Business Law

Business Law: Our business law practice is engaged in a wide-ranging practice involving business formation, business management, business succession planning, and the dissolution of all types of business entities. In these complex times, businesses need advisors and advocates who are knowledgeable, responsive, and result-oriented.

The attorneys at Ingraham, Pautienus & Tidwell take pride in being able to apply solid business skills and experience to each client's needs, style, and circumstances and focusing on "getting your business matter completed correctly the first time." We strive to fully understand each client's business and objectives, and believe that our success stems in part from our ability to think like business people. We provide our creative strategic solutions to complex legal issues in a cost-effective and time-efficient manner.

You need to know what business planning tools are available to maximize your profits, avoid liability, and meet your goals. Choosing the best business entity is an important way to address these business law questions.

We can serve as your general business counsel throughout the life of your company, as well as represent you in business litigations.

• Business Formation - There are many factors that go into whether or not a company is going to be successful in the long run. The best way to run a successful company is to start out with a good solid plan, right from the beginning. Choosing the legal form (business entity) of your business has far ranging implications for the principals, stockholders and the organization. We will present you with all of the options and assist you in making your decision knowing both the short term and long term implications.
• Business Succession Planning - It doesn't matter whether you are just starting your business, are an owner that is at or near retirement, or the possibility of a buyout is at hand, the issue of business succession should be addressed early. There are many reasons to have a business succession plan, some of the critical ones are listed below:
• Avoid leadership gaps
• Prevent high costs of urgently replacing key skills
• Retain high performers by mapping potential career options
• A solid plan can increase quantitative evaluations
• Business Litigation - There are times when business disputes arise that cannot be resolved through negotiation, mediation, or arbitration. In these situations, business litigation may be the only way to remedy the dispute. When a business dispute occurs between your business and an individual or another business, we try to assist our clients in resolving the issue(s) without resorting to business litigation. In cases where this turns out to be impossible, our business litigation attorneys will be at your side protecting your rights and your company's business interests.

Business Clientele Our business law clients include formative, newly formed and existing sole proprietorships, general and limited liability companies and corporations. The size of the business entities we represent range from small enterprises, owned by a single individual, to complex multimillion dollar corporations (Limited Liability Companies, S Corporations, and C Corporations). Our clients include individual officers, directors, partners and shareholders in various business organizations, who seek advice and assistance in exercising and performing their individual rights and responsibilities.

Ingraham, Pautienus & Tidwell - Our Firm's Business Law Strengths

We specialize in providing advice and assistance to small and large businesses of all types, as well as their individual owners, officers, shareholders, and operators. We have substantial experience and expertise in this area. We have over 70 years of combined legal experience in representing large and small corporations and assisting them in remaining compliant with applicable Federal and Tennessee laws.

Estate Planning

Estate Planning: For some it can be difficult to come into an attorney's office to talk about their personal and financial affairs and concerns about health, children, aging, and their legacy. But you need to consult with a highly qualified estate planning lawyer to safeguard your estate, and equally important, keep your peace of mind. In the complex world of wills, trusts, advance care planning, probate, and elder law, you want to be sure you have an attorney who not only assists your with your legal needs but who also cares about your best interests. We create comprehensive estate plans that meet your needs including wills and trusts. We are also able to assist our clients in the Nashville and Middle Tennessee communities through the probate process and with trust administration.

Estate planning is the process of understanding your personal goals, understanding your legal options and creating the legal documents for the passing of your estate. Estate planning helps to eliminate uncertainties over the administration of a probate and maximizes the value of the estate by reducing taxes and other expenses. Estate Planning, with a highly qualified estate planning lawyer, should address a wide range of concerns and solutions; including:

• living wills and trusts
• health care directives and a health care agent
• reduction of estate and inheritance taxes
• planning a business succession
• avoiding probate court
• designating durable powers of attorney
• choosing guardianships or conservatorships
• addressing special needs and situations within families
• caring for minor children and adults as needed or desired

Non-Profit & Church/ Law

Church/Nonprofit Law: A nonprofit organization is an organization that does not distribute its surplus funds to owners or shareholders, but instead uses those funds to help pursue its goals. Such organizations are also known as a not-for-profit organization, Non Profit Organization or abbreviated as an NPO. The more common types of NPOs include Churches, charitable, and service organizations. Not-for-profit organizations do not have private owners. They have controlling members or boards, and these people cannot sell their shares to others. Non Profit Organizations are governed under Tennessee and Federal statutes. The United States recognizes these types of organizations and has specific designations, restrictions and tax codes that regulate their operations. In fact, the Internal Revenue Code recognizes numerous types of 501(c) organizations, from the well known 501(c)(3) through the 501(c)(28), and then various tax exempt entities such as IRC 501(d)s and IRC 527s. In all, there are approximately 37 different categories of tax-exempt organizations.

Whereas the more common business entities (LLC, Chapters S & C Corporations) have general guidelines regulating their conduct, tax exempt organizations have a significantly heightened level of regulation, which begins with their formation and structures, and continues with their permissible activities and reporting requirements. Failure to strictly conform to the rules and regulations carry severe penalties for the organization, as well as its members and governing boards.

From the forming of a Non Profit organization to obtaining tax-exempt status from the IRS, to complying with federal and state laws governing fund-raising and operations, the advice of experienced legal counsel is critical at every stage of development. At Ingraham Pautienus & Tidwell, PLLC, we represent tax-exempt organizations, including educational, religious and charitable organizations throughout Tennessee, the United States, and the world. We counsel nonprofit organizations about issues related to governance, unrelated business income taxes, fund raising, governmental relations, property tax exemption, and other daily operational issues. We can assist you in the proper formation of a new 501(c) or advise you on how to bring your current non-profit back into compliance. We provide practical strategies and structures for sound nonprofit governance and critical legal documents crafted to the unique nonprofit needs of each client.

Our clients have included the following :

• Charities (of all types)
• Churches
• Religious Organizations
• Educational Institutions
• Private Foundations
• Social Welfare Organizations
• Labor and Agricultural Organizations
• Research Organizations
• Cemetery Company
• Conservation and Environmental Organizationsv
• Corporate Foundations
• Low Income and Special Needs Housing Development Organizations
• Veterans Organizations
• Social Clubs
• Non-Governmental Organizations

Ingraham, Pautienus & Tidwell - Our Firm's Non Profit Law Strengths

Contact Us

For more information about your legal concern, contact us, at Ingraham Pautienus & Tidwell, PLLC for a free initial consultation. Our firm represents people throughout Middle Tennessee, including people in Murfreesboro, Clarksville, and Davidson County.