Imagine one day you are opening your business mail and you discover that your company owes thousands of dollars to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. You think back and you are sure that you filed all of your company’s tax returns and paid in full any balance owing. That is, of course, until you realize that the notice regards unpaid Pennsylvania use tax. A sibling to sales tax, the use tax levies a 6% tax upon purchasers of all applicable goods and services not taxed by the seller. Thus, while purchases made from out-of-state suppliers or over the internet may… read more »
Remedies Matter
How many times have you signed a contract without fully reviewing its provisions? Can you recognize the kind of contract where there is room to negotiate provisions to protect yourself versus a contract where you can’t? Recently, Buyers under a Standard Agreement for the Sale of Real Estate (which is a standard form recommended and approved for members of the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors) came to me for advice. After executing the Standard Agreement they used, Seller changed her mind and wanted to sell her property to another family member instead of my client. In response, Seller’s agent presented a… read more »
Property Tax Assessments and How to Appeal Them
About this time of year, when the spring county and municipal real estate tax bills arrive in mailboxes, I start to get lots of phone calls with questions about the appeal process. Without a doubt, the real estate tax assessment process in Pennsylvania is convoluted and murky. York County’s real estate base totals over 175,000 parcels and has not had a uniform reassessment since 2005. Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation that does not have some form of mandatory property reassessment process. The Commonwealth updates the assessments for each of its 67 counties on an annual basis. The… read more »
CGA Law Firm Welcomes Attorney Summer M. Pannizzo
CGA Law Firm is pleased to announce the addition of Summer M. Pannizzo to our firm as an associate attorney. Summer joins our business law, estate administration and planning, and real estate practice groups, bringing a fresh perspective to the team. Summer earned her Juris Doctor from Widener University Commonwealth Law School, where she distinguished herself by obtaining a Business Law Certificate and participating in the Wayne State Transactional Competition. Her involvement in Moot Court, Trial Advocacy, and Mock Trial demonstrates her commitment to honing her advocacy skills. During her time at Widener, Summer showcased her dedication to community service… read more »
CGA Law Firm is Proud to Announce the Election of Beth J. Kern to Shareholder
CGA Law Firm is pleased to announce that Attorney Beth J. Kern has been unanimously elected as a Shareholder. Beth has quickly established herself as an integral member of CGA Law Firm, contributing her expertise to the Municipal, Business, Employment, Real Estate, and Estate Planning Practice Groups. “I am extremely excited that Beth will now be a Shareholder at CGA. Beth has demonstrated that she is able to effectively work with our clients in her areas of expertise to provide exceptional legal advice and be a trusted counselor. In addition, Beth has been willing to use her expertise to assist… read more »
Buying or Selling Real Estate in Bankruptcy
Much about bankruptcy law is counterintuitive and often misinterpreted. For example, the benefits of a bankruptcy filing, such as the improvement of credit scores, protection of assets, tax-free debt forgiveness, and the broad ability to qualify for Bankruptcy are often surprising to our clients. When a property is purchased through a Bankruptcy proceeding, it comes with a Federal Court Order declaring the property is free and clear of any liens, encumbrances, or other interests. It provides an added layer of title protection. The order ensures that no potential debts or interests existing before settlement could ever be enforced against the… read more »
A New Tool to Protect York County Property Owners
Protect your property from property title and deed theft.Property title theft often occurs when a bad actor steals your identity and then creates fraudulent deed transfer documents that appear as though you have signed them. In response to this trend, some companies have offered paid monitoring services to help protect your property against these types of attacks. However, if you own property in York County, then the Recorder of Deeds Office has just made it easier and free for you to monitor recordings related to your property. To protect your property, navigate to the Recorder of Deeds page on the York… read more »
The Central Penn Business Journal has Selected Devon Myers Kolomick, Attorney at CGA Law Firm as a Forty Under Forty Recipient
Forty Under Forty recognizes professionals 40 years of age and younger who have been successful in the Central Pennsylvania area. Honorees, chosen by the editors and publisher of the Central Penn Business Journal, were selected based on professional accomplishments, community service and commitment to inspiring change. A listing of honorees can be found on the CPBJ website. “The 2022 Forty Under 40 honorees represent the future of Central Pennsylvania. They have achieved professional success and are making significant contributions to our community and inspire change,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, senior group publisher of the Central Penn Business Journal. “We at the… read more »
Attorney Frank Henisse Countess Named to The Power 30
The Central Penn Business Journal’s Power 30 for Law & Lobbyists [is] compiled by the editorial staff and management, [and] honors those who shape our communities and influence our quality of life through the legal and political foundations our society depends on. Ernest Long, Managing Editor for the Central Penn Business Journal Read more on Frank’s contributions to our communities on the CPBJ’s Power 30 List profile on Frank HERE. Shareholder | AttorneyFrank Henisse Countess is a Shareholder with CGA Law Firm. He concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate, business law, commercial transactions, and estate planning and… read more »
Residential Landlords: How Old Is Your Lease?
When was the last time you updated your lease? You may be missing important protections or unknowingly violating the Landlord Tenant Act, Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act, or even the Plain Language Consumer Contract Law. Violating those laws can result in lawsuits brought by tenants, the Pennsylvania Attorney General, or could even invalidate a lease completely. Evictions and other litigation can be irritating, time consuming, and expensive. An updated lease can help to make the process faster, cheaper, and easier. It can also provide some important protections to you as the landlord. Contact Attorney Hunter Schenck at hschenck@cgalaw.com… read more »
