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 »
Enforcement Of The Corporate Transparency Act Still On Hold
Recent activity regarding the Corporate Transparency Act has resulted in no change in its enforcement. The United States Supreme Court issued a decision on January 23, 2025, lifting a nationwide stay on the enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act. This decision comes after a roller-coaster of events in December over the scope of the stay issued in Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc. v. McHenry. Regardless of the Supreme Court’s decision, the enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act is still being halted. Currently, reporting companies are not required to file their Beneficial Ownership Information but may voluntarily report. Summary of Events… 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 »
Estate Planning in the New Year: Securing Your Children’s Future
From Attorney Tim Bupp, chair of the CGA Law Firm Estate Law practice group. As we step into a new year, it is not just about setting personal goals but also ensuring the long-term security of our loved ones, particularly our minor children. Estate planning, often overlooked during annual resolutions, is a vital aspect of securing our children’s future. Raising and providing for our children is perhaps the most important thing that we do in our lives. Therefore, it is only sensible that we take great care in making provisions for our minor children in our estate documents. 1. The… read more »
Turning Point: ARD and the Pathway to Redemption
In Pennsylvania, the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program (ARD) functions as a vital alternative to traditional criminal prosecution for eligible, non-violent offenders. ARD is designed to address a critical, yet often overlooked, goal of our criminal justice system – the rehabilitation and reintegration of criminal offenders back into society. It offers a second chance and reduces the deleterious consequences that a criminal conviction would otherwise have on an individual’s life. This article explores the important advantages ARD offers eligible defendants who are charged with a crime. What is ARD? ARD is a pre-trial diversionary program provided by the Pennsylvania Rules of… read more »
Important Update: A federal court has temporarily halted enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA)
On December 3, 2024, the Eastern District of Texas Federal Court issued a nationwide preliminary injunction against the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) in the case of Texas Top Cop Shop v. Garland et al. This decision effectively suspends the enforcement of the CTA, which had mandated companies to report beneficial ownership information to FinCEN. Judge Mazzant delivered a scathing critique of the CTA, asserting that it likely exceeds Congressional authority and infringes upon state jurisdiction over corporate regulation. The court highlighted the substantial financial burden on businesses, with compliance costs estimated to surpass $22 billion in the initial year alone…. read more »
CGA Law Firm Welcomes Attorney Nicole M. Marzzacco
CGA Law Firm is pleased to welcome Attorney Nicole M. Marzzacco to our team after participating in the firm’s Summer Associate program in 2023. Nicole joins the firm as an associate, focusing her practice on estate planning, family law, and litigation. A recent graduate of Widener Commonwealth Law School, Nicole has already demonstrated exceptional promise in her legal career. During her time at Widener, she distinguished herself through academic excellence and a strong commitment to service. Her induction into the Order of the Barristers and receipt of the Service to the School Award are testaments to her outstanding achievements. Nicole’s… read more »
Pickleball and the Law
Pickleball, a hybrid sport combining elements of table tennis, badminton, and tennis, was invented in 1965 in a backyard in Washington State. By 2024, over 40 million Americans were actively participating at over 14,000 venues with courts. Since 2021, it has been uniformly considered the fastest-growing sport in America by the sports and fitness industries. It seems as if the advent of the COVID virus in 2020 served as a catalyst for the sport’s popularity and growth, which presently appears to have no end in sight. With such a meteoric rise in participation, it is no surprise that some unanticipated… read more »
Corporate Transparency Act Reporting Requirements Deadline Approaching
This is an update to our January 16, 2024 article titled “The Corporate Transparency Act and Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting”. At the beginning of this year, the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) became effective. The CTA is intended to aid law enforcement in combating illicit activity, such as money laundering and terrorist financing, conducted through anonymous shell companies. It does so by mandating certain entities, primarily small or medium size businesses, to report “beneficial owner” information to the Financial Crimes and Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”). The CTA authorizes FinCEN, a Bureau of the US Treasurer Department, to collect, protect and disclose this information… read more »
Estate Planning: Trusts for Special Needs Beneficiaries
From Attorney Tim Bupp, chair of the CGA Law Firm Estate Law practice group. If your beneficiary is a person with a disability (“PWD”), creating a special needs trust for their benefit can be one of the most important things you ever do. Our goal in estate planning is to ensure that our assets will provide our loved ones with benefits for their health, safety, and well-being. In some circumstances, such a beneficiary may already be receiving state or federal benefits such as Medicaid, SSI, or SNAP benefits, which are “means-tested”; that is, a beneficiary with too many assets in… read more »