I'm licensed in Texas. I did this for a while lastyear, but got busy and moved my practice.
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I'm licensed in Texas. I did this for a while lastyear, but got busy and moved my practice.
OK here's a Texas legal question stemming from my working in various Texas clubs over the years. In one club, two girls were dancing on stage at the same time. Customers were tipping at the rail. One dancer touched the other dancers' breast onstage. An undercover cop busted both dancers on prostitution charges. The dancers chose to cop a plea rather than dispute the case.
My question is, would the dancers have been able to mount a successful defense ? The legal issue seemed to stem from the fact that Texas prostitution law does not draw a linkage between the persons engaging in sexual contact (in this case the 2 dancers) and the persons paying the money (in this case the stateside tippers).
The answer is both yes and no. They clearly could defend against a prostitution charge. However, every major city in Texas has a "no touching" ordinance. The courts have ok-ed these, even when it's contact between dancers. See Hang On, Inc. v. City of Arlington. So basically they were breaking a law, just not a prostitution law.
^^^ Thanks Blackstone ! But now for something a little more on-topic for the dollar den ...
How does a US citizen go about setting up a corporation in Panama, Costa Rica etc. ?
I've never set up a foreign corporation. I've dealt extensively with some virgin islands ones, but that was in the context of a tax fraud situation. I don't speak Spanish well enough to even try that sort of arrangement out.
In Mexico, there is a whole industry of lawyers who set up dummy Mexican corporations for American investors. I would assume the same exists in the traditional tax havens like Panama, too.
I have a query, what about prenuptial agreements. Do these vary from state to state? Plus, does a cash orientated job ( such as dancing/stripping/entertaining) - or hard to verify income affect this?
Have some questions about law school & daily work as a lawyer- interested in talking about this?
Here's my conundrum.
I accepted a role in an ultra-low budget SAG feature film. Since compensation was minimal, I was given lines that I was told would make me SAG eligible.
Now, the SAG representative is telling me that ultra-low budget films do not make one eligible for SAG. The producer is saying they told him otherwise. The bottom line is, I showed my tits and I didn't get the SAG card I was promised.
What should I do to get the SAG card?
Not a lawyer, but they do vary, mainly by region. The West Coast doesn't like them. California passed laws that they automatically become void after 10 years (one reason Tom left Nicole), they also passed laws that if there was any duress, the Prenup becomes void (but anything will qualify as duress, not just the traditional views). On the East Coast, they are generally upheld (personally know about FL, NY, NJ, Conn, Mass)
What was the name of the movie? j/k
Lines aren't enough, sorry. http://www.sag.org/content/eligibility-check
Each side needs their own lawyer for the prenup. There has to be full disclosures. Otherwise it will be easy to get it thrown out.
But it comes from the experience (of friends/ exfriends, and my lawyer). There are also things that will not be upheld even if they are in a prenup.
Well thank you. I guess my advice would only be worth it for someone who has a lot to lose or who actually wants to know what their State laws govern regarding prenups and wants it airtight.
Out....
Not a lawyer, but a CPA. From my perspective, the best thing about a prenup is the listing of assets that each party brings into the marriage. Also very useful is a valuation of those assets pre-marriage. That is a starting point for valuing the property division.
An example. New wife lists her house as a pre-existing asset and the parties say it's worth $200,000, further the parties agree she owes $100,000 on it. Net is $100,000. That is the only asset listed. Five years later, the parties split up. But, they sold her house during marriage and bought a new house for $250,000, there is a $150,000 mortgage on the new house. Husband wants to sell the house for $250,000, pay the mortgage off and split the proceeds equally. About $50,000 each. Wife cries foul, she wants the first $100,000 from the sale and they split the remainder. With a prenup that listed the house, its value and the debt, she has a pretty good chance of getting her $100,000 back.
I'm a CPA and you may have a snarky comment or two. That will say a lot more about you than me. But, keep in mind, I've BTDT.
XOXO
Z
Qualified professionals I will take advice from. Random individuals that go with .. " Well, I heard." Can get you into a lot of trouble and hot water.
If I want a specialized service, I go to specialist. Not someone that has a friend, or knows someone that does that.
We are alike. It is not the 'I heard' I am giving, but what was told me by qualified specialists. Also, I am giving the advice to go to a qualified specialist (i.e. a lawyer) so you do things right. There are too many things that can go wrong if you don't.
BTW can you name the state that has a 'waiting period' on prenups? I can. If someone got a simple form and filled it out and didn't follow through on that waiting period, it was for not.
Regarding this prenup nonsense: I'm sure everyone has something to add about their divorced friends or whoever that had or didn't have a prenup. They're everywhere. But from a contactual persoective, there's not a lot to them. Obviously if you're going to write your own, get a book from Barnes & Noble or amazon.com that talks about whatever state you're in. Most of them come with CDs that have fill in the blank forms for all the states. Honestly, most lawyers have a paid internet service (usually westlaw or lexis) that has all these forms, and all we do is fill them out for you. Now don't be an idiot and scribble a prenup on a napkin. Get a book, or a lawyer (usually a pair for this sort of thing) and fill out whatever you need. If it turns out to be too awkward or complicated, get lawyers. But there really isnt any reason for me or anyone else here to give you random bits of prenup knowledge. That's all.
Christ.. No more questions from me.