FAQ

Protecting your intellectual property (IP) is critical for safeguarding your brand, inventions, or creative works. Our attorneys assist with:

Trademarks: Registering your business name, logo, or slogan to prevent unauthorized use.

Copyrights: Protecting original content, such as marketing materials or software.

Trade Secrets: Drafting nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) to secure proprietary processes or client lists.

We guide Albany businesses through federal and state IP registration processes and help enforce your rights against infringement, ensuring your competitive edge.

Leasing commercial space in Albany demands careful attention to legal details to avoid costly pitfalls and ensure your business thrives. At Seraj Law, we guide you through every step of the process, leveraging our deep understanding of Albany’s commercial real estate market.

We negotiate favorable lease terms, securing competitive rent, flexible renewal options, and clear maintenance responsibilities that align with your business goals. Our team meticulously reviews lease clauses, analyzing termination rights, subleasing provisions, and potential hidden fees to protect your interests.

Additionally, we ensure compliance with Albany’s zoning regulations, verifying that your chosen property suits your business type and adheres to local requirements. With our strong relationships with local landlords and expertise in the Capital Region’s market dynamics, we help you secure a lease that supports long-term success.

Operating a business in Albany involves navigating a range of federal, state, and local tax obligations to ensure compliance and optimize financial outcomes.

As a business owner, you’ll need to register for and collect New York’s 8% sales tax in Albany County if you sell goods or taxable services, requiring a Certificate of Authority from the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance. Depending on your business structure—such as an LLC, corporation, or sole proprietorship—you’ll face different business taxes, like pass-through taxation for LLCs or corporate income tax for C-Corps, each with unique implications for your financial strategy.

Additionally, Albany businesses may be subject to local taxes, such as property taxes if you own commercial space, or city-specific fees, which can be confirmed through the City of Albany Treasurer’s Office. We help you explore tax incentives, like credits offered through Albany’s Economic Development programs or Tech Valley initiatives, to reduce your tax burden.

By collaborating with local accountants, we ensure your business stays compliant while maximizing available savings.

While accountants handle financial records and tax compliance, business lawyers address the legal framework behind your operations. We ensure contracts are enforceable, entities are properly structured, intellectual property is protected, and disputes are resolved. Working with both an accountant and a lawyer provides comprehensive coverage for your business.

Beyond resolving conflicts, we take a proactive role by drafting clear contracts, advising on compliance, and conducting periodic legal audits. This preventive approach reduces the likelihood of lawsuits, saves costs, and keeps your business focused on growth rather than legal distractions.

Estate planning costs vary based on your needs and the complexity of your situation. Simple wills might cost several hundred dollars, while comprehensive plans including trusts, tax planning, and business succession strategies require larger investments.

However, consider the alternative: probate costs, estate taxes, and family disputes can cost tens of thousands of dollars or more. Most Albany estate planning attorneys offer transparent pricing and payment options.

The expense of proper planning is minimal compared to the protection and peace of mind it provides.

A will is a legal document that directs how your assets should be distributed after death. It becomes effective only upon your passing and must go through probate court.

A trust is a legal entity that holds assets for the benefit of beneficiaries. Trusts can be effective during your lifetime (living trusts) or upon death (testamentary trusts).

An experienced attorney can help you understand eligibility requirements, protect assets through legal strategies like irrevocable trusts, navigate the application process, address lookback periods and transfer penalties, preserve spousal resources, and plan for long-term care needs while maintaining benefit eligibility.

Starting Medicaid planning early provides more options and better outcomes. An attorney can help you balance the need for future care with your desire to preserve assets for your family.

Estate plans should evolve with your life circumstances. Consider reviewing your plan after major life events such as marriage or divorce, birth or adoption of children, death of beneficiaries or fiduciaries, significant changes in assets or debts, relocation to another state, changes in tax laws, diagnosis of serious illness, or changes in family relationships.

Even without major changes, reviewing your plan every 3-5 years ensures it remains aligned with your current wishes and circumstances. Regular updates are much simpler and less expensive than completely redoing an outdated plan.

An executor (sometimes called a personal representative) is the individual or institution you name in your will to manage your estate after your passing. Their responsibilities typically include locating your will, filing it with the probate court, inventorying your assets, paying any debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining assets to your beneficiaries according to your wishes.

It’s a significant role, requiring trustworthiness and attention to detail. Choosing the right executor is a critical decision in your estate plan, as they will be responsible for ensuring your final wishes are carried out properly.

