what does p.c. sand for on an attorney?

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What does PC after a law firm or attorney's office mean?

In some states, it isn't uncommon to see the name of a law firm or attorney's office with the letters "PC" after it. PC stands for "professional corporation." Like limited liability companies, corporations and other business structures, professional corporations are legally recognized business entities in some states.

What does PA mean after the name of a law firm?

When attorney offices use the PA after their name, that means the firm has been incorporated. PA is Professional Association. PA is the type of corporation that provides us with most of the benefits of incorporation. but do not relieve the participants of professional liability.

What is a professional corporation for lawyers called?

It's more or less like a corporation but with special rules concerning who can own it and addressing liability issues a little differently. It's basically a corporation for attorneys or for other professionals who may need similar rules. What is the PC after an attorneys name? The PC after an attorney's name stands for professional corporation.

What is a PC for lawyers?

Unlike a regular corporation, a PC for lawyers requires that each director, shareholder and officer be licensed to practice law. Further the legal PC may only provide services in its field.

What is professional corporation?

A professional corporation is a product of state laws which provide detailed provisions on what the corporation can and cannot do. A corporation should have its own set of by-laws and agreements that dictate the responsibilities and conduct of the corporation, its directors, and shareholders.

What are the advantages of an LLC vs a PC?

One of the key benefits of a LLP or an LLC compared to a PC is flexibility. Each partner has the right to manage the business entity and make decisions about daily business operations. The basic governing structure is a partnership agreement, which doesn't even have to be written. However, individual states have statutes which will address certain aspects of the business, if there is no written agreement in place. So, if there is no written agreement or the agreement doesn't address particular issues, the LLP or LLC will be subject to the gap-filling provisions in their states' business code.

What is the difference between a PC and an LLC?

There's a huge tax difference between a PC and a LLP or an LLC. A professional corporation is a business entity that must pay income taxes for the corporation itself, which may result in double taxation. However, with an LLP or LLC, the member pays individual taxes, not the entity itself.

Why do lawyers need a formal business structure?

The key reasons to have a formal business structure is for liability protection and tax considerations. None of the business organization structures will protect an attorney from personal liability for professional malpractice, personal loan guarantees, or intentional torts.

What is a PC in business?

A PC is much more formal, as operating decisions often require director approval and votes of shareholders. As with any corporation, you must hold shareholder and director meetings, keep records and minute books.

Do you need articles of incorporation for a PC?

The formation of a PC requires articles of incorporation be filed along with the applicable fees with your secretary of state. There are also annual filings as dictated by state law. The articles should state:

What does the letter PC mean?

The all-cap letters "PC" can stand for many things in our lives. The personal computer became known as a PC shortly after its debut. More recently, being PC has meant being politically correct, or saying what is customarily accepted as the "right" thing to say to avoid offending anyone regardless of what you might want to say. However, when you see the letters "PC" with lawyers' names, other professionals' names or after a company's name, the "PC" meaning is clear: professional corporation.

How are PCs taxed?

PCs are taxed in a way that comes with both advantages and disadvantages. For example, PC employees have higher contribution limits on retirement plans. PCs can provide health and life insurance benefits tax free and can receive deductions for additional benefits like disability insurance.

What does PC stand for in business?

"PC" after a company's name stands for "professional corporation," a type of corporation used by professionals such as lawyers, accountants and doctors because of the limited liability and tax advantages it provides.

What is a PC after a name?

Understanding "PC" After a Name. A professional corporation, abbreviated as "PC" after a company’s name, is a type of corporation often seen in professions where highly educated people provide services to those who need their expertise, such as accountants, lawyers, doctors, architects, consultants and other professionals.

Does PC cover all liability?

Designed specifically to give some protection from liability to professionals such as doctors, lawyers, architects and others, "PC" does not excuse all liability — it still holds professionals accountable for their own actions.

Can a doctor in a solo practice and a PC of doctors join an LLC?

