Exceptional Ways To Help A New Contractor Succeed

This month, why not reach out to help a new contractor learn how to hit the ground running? Here are easy-peasy ways to help a new hire adjust to their role and quickly become an effective member of your team.

As someone who knows and understands your organization, you can personally volunteer to mentor a new contractor. You’ll help your mentee more quickly catch on to what it takes to succeed—and to grow—within your company. There are several things you can do.

Summer is Split-signing Time for Notary Signing Agents

Vacation time is here, school is out, and families have started traveling. Notaries will see a few more split-signing appointments than usual. 

If you are new to the notary signing agent business, the term "split-signing" may be unfamiliar. A split-signing is when two borrowers (usually spouses) need to sign documents, but they aren't in the same town, most often because one is traveling. 

5 Tips to Help Legal Professionals Improve Productivity

As a legal professional, you already know how complicated and involved a law career can be. Yet, there are a few simple ways you can make your day-to-day a lot more manageable.

By getting a bit more organized, and giving yourself a leg up in terms of efficiency, you can transform an otherwise complex routine into a streamlined methodology – and here are 5 of the best ways to make it all happen.

1.  Make a List, Then Prioritize

When you’re jumping from one task to the next, it’s difficult to get a clear picture of what’s really important and what can be set aside for the moment. At times, these tasks even conflict with one another, making the ability to discern what you should be focused on even more problematical.

The first step to tackling this issue is by making a to-do list. Whether it happens at the end of the day or first thing in the morning, writing down what’s on your plate over the next 24 hours allows you to create an action plan on your most productive tasks, and enables you to outsource or reschedule those which are less important.

Maryland Electronic Courts Update: New E-Filing Interface and Expansion to Upper Eastern Shore

In 2014, the Maryland Judiciary launched the Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) system - a project that modernizes current case management systems and streamlines court processes to make case filings more convenient for litigants. Here are two updates:

Service of Process Upon Limited English Proficient (LEP) Persons

Fundamental Fairness, Due Process of Law, Equal Access to Justice

by John Perez, Esquire

Introduction
The current political rhetoric about ethnic groups, immigrants, illegal aliens, building border walls, and expelling millions of people from our country, is swirling in the news and social media. It has gotten a lot of hype and reaction, some positive, some not so. The bluster will continue for some time.

One of the tenants of American society is that people, regardless who they are, or where they are from, should be treated fairly. This is critically important, especially within our judicial system, where “fundamental fairness” and “due process of law” is, or should be, afforded at all, including persons of Limited English Proficiency (LEP). [1]

Process Server’s Role
Hopefully, at some point in the future, the issues noted in this Introduction will be intelligently and practically discussed, and resolved. In the interim, process servers are a unique group of professionals who currently interact within communities where persons of limited English speaking capabilities reside and work. The profession needs to step back and assess how this interaction is taking place, and whether people, including those of limited English proficiency, are, in effect, being treated fairly, receiving and comprehending the notices inherent in the concept of due process of law.

Tax Tips for Process Servers

With tax season just around the corner, it's time to start putting together a strategy when it comes to your taxes. Now is a great time to figure out how your business expenses can be categorized for maximum savings. Here are some end of the year tax tips and deductions that can help your process serving firm save.

1. Maintain Your Records
The IRS recommends keeping accurate records, whether it's regarding sales, payroll, purchases, and other expenses, as well as supporting documents. Supporting documents range from invoices, paid bills, and sales slips to receipts, deposit slips, and even canceled or void checks. These documents will support your records, book entries, and ultimately what you put on your tax return. Keeping these documents organized and safe is crucial, and the IRS recommends organizing them by year and type of expense. This will make the process go much more smoothly should you ever be audited. 

8 Quotes to Inspire Your New Year's Resolutions

“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.”

– Pablo Picasso

With a new year upon us, we may take some time to reflect upon the past 365 days and what each moment meant to us and how they changed us. It is then that we seize the genesis of a new year as the idyllic time to get ourselves together, overflowing with optimism, as we strategize for our next 365 days with purpose, whilst crafting a list of majestic, heartfelt goals for which to endeavor. We envision big plans, dream dreams, and set goals for ourselves “this” year. It will not be the same as last year. Our list will get done “this” year. Or will it?