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Yes, You Need an Estate Plan

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Estate Planning

You don’t have to be part of the ultra-rich living in Beverly Hills to think about how to preserve your family’s wealth. Careful planning can ensure that your estate can be dispersed to your wishes after you’re gone, regardless of how much you own. It can also ensure that funds are not tied up in uncertainties over the administration of a probate or worse lost in taxation and other expenses.

Although it can be a difficult conversation to talk about plans for after your death, an estate plan will minimize confusion and stress for loved ones after a death. Your clear plan will provide a path for them with the least amount of delay for transfer of assets without involving costly court fees. Media coverage of high-profile court cases can give you a taste of what would lie in store for your estate without proper documentation.

Even a basic will would protect your wishes. While you’ll want to revisit these documents after important life changes (marriages, births, divorces, etc.), you should still periodically review them with a trusted attorney to ensure they are still accurate reflections of your wishes.

Most importantly, you should not wait to create these documents until you’re “old.” Without this becoming an Oprah rerun about every day being a gift, you don’t need me to tell you there are no guarantees on how long you’ll live.

We can help provide the peace of mind that comes with comprehensive estate planning. There are many different ways to preserve wealth and avoid as many federal and state taxes on the transfers as possible. To review your estate planning options, call us at 724-216-0704 or email us at john@jacochranlaw.com.

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Business Taxes

Business taxes. Are you prepared? The government shutdown is over just in time for tax season. Find that timing kind of convenient? Yeah. Me, too.

No matter how you feel about ‘building the wall’ chances are you aren’t interested in sending more tax dollars than necessary to the federal government from your business’s income. The pop-up booths in the aisles of big box stores are fine for people with basic W-2 incomes and simple deductions like interest paid on mortgages and student loans. But you’re not basic.

You have complex business situations that can create problems if you don’t know which forms to complete and how the rules change from year to year. As a business owner, you need someone with years of experience fighting for your every dollar. Someone who will be with you the entire year and who fully understands your special situations, and solves any discrepancies should they arise. Maybe you need to file an extension to get all those receipts in shoeboxes sorted out, or want advice on if you can write off any portion of that new vehicle you bought last year.

The best time to get started is before you’re contacted by the Internal Revenue Service. Already have an issue that needs resolving? That’s okay, we can help with that, too!

We’ll make sure you pay the minimum necessary to settle your financial obligations to the IRS. Schedule a personalized assessment of your tax health today. Call us at 724-216-5180 or email us at john@jacochranlaw.com.

New Year, New Look

Welcome to the New Year!

If you’re a returning visitor to our site, you may notice that things look a little different today. Like many each new year, I’ve had a ‘resolution’ to update the website and make it more useful to my clients. This year, I decided 2019 is time to take the upgrades off the ‘someday list’ and make it a real action today.

Even with our new look online, our commitment to offering our clients the best possible results remains unwavering. We still provide the same outstanding responsiveness and dedication to our clients (please see our Google reviews.)

Are you ready to make a commitment to your important resolutions?

Sometimes we need a little help from others to make progress towards our goals. For example, I couldn’t manage the upgrades to this site by myself due to time constraints, and a lack of proficiency in the field of web design. I had to call in experts. If you find yourself in need of assistance with tax, estate, or business law, you’ve come to the right place.

Maybe this is the year you resolve any outstanding tax situations. We can help! Together we’ll minimize your tax debts while complying with federal and state tax laws.

Perhaps you’re ready to create an estate, a will for your family, discuss business success plans, or administer a probate. Our office can help with everything from drafting basic documents to complex analyses on the best avenues for wealth preservation within a family.

We make achieving your goals easier by providing you the same legal services and expertise as the expensive downtown Pittsburgh firms but without the higher rates and lengthy drive. We’re located at 140 South Main Street in the heart of Greensburg, PA and offer cost-effective solutions to your situations.

Whatever your needs, the best way to receive proper guidance on a specific legal issue is to talk with a reputable attorney you can trust.

Let’s work on turning your someday resolutions into actions for today! Call us at 724-216-5180 or email us at john@jacochranlaw.com. We look forward to working with you.

