement?

An option agreement is a legal contract between a property owner and a potential buyer. The owner agrees to hold the property for a set period, during which the buyer can decide whether to move forward with the purchase. In exchange, the buyer typically pays an option fee. This fee is often non-refundable and may or may not be credited toward the purchase price if the deal closes.

Unlike a standard purchase agreement, an option does not force the buyer to buy. It simply reserves the right to do so under agreed-upon terms.

Key Components of an Option Agreem...

For many business owners, the assumption is simple: one day, the business will be passed down to the next generation. In reality, that plan does not always line up with what heirs actually want. Children may have different careers, different interests, or different ideas about work and lifestyle. When heirs do not want the business, it can feel personal, disappointing, or even frightening. But it does not have to mean the end of your legacy.

This Situation Is More Common Than You Think

Modern careers look very different than they did a generation ago. Many heirs have built lives outside the family business long before succession conversations begin. Some may not feel prepared to run a company. Others simply do not want the responsibility, risk, or time commitment.

Recognizing this early is a gift, not a failure. It gives business owners more control and better options than discovering it during a crisis.

The Risks of Ignoring the Reality

When owners assume heirs will “figure it ou...

Business succession planning is one of those topics many owners know they should think about, but often push aside. It feels distant, uncomfortable, or unnecessary when the business is running well. The truth is, the best time to plan for succession is much earlier than most people expect. Waiting too long can limit options, create stress for family or partners, and put the business you worked hard to build at risk.

The Short Answer: Earlier Than You Think

Ideally, succession planning should begin as soon as your business becomes stable and profitable. This does not mean you are preparing to leave tomorrow. It means you are thinking ahead and putting guardrails in place. Many experts suggest starting at least five to ten years before you expect to step away. That timeline gives you flexibility, room to adjust, and time to develop the next generation of leadership.

Unexpected events do not follow a schedule. Health issues, economic shifts, or personal changes can force decisions quic...