Incorporation in Oregon

Find the right Business Incorporation attorney in Oregon City, OR

Under Oregon law, a business may incorporate. If it chooses to do so, it is thereafter recognized as its own legal entity. This means that the business may buy or sell property, offer and accept contracts and exercise legal rights in its own name. The Oregon Secretary of State receives and processes applications for incorporation, which must be submitted in compliance with local guidelines.

Benefits of Incorporation in Oregon

Advantages of incorporation are many. The primary benefit is that the liabilities of the business can only be satisfied by the assets specifically invested into the company by the owners. If the business had remained a personal asset of the owners, they would run the risk of losing their personal property to pay for the company's financial liabilities in case of default. A corporation may also find it easier to finance itself through loans, allowing creditors in the Oregon City area to evaluate their investment by assessing the corporation rather than the individual credit-worthiness of its owners. Lastly, the ownership stake in a corporation can be apportioned into uniform slices, known as "shares" of stock. This makes it possible to sell ownership investments in more manageable slices.

Costs of Incorporation

Incorporation can be costly. First, a modest filing fee may be charged in Oregon for any business that wants to incorporate. Also, a corporation is taxed as its own entity. The incomes of owners as individuals are also taxed of course, meaning that income to the corporation may be subject to double taxation. However, this disadvantage can be avoided with proper planning and help from a local Oregon City lawyer.

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Life in Oregon City

Oregon City, Oregon is the county seat of Clackamas County. It has a population of about 32,000. It has the distinction of being the first U.S. city west of the Rocky Mountains to be incorporated. It was incorporated in 1844.

Oregon City played a role in the early development of the Western U.S., particularly the Oregon Territory. It was a popular destination for settlers who wanted to make land claims, after traveling the Oregon Trail, and surviving the likely bouts of dysentery, as well as the almost-inevitable loss of oxen during ill-advised attempts to ford rivers.

More recently, Oregon City, Oregon's economy was dominated by the lumber industry. However, in the 1980s, the lumber industry in the Pacific Northwest began to decline. However, the economy of Oregon City was able to transition into high-tech industries, as well as some light manufacturing (manufacturing which is not very labor or energy-intensive, and typically has minimal environmental impact).

If you live in Oregon City, Oregon and need a lawyer, chances are good that you'll be able to find one. Thanks to its diverse economy, there are Oregon City, Oregon lawyers who specialize in just about any area of law.

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