While New York State doesn’t legally require attorney representation for real estate transactions, the complexity of property law and the financial stakes involved make legal counsel essential. Albany’s unique market characteristics, including historic district regulations and evolving zoning requirements, create additional risks that only experienced legal counsel can adequately address.

Most lenders and title companies expect attorney involvement in New York transactions, and the modest cost of legal representation provides invaluable protection against potentially devastating legal problems.

Real estate attorney fees in Albany typically range from $800 to $2,500 for residential transactions, depending on complexity and property value. Commercial transactions involve more variable fee structures, often based on hourly rates or percentage arrangements.

Many attorneys offer flat fee arrangements for routine residential closings, providing cost certainty upfront. When considering legal costs, remember that attorney fees represent a small fraction of your total investment while providing protection worth many times their cost.

Real estate agents focus on marketing properties and facilitating buyer-seller connections, earning commissions based on successful transactions. Attorneys provide legal protection, ensuring contracts protect your interests, conducting due diligence to uncover potential problems, and handling complex legal issues that can derail transactions.

While agents work to complete sales, attorneys work to protect your legal and financial interests throughout the process. Both professionals play important but distinct roles in successful real estate transactions.

Look for attorneys with substantial experience in Albany’s real estate market, positive client testimonials, and active involvement in local professional organizations. Consider their communication style and availability, ensuring you’ll receive personal attention throughout your transaction.

Ask about their fee structure upfront and verify their experience with your specific type of transaction, whether residential, commercial, or investment property.

A traditional general counsel is typically a full-time, in-house attorney employed by a company. A fractional general counsel provides the same strategic guidance and legal oversight but on a part-time or subscription basis, making it more affordable and flexible for growing businesses.

If your company regularly deals with contracts, compliance issues, employment matters, or growth planning, a general counsel can help prevent problems before they arise. Even small businesses in New York benefit from ongoing legal support, especially in highly regulated industries.

Yes. General counsel attorneys often advise on workplace policies, wage compliance, employee contracts, and termination issues, areas that are heavily regulated under New York labor law.

For many startups and small to midsize businesses, yes. A subscription service provides predictable costs and ongoing access to an attorney without the expense of a full-time salary and benefits.

Yes. From entrepreneurs in New York City to family-owned businesses in Albany and beyond, Seraj Law provides general counsel services tailored to each client’s size, industry, and long-term goals.

You may be eligible for economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation costs), non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress), and, in rare cases, punitive damages for egregious conduct. We evaluate your case to pursue every dollar you’re owed.

New York follows a pure comparative negligence rule. Even if you’re partially at fault, you can still recover compensation, though it may be reduced by your percentage of blame. For example, if you’re 20% at fault and awarded $100,000, you’d receive $80,000. We work to minimize your fault and maximize your recovery.

We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing up front. Our fee is a percentage of your settlement or verdict, depending on the case complexity. If we don’t win, you owe us nothing. This ensures access to quality representation without financial stress.

Most personal injury cases settle out of court—about 95% resolve through negotiations. However, we prepare every case as if it’s going to trial to strengthen our leverage.

If a trial is necessary, we are ready to fight for you in Albany’s courts.

In most cases, you won’t need to appear in court if you hire our traffic ticket attorneys in Albany. We handle all court appearances on your behalf, saving you time and stress. Our team will represent you in Albany City Court or the surrounding town and village courts, ensuring your case is managed professionally while you focus on your daily life.

Yes, our experienced Albany traffic ticket attorneys can often get tickets reduced or dismissed entirely, depending on the circumstances. By leveraging our knowledge of local courts, relationships with prosecutors, and strategic defense tactics, we work to challenge evidence, identify errors, or negotiate plea deals that result in dismissals or reduced charges.

Results vary, of course, with each specific case, but we fight for the most positive outcome possible for you.

The cost of fighting a traffic ticket in Albany varies depending on the complexity of the case and the specific violation. At Seraj Law, we offer competitive rates and transparent pricing. Contact us for a consultation, and we’ll provide a clear estimate tailored to your situation, ensuring you understand the value of protecting your driving record.

While there are no absolutes or guarantees when it comes to traffic violations, hiring our Albany traffic ticket lawyers significantly increases your chances of keeping points off your license and minimizing insurance premium increases. We fight to reduce or dismiss charges, which can prevent points from being added to your record. 

By avoiding points, we help keep your insurance rates lower and protect your driving privileges.