FAQ

Compensation varies based on factors like nature of inquiry, circumstances, and applicable laws.

You may submit through designated channels, adhering to procedural guidelines set by the court.

There are two types of LPAs: one for health and welfare decisions, and another for property and financial affairs.

The right time to file for divorce varies, depending on individual circumstances, emotional readiness, and legal considerations.

F-1 students are required to engage in full-time studies at a school approved by the Student and Exchange Visitors Program. F-1 students may work on-campus subject to certain conditions and restrictions. After the first academic year, F-1 students may engage in certain off-campus employment, including curricular practical training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT). However, an F-1 student may not engage in off-campus employment that is not related to his area of study.

If your divorce is finalized before your initial application for permanent residence is granted, you will no longer be eligible to receive a marriage-based green card. If you have a 2-year conditional green card and then you divorce your petitioning spouse, then you can apply to remove conditions without your spouse using a waiver of the joint filing requirement.

If your sponsor dies before your I-130 is approved, then your petition is revoked without possibility of reinstatement. If the sponsor dies after the I-130 approval, but before the green card has been approved, you might still be able to immigrate as the widow(er) of a U.S. citizen or by requesting reinstatement. The widow(ed) immigrant is eligible to apply for a green card within two years of the spouse's death, if the couple married in good faith (not to get the immigrant a green card), was not legally separated at the time of the death, and the immigrant has not remarried. If the immigrating relative is not your spouse, you may be able to apply for reinstatement. When your sponsor dies, USCIS expects the immigrant relative to come up with a substitute financial sponsor to file Form I-864. To qualify as a substitute sponsor, the person must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, and related to the immigrant as either a spouse, parent, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sibling, child, son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, or legal guardian. Once the I-864 is submitted, your immigrant relative would need to write a letter to USCIS stating a wish to have the case reinstated after it was revoked due to death of the initial sponsor.

Although there is no visa requirement for a domestic flight, it is not safe to travel, even domestically, with an expired visa and no pending status. Most airports are treated as border crossings, and the immigration authorities may request your immigration documents and hold you if you fail to present proper documentation or if you present expired documents.

There are multiple immigration options for foreign nationals who wish to invest in the U.S. The most popular options for foreign investors include E-2 and EB-5. The E-2 visa applies to nationals of a treaty country. While no precise amount is listed in the regulations, a recommended investment is about $100,000. The EB-5 requires a minimum investment of $500,000 in underemployed areas.

There is no such thing as a stand along work permit. You must either have an employment offer from an employer willing to sponsor your green card or an employment-based visa or be able to self-petition relying on your extraordinary qualifications. The other option is to start your own company. There are five types of employment-based visas:

EB-1: applicants with extraordinary abilities, outstanding professors and researchers, or multinational business managers and executives.
EB-2: applicants with exceptional abilities or advanced degrees.
EB-3: applicants who qualify as professional workers with a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, or other skilled or unskilled workers
EB-4: applicants who are religious workers
EB-5: applicants who invest a minimum of $500,000 in an underemployed area and create 5 jobs

There are also many different types of temporary work visas that allow you to remain in the US for a specific period of time. Listed below are some of of the most popular options:

E-1 Visas for Treaty Traders
E-2 Visas Treaty investors
H-1B Visas for Specialty Workers
L-1 Visas for Multinational Managers, Executives and Specialized Knowledge Employees
O-1 Visas for Aliens with Extraordinary Abilities
P-1 Visas for Internationally Recognized Entertainment Groups and Athletes
P-3 Visas for Culturally Unique Entertainment Groups
R-1 Visas for Religious Workers

I have a pending immigration case; how do I check my status? If you have a case pending with USCIS, you may check the status of your case at https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do using your case receipt number. If you have a pending consular case, you may check your status at https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx using your Visa Case Number.

A trademark is a recognizable sign, symbol, word, or phrase that distinguishes products or services of a particular source from those of others. It can be a name, logo, slogan, or even a sound or color.

Registering a trademark provides legal protection and exclusive rights to use the mark in connection with specific goods or services. It helps prevent others from using similar marks that could cause confusion among consumers and dilute your brand.