Tax

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Complete Tax

John A. Cochran, Esq. offers personalized accurate business and individual tax accounting. As not only and attorney but also a CPA my firm can offer  full range of professional accounting services:

    • Federal, state and local
    • Partnership and corporation
    • Nonprofit formation
    • Estate, gift and trust tax
    • Business consulting and tax planning
    • Business valuation
    • Buying and selling your business
    • Financial statements
    • Government audits
    • Offer and compromise agreements
    • Installment agreements
    • Payroll and bookkeeping
  • Personalized tax debt solutions

Contact My Office

To schedule a consultation call John A. Cochran, Esquire, in Greensburg at (724) 216-5180

Business Formation

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Listening To Your Business Needs

There is a lot at stake when choosing a business form. Your choice will determine how your business conducts its daily operations, pays its taxes and insulates itself from liability. At the Law Firm of John A. Cochran, Esq. we take the time to listen to your business needs and goals.

Choosing Among Business Forms

For over 35 years, we have guided business owners through decisions involving nearly every type of business form. Our past clients have included sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability entities, and Chapter C and Subchapter S corporations. Each entity selection is the summation of many smaller choices concerning matters of operational control, asset protection, taxation and other matters.

Dispelling Misconceptions

We work hard to educate our clients because many misconceptions surround the various business forms. LLCs are a popular choice, especially where some of the owners do not want operational control on a daily basis. An LLC structure divides membership interests into rights of control and income and shields members from personal liability. Yet a Chapter S corporation may be a better choice for a small company because it offers the certainty of long-standing legal principles of a corporation, yet avoids double taxation of corporate income.

Collaborating With Your Financial Team

We also collaborate with your accountant or financial adviser to better understand your business options. We may discover issues of equity and capital, or that some of your assets require protection, or profit distribution does not have to be in the form of dividends.

Contact My Office

To schedule a consultation call John A. Cochran, Esquire, in Greensburg at (724) 216-5180

Estate Administration

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Estate Planning and Administration

When a person dies, all of his or her possessions – real estate, money, stocks, personal belongings, etc. – become a part of his or her estate. Estate administration refers to the process of collecting and managing the estate, paying any debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining property to the heirs of the estate. The heirs of an estate are determined by will, and if there isn’t a will, by the intestacy (which means dying without a will) laws of each state. FindLaw’s section on Estate Administration Basics provides information on how to administer an estate, what being an executor means, and what happens to a person’s debts after his or her death.

What Is the Process for Administering an Estate?

Put simply, estate administration is collecting, managing, and distributing a deceased person’s estate. Each state has its own probate laws, which govern the requirements and process for administering an estate. In some cases, an estate may need to be administered in more than one state. Generally, the state in which the person lived in at the time of death is where the estate goes through probate. However, real estate is governed by state law, so real estate in another state might have to be probated in that state. Several states have adopted a version of the Uniform Probate Code, which is designed to simplify the estate administration process and provide similarity among probate laws from state to state.

The Duties of an Executor

The executor is responsible for locating and collecting all of the deceased’s property, making sure any debts and taxes are paid off, and distributing the remaining property and money to the entitled parties. Although anyone can be an executor, the executor must perform with diligence and in good faith. Usually the executor is designated in a will. If the deceased didn’t leave a will, an administrator is appointed by the probate court. If the probate process is complicated, the executor is entitled to hire an attorney – at the expense of the estate – to help him or her with the process. While the executor is not entitled to any proceeds from the sale of property of the estate, generally he or she is entitled to a fee as compensation for administering the estate.

Who Is Responsible for a Deceased Person’s Debts?

Generally speaking, once a person dies, his or her debts are paid off from his or her estate, and if there isn’t enough money to repay the debt, the debt dies with the person. Relatives or beneficiaries of the will are usually not responsible to pay the deceased person’s debts. However, if the relative or beneficiary owned part of the debt or received substantial benefits from the debt, he or she would be responsible for repaying the debt. For example, credit card debt belongs to the account holder. If, however, a relative co-signed on a loan or the credit card was from a joint account, the co-signor or other account holder would have to pay the debt. It’s important to note that in community property states – where property acquired during marriage is considered jointly owned – the surviving spouse may be liable for the debt.

Hiring an Attorney

If you’re in charge of administering an estate and have questions about it, you may want consult with an estate planning attorney. It would also be a good idea to contact an estate planning attorney if you have questions or concerns regarding the debt left by a person who has passed away.

Contact My Office

To schedule a consultation call John A. Cochran, Esquire, in Greensburg at (724) 216-5180

Commercial Transactions

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Commercial Transactions

At my firm I handle many types of transactions and support activities of commercial transactions. Several examples of transactions are things like business agreements for sales of goods and services, supply arrangements, marketing agreements, resale or distribution agreements, or franchising deals.

