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Oct 03, 2022

Which Promissory Note / Loan Agreement Should You Use?

An IOU simply acknowledges that money is owed, but makes no provision for the terms or timing of repayment.

There is an obvious advantage to having a secured loan: should the borrower go bankrupt, then assets may have to be sold to pay off debts and any available money will first go towards secured loans.

If you cannot have a loan secured by collateral, you could require/demand that another person either co-signs the loan agreement or enter into a separate guarantor agreement.

An employee loan agreement differs in the sense that the employee does not make a promise to pay, but rather grants permission to the employer to deduct payment directly from the salary.

We'll guide you through the options in more detail and provide the applicable legal templates.

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Sep 30, 2022

Where Should You Store Your Will?

An important consideration is obviously to store it safely!

However, perhaps more importantly, is for your nominated executor to get hold of it as soon as possible after your death.

So keeping it in a bank safe deposit box may not provide the speediest access to your document, since your executor may have to obtain a court order to get the bank to open a box.

We have some alternative options for you to consider...

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Sep 28, 2022

How to Determine a Fair but Also Best Rental Price

What the market is prepared to pay will most often be the determining factor. However! That is not all there is to it.

Both landlords and tenants would do well to be open to negotiation.

• Quality tenants are worth their weight in gold and getting the rent every month on (or before) the due date makes better financial sense than charging a few dollars more per month. Rental escalation should keep pace with the market, but rewarding a tenant in good standing and keeping him/her should take preference.
• Vacancy periods can really hurt a landlord’s pocket. If there's an over-supply of rental properties the landlord should consider reducing the asking price or adding features that will make the property more attractive to prospective tenants.
• There are certain times of the year that will favor tenants - take a look at how to get a discount on your apartment rent during these times and how to make your application more attractive to landlords.

Continue reading "How to Determine a Fair but Also Best Rental Price"

Sep 26, 2022

Can You Have More Than One Testamentary Trust?

Sure you can! And you can distribute your assets (or only a portion) in any ratio you wish.

And you can appoint a different trustee for the administration of each.

It's all about making provision for your loved ones in the best way possible.

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Sep 23, 2022

Parental Consent Form Templates

Because you simply cannot be with your child 24/7, you could find one or more of these parental consent forms helpful.

We'll show you at a glance:

• WHEN you would need a consent form
• WHO needs it and whether it's required by law
• WHY the need for it
• WHICH form and which supporting documents are required

Thereafter you can make use of our free legal forms to compile your documents.

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Sep 21, 2022

Digital Assets - What Will Happen to Them After Your Death?

Practical guidelines on how to manage your digital assets after you pass away.

What are the legalities to have someone else access your profile or should you create a digital trust to manage your accounts.

These are all issues you need to consider to help you with some advance planning.

Continue reading "Digital Assets - What Will Happen to Them After Your Death?"

Sep 19, 2022

Short Term Rentals - Pros and Cons

Where would a landlord get the best return on investment? Should you self-manage your property on an airbnb platform?

We list some of the most important factors to consider such as:

• Vacancy periods on a short term rental vs a longer lease - how do you adjust the rental for that?
• How much time do you have to manage the property and what are the risks for the various tenant profiles?
• What are the legal requirements in your area, are short term rentals even allowed in that specific property and how would you make provision for third party insurance?
  
  ...and more.

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Sep 16, 2022

Rental Application Rejection Letter

So you’ve picked the best tenant for your rental property. You did so without discrimination or bias, right?

You now need to issue a rejection letter to unsuccessful candidates.

Here too you need to comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act - or any other applicable law in your country/state.

Our free rejection letter template makes it very easy to guide you through the possible reasons for rejections and how to convey that courteously and professionally.

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Sep 14, 2022

Free Affidavit Forms

There are many occasions where you may be required to submit an affidavit to attest to facts represented.

For example, you may need to certify residence for a local school, certify that a document was lost etc.

Affidavit forms generally follow a standard format so it's quite easy to use one of our printable affidavits to create your own document.

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Sep 12, 2022

So What can go Wrong with Your Construction or Make-over Project?

Hmm, let's see:

• The contractor can go bankrupt midway through the project, possibly leaving the homeowner stranded
• The contractors may damage your prized stained glass window during installation
• There may be theft of building materials from the construction site
• Workers may be seriously injured whilst working on your project
  etc.

Key to dealing with these and other eventualities is ensuring that workman's compensation and sufficient contractor insurance and performance bonds are in place.

Take a look at our guidelines here:

Continue reading "So What can go Wrong with Your Construction or Make-over Project?"

Sep 09, 2022

Tutoring Contract - How to Formalize Your Agreement

As tutor there are a couple of things you need to protect yourself against in a written agreement:

• Cancellation of lessons by either party
• Late arrival
• Obligations of both parties
• Unreasonable expectations, etc.

Our free template will give you a good starting point for your contract!

Continue reading "Tutoring Contract - How to Formalize Your Agreement"

Sep 07, 2022

How Does a Testamentary Trust Work?

What are the legal steps in creating a testamentary trust? Who does which duties? And how? And why should you consider making provision for one in your will?

We'll guide you through the whole process.

Continue reading "How Does a Testamentary Trust Work?"

Sep 06, 2022

Social Media Will - Planning Ahead

How do you wish your digital accounts and social media to be handled after your death?

You can create an Addendum or Codicil to your will to make provision for your digital assets.

You should also create a Social Media Will where you can leave exact instructions to your digital executor on how you wish your online presence to be finalized .

We provide free templates for both documents here:

Continue reading "Social Media Will - Planning Ahead"

Sep 02, 2022

Selling Something Privately?

Then it's very easy to use one of our printable bill of sale forms to document the transaction.

We have forms for the sale of goods where a single payment will be made, to record a holding deposit and where you can enter into an installment sale agreement.

We also have specific forms when selling a vehicle, motorcycle or boat - all totally free to download or print.

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Aug 31, 2022

Tenant Eviction Process

Getting rid of a problem tenant can be an expensive and very frustrating process.

The challenge is having to follow the legal route which can be time consuming. But there are also a couple of creative (yet legal) ways to get rid of a tenant.

Take a look at some of the solutions that landlords have come up with.

Continue reading "Tenant Eviction Process"