Our firm is experienced in handling all areas of real estate law, including litigation if it becomes necessary. Our attorneys handle all aspects of the file and are familiar with your transaction from start to finish.

If you need assistance in the following areas, we can help you.

• Residential Purchases and Sales
• Commercial Purchases and Sales
• Leasing
• Condominiums
• Cooperatives
• Landlord/Tenant Disputes
• Quiet Title
• Easements and Encroachments
• Specific Performance
• Property Development and Subdivision
• Like-Kind Exchanges (IRC §1031)

We handle your real estate transaction from beginning to end. This includes preliminary negotiations, drafting contracts (and riders to further protect your interests), preparing and filing all necessary transfer documents, title examination and resolution to title issues, communications and progress reports, financing issues and closing.

Most of our real estate transactions are charged at a flat fee, and other than nominal expenses that may occur are disclosed up front, there will be no surprises.

Our firm is experienced in handling various commercial real estate transactions. We are prepared to handle commercial lease issues, including the review, negotiation, and preparation of lease agreements for office buildings or store fronts, and the purchase or sale of commercial real property.

We assist our clients in evaluating all available options with regard to their particular transaction. We can guide you through the transaction from beginning to end, whether it is a commercial contract, lease, joint venture agreement or refinancing.

The Internal Revenue Code (IRC) allows people to defer the payment of taxes on the sale of property if they are planning to purchase like kind replacement property with the proceeds of the sale. This is known as a §1031 Like Kind Exchange. However, there are strict deadlines and rules as to how the sale and subsequent purchaser must be handled. Failing to follow these requirements precisely will result in the taxation of the deal.

Our firm can help structure the terms of the contract so that the sale of the property may qualify for tax deferment under §1031. In addition, we can obtain the services of qualified third party exchange agents for our clients so that the proceeds from the sale and identification requirements are handled properly.

Our attorneys can represent you before the Planning Board in connection with submitting or objecting to applications for local zoning variances, approvals for site plans and property subdivisions.

Our attorneys have handled mortgage closings for the following lending institutions:

• Chase
• Citibank
• Credit Suisse
• Wells Fargo
• Sovereign Bank

Our firm provides clients with the necessary legal counseling to ensure that one's goals with regard to their estate are achieved. Our practice addresses client's asset protection and estate administration needs.

We can prepare an estate plan that will meet your and your family's expectations. We can ensure that your desires with respect to medical care are respected and explore the availability of governmental assistance while at the same time preserving and protecting your financial assets.

Our firm can assist your family with the complexities of the probate process and/or legal proceedings regarding the appointment of your estate representative. We are prepared to defend your rights in Surrogate's Court. We work closely with the estate representatives to ensure the proper marshalling of the decedent's assets, payment of liabilities, distribution of estate assets to beneficiaries, and required tax return filings.

Estate Planning services include the following:

• Preparation of Wills
• Living Wills
• Health Care Proxies
• Powers of Attorney
• Preparation of Trusts
• Elder Care Planning
• Nursing Home Planning
• Medicaid Applications
• Estate Planning
• Gift Tax Planning
• Inheritance Tax Planning
• Probate Practice
• Administration
• Accountings
• Estate Litigation
• Estate Tax Planning

We will work closely with you in order to clearly declare your final wishes either by your will or by establishing a trust. We can review your existing estate plan and provide advice on what should be modified to best suit your individual goals, while at the same time remaining current with the changing laws.

Helpful Links
NYSBA Why you need a Will

Living Wills & Health Care Proxies

Do you need HELP with your TAXES? Whether you know it or not the tax law affects every aspect of our existence and therefore should be one of the many considerations when seeking the advice of an attorney.

We provide our clients with competent tax advice prior to buying or selling real estate or businesses, during estate planning and before making other important life decisions.

Our firm provides legal advice in connection with federal and state income tax. We address tax issues related to businesses, commercial and real estate transactions, as well as the tax consequences of various forms of business organizational structures.

Our firm serves as tax counsel in planning and representation before various taxing authorities. We are experienced in handling client matters before the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Tax Court, Federal District Courts and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.

Our firm provides income tax preparation and review for individuals, corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, trusts and estates. Our experienced attorneys can provide year-round accounting services as well.