The initial work usually involves client meetings where you discuss objectives and expectations for the transaction. Complicated transactions often begin with a term sheet that sets the framework for the fully negotiated agreement. We will then often draft term sheets and deal documents and review drafts and comments from counsel to the counter-party. They can also possibly expect to research regulations and consult with specialized attorneys in other practice areas to make sure that specific issues are addressed in the agreement.

Contact My Office

To schedule a consultation call John A. Cochran, Esquire, in Greensburg at (724) 216-5180

Estate Planning and Probate

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Experienced Estate Planning & Probate For Your Family

Providing for your family takes hard work. It also requires planning for unexpected events. Various estate instruments such as a will, power of attorney and trusts can protect your assets and help you provide for your loved ones.

John A. Cochran, Esquire, provides estate law services to people from all walks of life. Whether you are of modest means or have extensive asset holdings, I can put in place the documents and legal instruments that can help you achieve your goals.

At my law firm, I provide a complete range of estate law services, including:

To schedule a consultation about your needs, call me at (724) 216-5180.

Estate Planning

When you come to my Greensburg office, I will listen carefully as you discuss your finances, your family, your values and your goals. I will then draft documents that reflect your wishes and that can help you achieve those goals. When a significant change in your life occurs, such as marriage, the birth of a child, or divorce, you can and should update your estate documents.

Business Succession Planning

In addition to estate law, I have extensive knowledge of and experience in business law, real estate and other matters affecting the management of business enterprises.

As a business owner, you have put your heart and soul into making your company successful. I can help you plan for the transfer of a business to a family member or another party so that it continues to be a source of employment and income for your family.

Efficient And Cost-Effective Probate Administration Services

My law firm provides probate and estate administration services designed to wrap up the financial affairs of estates efficiently. My goal will be to complete the process as quickly as possible so that the estate’s assets can be distributed to beneficiaries in accordance with the will.

Even if you live some distance away from Greensburg and have been named an executor (personal representative) of a Pennsylvania estate, I can handle all aspects of the probate administration process without your need to travel.

Contact My Firm

Call John A. Cochran, Esquire, at (724) 216-5180  to schedule a consultation.

Collection of Tax Debt

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Defending You From Collections Of Tax Debt

If you have missed paying federal income tax or have been delinquent in some amount of income tax, you will likely receive a notice from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) notifying you of that delinquency and the compound interest that accrues daily and any other penalties that apply.

Because of the interest charge, it is often a good idea to pay the amount immediately and dispute that the calculation was in error or inaccurate. If you find yourself in this circumstance, you may want to give me a call first at (724) 216-5180.

I’m John A. Cochran, and I’m an experienced tax attorney and a CPA. I can help determine if the notice is accurate and how you can resolve the issue, or if the IRS is mistaken, I can help develop the evidence to prove your claim.

Tax Debt Collection

The IRS is responsible for collecting a staggering amount of taxes. They are efficient, and they can be ruthlessly methodical when they believe a taxpayer has made an underpayment of their tax obligation.

To avoid the most draconian collection methods, I can help you determine which form of payment will work best in your circumstance.

    • Installment agreement: An installment agreement allows you to pay your tax debt in monthly installments. There may be a setup fee with this method, and interest and penalties continue to accrue.
    • Offer in Compromise (OIC): When your taxes are too great, and you cannot reasonably pay them, you may be able to negotiate an Offer in Compromise for a lesser amount. I can help you with this negotiation.
    • Notice of Federal Tax Lien: This lien is automatically created when the IRS notifies you of your tax delinquency. You want to avoid the Notice of Federal Tax Lien, as that creates a public record of the lien and can impair your ability to obtain credit.
  • Notice of Levy: This is very bad. The IRS has broad authority to seize virtually all of your assets, including wages, bank and financial accounts, Social Security benefits, retirement income and real estate and personal property. You do not want this to happen.

Don’t Let This Happen To You

Never ignore mail from the IRS notifying you of delinquent taxes. Whether they are in error or you need to make up tax payments, I can help you with this process. I can communicate with the IRS on your behalf and prevent the situation from becoming a crisis for your personal or business finances.

Contact My Office

To schedule a consultation call John A. Cochran, Esquire, in Greensburg at (724) 216-5180