Oak Park Business Attorneys & Lawyers

What is Secured Debt?

Secured debt is a debt that's secured by pledging an asset for collateral. It means someone took on a debt and backed it with a piece of property they own. The lender puts a lien on the asset that's been pledged, giving them the ability to legally take the asset if the debt is defaulted on.

Common examples of a secured debt include a mortgage and a car loan. The car or the house become the security asset for the debt that you took on. If you default on the payments for any reason, the lender has the right to take you to court in order to recover the asset.

A lender usually requires the asset be maintained and/or insured to a set standard in order to maintain asset value. For example: a lender who issues an auto loan requires the borrower to obtain a specific type and level of insurance coverage

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Corporations are the basic and traditional business entity in this and many other countries. Unless a corporation can qualify for what is called ‘pass through’ treatment by electing to be taxed under a part of the Internal Revenue Code called Subchapter S , a corporation is taxed similarly to the way an individual is taxed. Being subject to the default tax treatment is what makes a corporation a “C Corp;” being able to qualify for pass-through treatment, and actually making an election to do so, makes a corporation an “S Corp.” They are the same type of business entity, taxed differently, and a corporation may be both a C Corp and an S Corp at different times in its existence.

C Corporations pay tax on their net income, just like individuals do. So all revenues are reported each year to the IRS on Form 1120, as are all allowable deductions for business expenses, which may include compensation to employees, payments to

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Net 30: What Is it?

Net 30 is an invoice payment phrase that means the customer must pay the entirety of their bill in 30 days or fewer. Often if the customer does not pay within the 30 day period, interest is charged.

Not all clients will understand what net 30 means, so it is important to make a note somewhere on the invoice to let first-time clients know what is expected. If you have not received payment and the deadline for the net 30 payment is approaching, it is good practice to issue a reminder to your customer.

Advantages of Offering Net 30

• As the seller, offering Net 30 to your customers shows that you trust them. Some large companies and government agencies demand Net 30 terms from their suppliers, so offering Net 30 terms to your clients allows you to maintain a competitive edge against other businesses in your niche.

• As the customer, Net 30 is great because it allows you to conserve your c

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What is Corporate Personhood?

Corporations have some of the same rights as people. This is known as corporate personhood. It is the idea that a corporation has its own rights. Corporate personhood has existed much longer than many people realize. 

Corporate personhood is not just for large companies. As long as a business is incorporated, it  can benefit from corporate personhood. Organizations that benefit from corporate personhood can include:

• Large businesses
• Small businesses
• Churches
• For-profit organizations

Because it bought land, the Catholic Church is one of the earliest examples of corporate personhood.

Many people are against the idea of corporate personhood. In their opinion, companies are not people and do not deserve the same rights as a regular person. However, this leg

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What Is a Condition Subsequent?

A condition subsequent (CS) is an exit clause from an existing contract. The agreement between parties includes language that frees one of them from the deal. This happens when a conditional outcome occurs. A CS relieves a party of all obligations.

What's the Purpose of a Condition Subsequent?

Think of a condition subsequent as an escape clause. It ends a party's contractual obligation. In contracts, all involved parties have certain responsibilities. The CS gives one party the ability to walk away from the promise to perform a duty.

A CS is a kind of insurance for one or more parties. It makes sure that one of the groups in the contract can leave when certain conditions are met.

Think of a contract as a series of promises. Everyone who signs the agreement must keep their promises. Sometimes, a

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