Blair Law Firm, PLLC

09/13/2024

WHO ARE WE?

Blair Law Firm, PLLC is a veteran-owned, commercial boutique law firm located in Skaneateles, NY offering legal representation in a myriad of practice areas. Our experienced staff of three attorneys and four paralegals transact business throughout New York State, however, we have national reach. Our core practice areas include Real Estate, Municipal, Land Use, Corporate, Commercial, and Estate Planning & Administration.

WE'RE HIRING - REAL ESTATE PARALEGAL

We are looking to hire a professional, experienced, full-time real estate paralegal. Duties will include taking the lead on transactional document preparation, conducting due diligence, coordinating and executing closings, handling post-closing matters, assisting lenders, meeting with clients, and handling related title insurance matters.

Preferred candidates will have at least 3 years’ experience in the field and can expect an extremely competitive compensation package, with multiple benefits and perks, and a high-quality health insurance plan.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Proficiency with EZ Soft real estate software, Microsoft
programs, including Word, Excel, Office, Teams, etc.
• Legal Document Preparation, including Statements of Sale
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Customer service oriented
• Significant experience with real estate matters
• Strong proficiency with math/numbers
• Experience with bank lender files
• Paralegal certification or extensive experience preferred

INTERESTED CANDIDATES may email resumes to: [email protected]

A full service law firm located in Skaneateles, New York, offering competent and creative legal serv

07/24/2023

4 VIP BOX SEATS FOR MATCHBOX 20 @ THE AMP ON SATURDAY, JULY 29TH! Park your cars right up close with your 2 VIP parking passes, take a golf cart ride to and from your VIP box seats, and settle in with drinks provided by your own personal server at your seats! Access to the VIP lounge with the good bathrooms, A/C and indoor bar included! BIDDING STARTS AT $600 and ALL PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED TO THE DICK PITMAN MEMORIAL FUND!

The Dick Pitman Memorial Fund provides assistance to surviving spouses/partners and dependants of Veterans or Active Military members who have passed away. 100% of the funds raised for the Memorial Fund go right back into our local community.

PLEASE MESSAGE THIS PAGE WITH YOUR BID and we will announce the winner WEDNESDAY, July 29th at 4pm. LET THE BIDDING BEGIN!

07/08/2022

Three Basic Elements of an Estate Plan:

No matter what your age, everyone should have three basic estate planning documents. By having these documents in place, it will give you peace of mind and reduce the stress on your family if something should happen to you.

The first document is a Last Will and Testament. This document instructs your Executor to whom your assets should be distributed to. The Will can also set up a Guardianship for your children under the age of eighteen and any tTrusts, if needed.

The second document is a Power of Attorney. This document is created for you to give someone else the authority to act on your behalf if you become incapacitated.

The third document is a Health Care Proxy. This document names a person who you have given the power to make health care decisions for you. This would include medical treatment, pain control, Do-Not-Resuscitate and access to health care information.

It is never too early to have an Estate Plan in order. Also, let your loved ones know your wishes and where your Estate Planning documents are located.

When you are ready, call our office and our Trusts & Estates Department would be happy to help you put your plan in place. (315) 685-9900

06/27/2022

SUMMER UPDATE: Now that the warmer weather is finally here, we would like to provide you with a boating update as we begin recreational activities in the Finger Lakes this summer. Currently, under New York law, if you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, you will need a boating safety certificate for 2022. If you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1983, you will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2023. If you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1978, you will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2024. Finally, all motorboat operators will need a boating safety certificate beginning in 2025. For jet skis, you must also have a boating safety certificate. Please be cautious and safe while enjoying our beautiful lakes.


For more information please see: https://parks.ny.gov/recreation/boating/education.aspx

06/17/2022

New York State Legislative Update: Employers Beware!

New York State lawmakers recently passed a bill that would add a new section, 194-b, to Labor Law. The law would require employers in the State of New York to disclose salary ranges to applicants and employees. The bill, expected to be signed by Governor Hochul, will take effect 270 days after it is signed.

The law would require that employers post the compensation or range of compensation in any advertisement for a job, promotion, or transfer opportunity. The range of compensation must consist of the minimum and maximum salary of what the employer believes in good faith to be accurate at the time of the posting. Employers will be required to maintain records including the history of compensation ranges and description for each job posting.
The law would apply to any job that can be performed, at least in part, in the State of New York. As a result, all listings for remote positions that can be performed where the employee is currently living must comply with this law.

