Incorporation in Oregon

Find the right Business Incorporation attorney in Eugene, 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

There are distinct benefits to incorporating a business. Most importantly, liabilities the business accrues may be satisfied only by assets that the owners have specifically invested in it. Without incorporation, the personal property of business owners is at stake should the company become unable to fulfill its debts. Furthermore, a business that has not incorporated puts the unnecessary burden on creditors in the Eugene area to evaluate the credit worthiness of individual owners rather than that of the business, making loans more cumbersome. Finally, ownership of a corporation is divided into equal portions or "shares" of stock, which may be bought and sold much more easily than the ownership of an unincorporated business.

Costs of Incorporation

There are costs associated with incorporation, both short and long term. First, businesses in Oregon may be charged a fee 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 Eugene lawyer.

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Life in Eugene

Eugene, Oregon is the second-largest city in the state of Oregon. It is also the seat of Lane County, in the south end of the Willamette Valley. Its population is about 157,000 people.

Eugene, Oregon is named after its founder, Eugene Franklin Skinner, who started the first recorded permanent settlement in the area. The first major educational institution in the area was Columbia College, which was founded a few years before the University of Oregon (still Oregon's flagship public university).

Modernly, Eugene is known as a progressive, and somewhat quirky, community with a streak of political radicalism thrown in for good measure. A small but highly-visible community of anarchists established itself in Eugene in the 1990s, and is still present there today. While they are not generally criminally-inclined, some of their protests have led to arrests. Many activist attorneys in Eugene, Oregon have taken it upon themselves to represent clients with radical political views, sometimes on a pro bono or reduced fee basis.

Of course, most Eugene, Oregon lawyers have more "standard" careers, and represent average citizens and small businesses, helping them with the legal issues that they're most likely to face. If you live in or around Eugene, Oregon, and have a legal issue that needs immediate attention, you should not hesitate to contact an Eugene, Oregon attorney as soon as possible.

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