We can assist you with your tax issues in the following areas:

• Tax Preparation
• Asset Protection
• Empire Zone Benefits
• IRS Representation
• NYS Tax Representation
• Stop Liens, Levies, & Seizures
• Offer In Compromise
• Filing Delinquent Tax Returns
• Arranging Installment Agreements
• Abate Penalties
• Protection as an Innocent Spouse

Our firm will immediately begin solving and addressing your outstanding tax problems before they become unmanageable. We can help protect your assets and earnings.

We have experience in drafting and preparing Offer In Compromises to help reduce your current tax debt. We can prepare and assist you in becoming current on your tax filings if you have failed to file you prior year tax returns. Our firm can negotiate and prepare installment agreements with the taxing authorities to make your tax payments affordable. We can seek abatement of penalties, where possible, to prevent your tax debt from becoming too burdensome.

Are you aware that your business may qualify for substantial New York State tax credits. Many businesses are overlooking these credits and we can assist you in taking advantage of them.

The New York State allows a tax credit for each qualifying employee working in a certified business. We can assist your business in becoming certified and then help you apply for the tax benefits.

In addition, we can assist you in securing tax benefits by:

• Analyzing employment numbers to determine if certification is likely.
• Assisting in the certification process by preparing the appropriate forms.
• Calculating the benefit once certification has been approved.
• Preparing the pro forma forms and supporting documentation for delivery to your tax preparer.
• Monitoring succeeding years to ensure additional program opportunities are not overlooked.

Our firm caters to the small business owner that is faced with important business decisions that require legal counseling. We can address all business and legal concerns surrounding your business and provide you with creative business solutions. We are your general business counselors.

We service clients in a wide variety of business related legal matters. We represent clients in the purchase and sale of businesses, the formation and organization of business entities, preparation and drafting of shareholder, partnership, employment and other business agreements and debt collection. We are also experienced in representing clients with and applying for liquor license and lottery license applications. We provide legal assistance in bankruptcy matters as well.

We can assist clients and their businesses with legal advice in litigation, commercial transactions or in negotiating, drafting and reviewing contracts. We strive towards building long-term relationships and providing you with sound business and legal advice.

We can assist you and your business in the following areas:

• Sale and Purchase of Businesses
• Business Formations (Sole Proprietorships, LLC's, LLP's, Corporations)
• Partnership Agreements
• Shareholders Agreements
• Dissolution of Businesses
• Limited Liability Company Agreements
• Franchising
• Lease Agreements
• Non-Compete Agreements
• Restrictive Covenant Agreements
• Confidentiality Agreements
• Business Successions
• Business Accounting
• Liquor License Applications
• Lottery License Applications
• Not-For-Profit
• Litigation
• Collections

Our firm can assist you in all stages of your business transaction. We will be there with you from the beginning when you are negotiating your transaction, to drafting and reviewing your documents to ensure they reflect your understanding and ultimately to close the deal.

We have a great deal of experience with businesses in all phases. We can represent you whether you are just starting out and building your business, whether you are an established business looking for innovative ideas, if you are buying an existing business or franchising.

Litigation... Law Suit... Plaintiff... Defendant... Summons and Complaint... Answer... Depositions, these words alone can be intimidating to a person not familiar with the procedures of our legal system. However, at some point in your life, you may need to appear before a court in order to protect your rights. You may either be suing to enforce a right or defending yourself in order to preserve your rights and property.

At Reda, Schwan & Associates, our attorneys can help you defend your rights and have your day in court. We can provide legal representation in contract, property, taxation and other disputes. Our attorneys work closely with our clients so that the client understands the process and is able to make informed decisions. We will answer our clients' questions until the client understands and can make an informed decision.

Unbiased disclosure as to the costs of a lawsuit is just as important in representing a client as is the vigorous protection of a client's rights. At Reda, Schwan & Associates, we discuss not only the legal aspects of a matter with our clients but the economic reality of their case. We want our clients to be fully aware of all aspects of their case so that they can make the decisions that are most beneficial to them.

In addition, we actively represent clients before the U.S. Tax Court in order to protect there assets and property from the I.R.S. and possible governmental seizures.