So, a doctor in a solo practice and a PC of doctors could join an LLC that has other doctor members as well. A disadvantage, however, is that members of an LLC are generally required to carry a high level of malpractice insurance.

Is PC a legal entity?

Many people see "PC" after a group of lawyers’ names, and therefore they assume a PC company is a legal term or is related to lawyers. It is a legal term in the sense that a professional corporation is a legal entity that provides professionals with certain tax and legal advantages. However, professional corporations are not only for lawyers;

What is a PLLC in California?

In a PLLC, the members and managers must be licensed to practice the same profession. In California, licensed professionals are limited to forming a sole proprietorship, general partnership, or professional corporation (PC).

What is a professional corporation?

A professional corporation or PC is one variation of a corporation. Licensed professionals who want to incorporate their practice can form a PC. However, the shareholders, directors, and officers must belong to the same profession.

What happens to a professional when he retires?

If a professional retires or leaves, ownership is easily transferred to the others, and professionals can share management responsibilities and profits without worrying about being liable for each other's malpractice actions. The flat corporate tax rate, however, could limit corporate growth.

What professions are required to form a PC?

The following are often required to form a PC: Accountants. Attorneys. Engineers.

Can creditors come after personal assets?

Both limit an owner's personal liability for business debts and claims to business assets, and creditors cannot come after personal assets. Neither protects you against personal liability for your own malpractice, negligence, or personal wrongdoing. Malpractice protection is often why professionals file as a PC to avoid financial liability for ...

Can an accountant be a PC?

Accountants. Attorneys. Engineers. Medical doctors. Veterinarians. There are exceptions. Some states give professionals a choice between incorporating as a PC or as a regular corporation. In all states, certain professionals— again, check your state statutes —have the option to form a PC.

What does J.D. stand for in law?

Each designates a degree the attorney earned. The following are the most common lawyer initials: J.D. J.D. stands for "juris doctor” and is the degree received when an attorney graduates from law school.

What is a J.S.D.?

A Doctor of the Science of Law (J.S.D. or S.J.D.) is the equivalent of a Ph.D. in law. Attorneys who get these lawyer initials generally become scholars or teachers of law and social sciences. This is a very specialized degree that's selectively awarded. LL.B.

What is LL.M. law?

It's a graduate degree and is required to practice law in the United States. LL.M. The Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree is available to people who already have a J.D. It provides advanced legal study and certification in a specific area of law, such as international law, human rights law or intellectual property law.

Do lawyers have abbreviations?

When reading the names of some attorneys, it can seem like there's an entire alphabet written after the surname. Essentially, the more education an attorney has, the more lawyer abbreviations you might find after the individual's written name. If you have any interest in going to law school, it's helpful to understand the meaning behind the abbreviations and know which of these degrees may work best for you.

What does P.A. stand for?

P.A. stands for “Professional Association” which is a type of business entity which can only be created by people in certain professions (most commonly lawyers).

What is the term for a lawyer?

In some common law countries the professions of solicitor and barrister are fused together and, in many of those countries, the term “attorney” is used to describe lawyers.

What does PA mean in business?

PA = PC [Professional Corporation] in all practical respects. However, the PA will lack formal organizational documents for “a corporation” and the PA will likely have to publish the banns at the time of its formation - as do LLCs. To publish the banns [which. Continue Reading.

What was the role of lawyers in England and Wales?

In England and Wales we used to have attorneys, who advised clients and prepared cases for trial in courts of law (“law” having an arcane and restrictive meaning in this context). The same job was done by solicitors in courts of equity, a parallel system of courts which applied different rules.

What is a professional association?

Professional Associations are a form of business entity that is available in some states for a business that primarily engages in a professional service. The “PA” is similar to a corporation. Other professionals, like real estate agents, doctors, and architects, can also organize their business entity as a PA.

Can you sue a lawyer for malpractice?

However; you may still sue the lawyer, personally, for malpractice.

Can a lawyer organize their business activities?

Professional Association. Some US states permit lawyers to organize their incidental business activities behind a personal liability shield.