What is a fictitious name (a DBA)?

If you are starting a business as a sole proprietor or partnership you must file a document with the city, county or state as required by the laws of the state in which your business will be conducted. The name you choose for the business is a “fictitious name.”  It is also called a “DBA” (doing business as). The laws are intended to protect those doing business with the company by providing a public record of the owner’s identity and the  address of the business.

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How to Order a Corporate Kit

(for LLC Kits, go to How to Order An LLC  kit)

Do not order your kit until you have proof of filing of the entity (the formal State document that establishes that the entity is in existence on the State’s records). Too many organizers had to redo seals and certificates because of State rejection of the name or other contents in the filing documents or the filing was delayed beyond the New Year. If you are pressed for time because of a closing or other event, keep in mind that we ship kits the same or next day after it is ordered.

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How to Order an LLC Kit

To order an LLC Kit, you must first have a “proof of filing” of the LLC. This is the document that establishes that the State has a record of the LLC.

Caution: If you order the LLC Kit first, you risk having to redo seals and certificates because the State has rejected the name or for other complications.

If you are pressed for time, keep in mind that we ship kits the same or next day after it is ordered.

To order a kit, have the official document in front of you. The following information is required: Continue reading “How to Order an LLC Kit”

What is a blueback?

legal covers (bluebacks)
Blumberg Bluebacks

The tradition of associating legal documents with the color blue originated in England several hundred years ago. In the United States, it began in the 19th century when, in jurisdictions such as New York, the word blueback designated the blue cover of legal documents.  Technically called a litigation back, the blueback is imprinted with the caption of the matter and includes several blank forms for proof of service, certification, and verification, to be used as needed in the particular case. It is typically customized with the card of the law firm or pro se party presenting the documents within. The public became familiar with bluebacks through seeing the blue-covered documents in courtrooms or used as props in films and television legal dramas.

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What is the difference between stock certificates and ownership certificates?

The financial value of a corporation is its stock (called shares in New York). It may be contributed by its original shareholder(s) for money, goods or services, or raised by selling shares to others.  A corporation is authorized by its organizing documents to issue a certain number of shares, sometimes for a predetermined value for each share (“par value” shares) and sometimes for an unspecified amount dependent on values determined by the organizers, or later the market rate at the time the shares are sold (“no par” value shares).  Owners of the shares of a corporation are given share certificates, which are physical paper certificates representing the number of shares of the corporation owned. The form of the stock certificates must be adopted by a resolution of the shareholders preserved in the minutes of the corporation.

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Blumberg Freelance Contract Form 137 and Form 3137

New York Freelance ContractNew York City Enacts Protection for Freelance Workers, Effective May 15, 2017

A single person or an entity with only one person, engaged as an independent contractor by companies in New York City for work worth more than $800 (including multiple small projects within a 120 day period), is entitled to a written Freelance Contract that provides timely and full wage payment rights, prohibits retaliation if they exercise their rights, and provides penalties against companies for non-compliance. Continue reading “Blumberg Freelance Contract Form 137 and Form 3137”

Corporation or LLC?

Should Your New Business be a Corporation or LLC

If you are conducting or starting up a business as a sole proprietor or a partnership, there are significant advantages to operating as a Corporation or LLC. One key advantage is that personal liability for the losses, debts or court judgments can be avoided, provided you respect the formalities required by the laws of the state in which the Corporation or LLC is formed. Continue reading “Corporation or LLC?”

Does a will need to be printed on legal size paper?

Will stationery paper size has no effect on the validity of a will. In the past, legal size paper was a tradition, but either letter or legal size paper can be used.

On the other hand, the quality of the will paper is important. Ever notice the way that a document printed on copy paper discolors and deteriorates after a few years? Documents such as wills, trusts, deeds—which must last for decades—call for archival quality paper.  Archival paper also suits the import of such documents.

Archival paper is acid free and made with cotton. The best is 100% cotton although 50% and 25% grades also resist discoloration and deterioration. A 24 lb. paper tends to stand up better than a 20 lb. A smoother, harder surface, such as a ledger finish, resists accumulation of dust and dirt better than softer bond, linen and laid finishes.  Copy papers are usually 20 lb. and contain no cotton content.

Click here to see our selection of will papers.

( Director of Marketing )

I have spent my career researching ways in which I could increase search traffic, rankings, and revenue in a very niche market that sells legal services and law office supplies. I direct a team that oversees social media, digital and print advertising, SEO, graphic design, web programming, print and catalog creation, typesetting, blog writing, photography, and anything a marketing department needs.

NYC Enacts Protection for Freelance Workers, Effective 5/15/17

A single person or an entity with only one person, engaged as an independent contractor by companies in New York City for work worth more than $800 (including multiple small projects within a 120 day period), is entitled to a written Freelance Contract that provides timely and full wage payment rights, prohibits retaliation if they exercise their rights, and provides penalties against companies for non-compliance. Continue reading “NYC Enacts Protection for Freelance Workers, Effective 5/15/17”