Structure your organization for success. Attorneys guide businesses, nonprofits, churches, and other organizations through entity selection, formation, and governance, creating a foundation that protects leadership and supports your mission.
The Foundation
Your business entity is more than paperwork, it's the legal framework that protects your personal assets, defines relationships between owners, and creates the structure for growth. Get it right from the start, and you have a foundation that supports your success. Get it wrong, and you face liability exposure, partnership disputes, and expensive restructuring.
Online formation services can file basic paperwork, but they don't help you choose the right structure, don't customize agreements for your situation, and don't anticipate the scenarios that cause problems. Your attorney provides the strategic thinking and tailored documents that make the difference.
Whether you're a solo entrepreneur, launching with co-founders, or structuring a professional practice, your attorney helps you build on solid ground.
Why It Matters
Properly formed entities separate your personal assets from business liabilities. But protection requires proper formation and ongoing formalities.
Clear agreements on ownership, management, and exits prevent costly disputes between partners, members, or shareholders.
Different entity structures have different tax implications. The right structure can save significant money over the life of your business.
Investors expect proper corporate structure. Clean formation now avoids expensive restructuring when you seek investment.
Proper entities with good governance signal professionalism to customers, vendors, lenders, and partners.
Whether you plan to sell, pass to family, or wind down eventually, proper structure makes transitions smoother.
Services
From entity selection to ongoing compliance, the team provides everything you need to structure and maintain your business properly.
Limited liability companies offer flexibility and protection for most businesses. Attorneys handle state registration and craft operating agreements that address ownership, management, distributions, transfers, and dissolution, preventing future disputes.
C-Corps and S-Corps provide different benefits depending on your goals. Your attorney helps you choose the right structure, prepare articles and bylaws, issue stock properly, and make appropriate tax elections.
Partnerships require clear agreements on contributions, profit sharing, decision-making, and exit provisions. Attorneys draft partnership agreements that protect all parties and anticipate common friction points.
Licensed professionals often need specific entity types, PLLCs or professional corporations. Your attorney ensures the entity complies with state licensing board requirements while providing appropriate liability protection.
Launching a nonprofit involves state incorporation, IRS tax-exempt applications, and governance structures that satisfy regulatory requirements. Attorneys guide organizations from formation through 501(c)(3) determination and ongoing board governance.
Religious organizations have unique formation and governance requirements. Attorneys help churches, ministries, and faith-based organizations establish proper legal structures, obtain tax-exempt status, and implement governance practices that protect leadership and the congregation.
Effective nonprofit governance protects the organization and its leadership. Attorneys advise boards on fiduciary duties, conflicts of interest, executive compensation, and compliance matters, helping nonprofit leaders serve with confidence.
When multiple founders launch a venture, clear agreements on roles, equity, vesting, and separation are essential. Attorneys draft founder agreements that protect relationships and the company.
Properly structured equity aligns incentives and protects the company. Attorneys design equity plans, vesting schedules, and related agreements that work for founders, employees, and investors.
What happens when an owner wants out, becomes disabled, or dies? Buy-sell agreements provide certainty and prevent disputes. Attorneys draft agreements that protect remaining owners and departing ones.
Proper governance protects the liability shield your entity provides. Attorneys prepare bylaws, resolutions, minutes, and policies that document decisions and maintain corporate formalities.
Entities require ongoing filings and formalities to maintain good standing and liability protection. The team provides compliance reminders and support to keep your entity in order.
Modern Business Formation
Business formation doesn't require office visits or paper shuffling. The virtual-first approach means you can launch your business from wherever you are, home office, coffee shop, or across the country.
Video strategy sessions discuss your business plans and recommend structures face-to-face without travel.
Electronic document review through MyRelevant means you can review and approve documents at your convenience, with easy annotation and feedback.
Digital signatures and electronic filing streamline the process, many formations complete without a single piece of paper.
MyRelevant for Business
All formation documents, governance records, and amendments organized and accessible.
Get answers about governance, compliance, or changes without scheduling calls.
Annual reports, franchise taxes, and other deadlines tracked automatically.
Strategy sessions and document reviews via video conference.
Share documents with accountants, investors, or partners with controlled access.
Your corporate records remain accessible for the life of your business.
The Process
From initial strategy through launch-ready entity, here's how the process works through formation.
The consultation covers your business, goals, ownership, and plans. Based on this, your attorney recommends entity structures and explain the implications of each option.
45-60 minutes
You choose the entity type that best fits your situation. Your attorney explains ongoing requirements, tax implications, and what you'll need to maintain the entity.
Immediate
Your attorney prepares formation documents, articles, operating agreements or bylaws, initial resolutions, and any ancillary agreements like founder or buy-sell agreements.
5-10 business days
You review all documents in your MyRelevant portal. A review meeting covers questions and make any needed adjustments before finalization.
As needed
Your attorney files formation documents with the state, obtain your EIN, and handle any registrations or qualifications needed to operate.
1-2 weeks typical
Your entity is formed with all governance documents in place. You receive everything through the portal with guidance on next steps and ongoing requirements.
Ongoing support
Common Questions
It depends on your goals. LLCs offer flexibility in management and profit distribution with pass-through taxation. Corporations provide a more formal structure that investors often prefer. S-Corps can offer self-employment tax benefits for service businesses. Your attorney analyzes your specific situation and recommend the best fit.
Absolutely. Even single-member LLCs benefit from operating agreements, they document your separation from the business (supporting liability protection) and establish procedures. For multi-member LLCs, an operating agreement is essential to prevent disputes about ownership, management, and money.
Online services can file basic paperwork, but they don't provide legal advice or customize documents for your situation. They use generic templates that don't address your specific ownership, management, or exit scenarios. The few hundred dollars saved often costs much more when disputes arise or structures don't fit.
State filing times vary. Some states process in days; others take weeks. Expedited filing is available where available. Document preparation typically takes 5-10 business days depending on complexity. Simple single-owner LLCs can be operational in 1-2 weeks; complex multi-owner structures take longer.
Requirements vary by entity type and state. Most entities need annual reports, franchise taxes, and maintained registered agents. Corporations require more formalities, meetings, minutes, and resolutions. Your attorney explains requirements during formation and offer ongoing compliance support.
Yes. Many businesses operate without proper governance documents and need them, especially before taking on investors, partners, or significant contracts. Attorneys can prepare agreements for existing entities and help clean up governance gaps.
Partnership situations require careful planning around contributions, profit sharing, decision-making, and exits. What happens if someone wants out? What if partners disagree? Attorneys address these scenarios in founder agreements and operating agreements before they become problems.
Your attorney coordinates with your CPA on tax elections (like S-Corp elections) and ensures entity documents support your tax strategy. Tax advice is not provided directly, but your attorney works closely with tax professionals to ensure legal and tax planning align.
Related Services
Once your business is formed, you need contracts to protect it. Customer agreements, vendor terms, and partnership documents for ongoing operations.
Learn moreGrowing means hiring. Employee handbooks, offer letters, and HR policies that protect your business and treat employees fairly.
Learn moreSchedule a consultation to discuss your business plans and how your attorney can help you structure for success.