You can read it, and you should. But a contract review is less about spotting scary words and more about noticing what is missing: who carries the risk if something goes wrong, how disputes get resolved, what happens if one side wants out. We read the document against the deal you think you agreed to and flag the gaps. For a simple freelance agreement that is often a short conversation. For a lease or a vendor contract it usually takes longer.

A demand letter asks for something specific, usually payment or performance, and sets out what happens next if the request is ignored. A cease-and-desist letter asks someone to stop an activity, such as using your name, copying your material, or contacting you directly. Both are formal correspondence, not court filings, and both work best when the facts are organized and the request is clear. We draft them so the recipient understands the position without the letter reading like a threat.

Yes, and the second part matters more than most founders expect. Formation is a set of filings, but compliance is a calendar: annual reports, registered agent requirements, updates when ownership or addresses change, and internal records that hold up if there is ever a dispute. We walk through the initial structure, then help you keep the paperwork current so a simple administrative lapse does not turn into a problem later.

Sooner than feels comfortable. Many notices include a deadline, and even when they do not, the date on the letter often matters if the matter escalates. The first step is not to draft a reply but to read the notice carefully, note what is actually being claimed, and gather the documents it refers to. From there we can advise on timing, tone, and whether a response is owed at all. Ignoring a notice rarely makes it go away.

Both, within reason. A deposit disagreement, a late invoice, a neighbor boundary question, or a disagreement over a service that was not delivered as described are all things we look at. What we avoid is promising outcomes. We can explain your options, help you decide whether the cost of pursuing something is worth it, and prepare the documents if you decide to move forward. Sometimes the honest answer is that a direct conversation is the better path.

Bring the documents, even the messy ones. Contracts, emails, text messages, invoices, notices, and any timeline you have written down. A short summary of what happened, in your own words, is more useful than a polished version. If you are not sure what is relevant, include it anyway. We would rather sort through extra material than work from a partial picture.