Teresa, Author at Gunderson Denton & Peterson, PC

The Importance of Revising an Estate Plan After Divorce Going through a divorce is a very strenuous time in life for the divorcing couple.  While this life event is tough, it also creates a significant need to update your Phoenix…

Charitable Giving After ATRA With the passage of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) on January 2, 2013, changes were made that will impact charitable gifts and charitable gift planning; mostly the change is an increase in taxes.  …

DOMA and Immigration – the Green Light for Green Cards June 26, 2013 was an important day for many citizens and potential citizens of the United States.  The Supreme Court ruled that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act…

How the Immigration Policy May Affect the Budget The immigration policy is such a hot button issue, and one that has the power to affect many other facets of the government. The budget, for one, will be altered due to…

What Does it Take to Make a Binding Contract? Contracts are the building blocks of business. This article addresses the basics of the necessary “elements” to create a legally binding contract. When boiled down to the bones, there are really…

E-Verification Compliance for Business Owners Undocumented employees hold over 7 million jobs in the United States. By employing individuals from this category, employers can ignore labor laws such as age restrictions, minimum wage, and acceptable working conditions with little risk…

Estate Planning–Securing the Future for Yourself and Loved Ones Unfortunately, many people think of “estate planning” as a morbid and distasteful exercise, best ignored as long as possible.  Understandably, focusing on one’s mortality and the government’s attempt to tax what…

Picking the Right Real Estate Agent In order to find the right home, picking the right real estate agent is important. Every agent has unique strengths and capacities. Every prospective home buyer has unique objectives and preferences.  Here are some…

Two Plans For Immigration Reform: What Do They Propose? Immigration has been a hot political topic with one resounding and seemingly universal theme: Immigration policy in America is in need of major reform. The problem is that no serious attempts…

Starting Your Own Business vs Buying a Franchise Owning your own business has a lot of appeal. You get to be your own boss, be completely in charge of your own future and have the freedom to make your own…

Can Employers Limit Employees’ Use of Social Media? (National Labor Relations Act) With the communication explosion of social media, can an employer prohibit or monitor an employee’s criticism about the employer, work, or compensation through the channels of social media? …

The Estate’s Responsibilities to Creditors and the Basics of Transferring the Estate Dealing with and planning for death is never an easy thing.  However, it is important to plan ahead and understand the basics of transferring the estate.  When considering…

Mediation: how it works and why you should try to make it work The use of mediation and other forms of dispute resolution are increasing as people become aware of how it can help settle disputes quickly and inexpensively.  People…

Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Trial – The American Civil Liberties Union and Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund Step in to Assist The Maricopa County Sheriff, Joe Arpaio, known for his open and verbally forward opinions on illegal immigration,…

Problems with Decision-Making in an LLC Although there are many benefits that a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) entity may provide for your company, there is inherent potential for problems with decision-making. To avoid problems with decision-making in your LLC, it…

Finance Options for Your Business Whether creating, restructuring, or expanding your business, there are several options to finance your business. Among these are four major sources: (1) direct financing through a bank, (2) angel investors and venture capitalists, (3) privately…

How do I buy an existing business? Crafting a sales agreement that will maximize your return on investment and limit liabilities   Large risks are involved when starting a business. According to the Small Business Administration, only half of new…

Estate Planning: What are the risks of creating your own plan? With the help of online tools and books, thousands of people bypass lawyers to create their own wills, powers of attorney and other estate planning documents. The pros and…

How the “U Visa” Can Help Protect Victims of Crimes Immigrants who are victims of serious crimes in the United States need no longer fear deportation when reporting serious crimes, even if their stay in the U.S. is illegal. To…

I deeply appreciate the outstanding service and legal assistance I received from Mr. Bert Millett. I recently had to seek legal advice concerning the selling of my home in Mesa and I was extremely pleased with the immediate attention he…

Questions Employers May and May Not ask Potential Employees in an Interview Employment anti-discrimination laws prohibit employers from asking interview questions that discriminate illegally. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of…

How Business Owners can avoid Personal Liability if others attempt to Pierce the Corporate Veil Generally, owners of corporations and limited liability companies are not personally liable for business liabilities.  However, under some situations, courts allow creditors to “pierce the…

How Can an Employee Handbook affect the Employment Relationship? Ensuring that the employee handbook does not create unnecessary restrictions Employers have expectations of their employees, just as employees have expectations of their employer.  An employee handbook is one of the…

Negotiating Your Commercial Lease Making sure you are not on the wrong side of a one-sided agreement Most businesses lease the property where they do business. The lease can be a significant investment for a business, and sometimes can even…

Real Estate Refinances, Short Sales or Foreclosures Mark Twain once said, “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” If you purchased or refinanced residential property between…