To register a trademark, you must file an application with the appropriate trademark office, such as the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in the U.S. The application typically includes a description of the mark, the goods/services it will be used with, and a specimen showing the mark in use.

Trademark registration can last indefinitely, as long as the mark is continuously used in commerce and renewal fees are paid at regular intervals. In the U.S., trademarks must be renewed every 10 years to maintain registration.

The ® symbol indicates that a trademark has been registered with the appropriate trademark office, providing legal protection and exclusive rights. The ™ symbol, on the other hand, is used to indicate that a mark is being claimed as a trademark, even if it hasn't been registered.

It's generally not advisable to trademark a name or logo that is too similar to an existing trademark, as it could lead to legal disputes for infringement or likelihood of confusion. Conducting a thorough trademark search before filing an application is crucial to avoid potential conflicts.

If you believe someone is infringing on your trademark rights, you should first attempt to resolve the issue amicably by contacting the infringing party and requesting that they cease and desist. If informal negotiations fail, you may need to take legal action, such as sending a cease and desist letter or filing a trademark infringement lawsuit.

Trademarks are generally protected within the jurisdiction where they are registered. However, many countries have international treaties and agreements, such as the Madrid Protocol, that facilitate the process of obtaining trademark protection in multiple countries through a single application.

Trademarks specifically protect symbols, names, and slogans used to identify and distinguish goods or services. Other types of intellectual property include patents (for inventions), copyrights (for original works of authorship), and trade secrets (confidential business information).

While it's possible to file a trademark application without legal assistance, consulting with a qualified trademark attorney is highly recommended. A lawyer can provide valuable guidance on trademark selection, conduct comprehensive trademark searches, navigate the application process, and address any legal issues or disputes that may arise.

A trust is a legal arrangement where one party (the trustor or settlor) transfers property or assets to another party (the trustee) to hold and manage for the benefit of a third party (the beneficiary). Trusts can be revocable or irrevocable and serve various purposes, such as asset protection, estate planning, and charitable giving.

Creating a trust as part of your estate plan offers several benefits, including avoiding probate, minimizing estate taxes, protecting assets from creditors, providing for minor children or beneficiaries with special needs, and maintaining privacy by keeping assets out of public record.

A revocable trust can be modified or revoked by the trustor during their lifetime, allowing flexibility and control over trust assets. In contrast, an irrevocable trust cannot be modified or revoked once established, providing more asset protection and tax benefits but less flexibility.

To create a trust, you must draft a trust document outlining the terms and conditions of the trust, including the identity of the trustor, trustee, and beneficiaries, the assets transferred to the trust, and the distribution instructions. The trust document must be signed and notarized in accordance with state law.

Virtually any type of asset can be placed in a trust, including real estate, bank accounts, investment accounts, stocks, bonds, life insurance policies, business interests, and personal property.

While a trust can serve as the primary vehicle for distributing assets upon death, it is often recommended to have a will as a backup or "pour-over" document to capture any assets that were not transferred to the trust during the trustor's lifetime. A will can also designate guardians for minor children and address other important matters.

It's advisable to review and update your trust and estate plan periodically, especially after major life events such as marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of children, significant changes in financial circumstances, or relocation to another state. Additionally, changes in tax laws or regulations may warrant updates to your plan.

Yes, in many cases, the trustor can serve as both the trustee and beneficiary of their own revocable living trust. This allows the trustor to maintain control over trust assets during their lifetime while also benefiting from the trust's provisions.

The tax treatment of trusts depends on various factors, including the type of trust, the nature of trust income, and the residency status of the trustor and beneficiaries. Consultation with a tax advisor or estate planning attorney is recommended to understand the tax implications of your specific trust arrangement.

Yes, trusts can be contested through legal proceedings, typically on grounds such as lack of capacity, undue influence, fraud, or improper execution of the trust document. Contesting a trust can be complex and may require litigation, so it's important to seek legal advice from an experienced trust and estate attorney.

Yes Lopez Legal Group, Inc., acts are your personal concierge service to ensure your case reaches its point of resolution and will collaborate and team up with the specialist to ensure your case is resolved.

You will get a discounted consultation fee with Lopez Legal Group, INc. However, the rate and fees of other attorneys your case maybe referred to will be dictated by those attorneys and not Lopez Legal Group Inc.