The proposed law can be found here: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/s9427/amendment/a

06/10/2022

Real Estate Reminder for the Week:

On every residential real estate sale in New York, a Transfer Tax is due at closing and paid for by the seller on sales. The Transfer Tax is based on the sales price and is collected when the sales price is $500.00 or more. The tax is $2.00 for each $500.00. For example, a home with a sales price of $150,000.00 would be divided by 500 and multiplied by $2, making the tax owed $600.00
A lot of home buyers are not aware of the New York State Mansion Tax. The Mansion Tax imposes an additional tax of 1% of the sale price to residential real property conveyances where consideration is $1 million or more. Unlike the real estate transfer tax, which is paid by the seller, the mansion tax is traditionally paid by the buyer. For example, a home with a sales price of $1,250,000.00 would have a mansion tax due at closing in the amount of $12,500.00. Residential real property includes any property that is or can be used in whole or in part as a personal residence at the time of conveyance, including a one-, two-, or three-family house, an individual condominium, or a cooperative apartment unit. Mixed-use properties can sometimes be subject to the mansion tax. For example, a building with a store on the first level and two apartments above would be considered a four-unit house for the purposes of the mansion tax. However, a building with a store on the first level and three apartments above would be considered a three-family house for the purposes of the mansion tax.
For more information about New York State real estate transfer taxes, please see the following link:https://www.tax.ny.gov/pdf/publications/real_estate/pub577.pdf

03/31/2022

Congratulations Tim and Erica!

12/30/2021

BULLETIN: We want to make sure that all of our food service clients are aware of New York State’s ban on expanded polystyrene, single-use foam food and beverage containers under the New York State Environmental Conservation Law.

Effective January 1, 2022, no food service provider or store (“Covered Provider”) may sell or distribute disposable food containers that contain expanded polystyrene foam in New York.

Violations of this ban could result in hefty fines. Please access the below link for FAQs and the text of the New York DEC law. Thank you and may 2022 be an outstanding year for you!

For further information, please see the following link:

In 2020, New York State adopted the nation’s strongest statewide ban of expanded polystyrene, single-use foam food containers and polystyrene packaging materials known as packing peanuts.

12/03/2021

Decking the halls here at Blair Law Firm! Reminder - any donations for the Skaneateles American Legion Post 239 Project Christmas Hope can be dropped off here at the office until Thursday morning, December 9th. Thank you for your support!
Lynn Brown Isa Hubbard Shawna Hall Saucier Mary Ann Spingler

11/24/2021

Please join us in supporting Skaneateles American Legion Post 239's "Operation Christmas Hope" by donating to their food drive to benefit local veteran families. The Legion will be putting together boxes for 25 local families in need this year and we appreciate the community's support!

NEEDS: toiletries (shampoo, body soap, toothpaste, etc.), cleaning products, non-perishable food items, including condiments like BBQ sauce, saurkraut, mayo, etc. (the families will receive meat in their boxes and will need condiments to go with the meat).

Donations can be dropped off at the Legion or at our office during normal business hours through December 9th. Thank you for supporting our local veteran families this holiday season!

07/01/2021

LEGAL UPDATE: On March 31, 2021, Governor Cuomo signed the Ma*****na Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) into law. The MRTA established the Cannabis Law (Chapter 7-A of the New York State Laws), which outlines procedures for implementing retail sales and on-site consumption sites of cannabis. Towns, villages, and cities must pass local laws, subject to permissive referendum, to “opt-out” of allowing cannabis retail sales and on-site consumption sites within their respective jurisdictions, no later than December 31, 2021.

On March 31, 2021, Governor Cuomo signed the Ma*****na Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) into law. The MRTA established the Cannabis Law (Chapter 7-A of the New York State Laws), which outlines procedures for implementing retail sales and on-site consumption sites of cannabis. Towns, villages, and cities must pass local laws, subject to permissive referendum, to “opt-out” of allowing cannabis retail sales and on-site consumption sites within their respective jurisdictions, no later than December 31, 2021.
The MRTA also legalized the personal consumption, possession, transfer, and cultivation of cannabis. Any individual, 21 or older, may now: (1) Possess up to 3 ounces of cannabis and up to 24 grams of concentrated cannabis; (2) Transfer (not sell) these amounts to another person 21 years or older; and (3) Consume cannabis or concentrated cannabis, unless otherwise prohibited by law. As an example, NY regulates the smoking and va**ng of cannabis as it does to***co; therefore, any individual, 21 or older, may not smoke or v**e cannabis in any place that he or she could not do so with to***co.

Be especially mindful that the smoking, va**ng, or ingesting of cannabis is prohibited within 100 feet of any elementary or secondary school, or public library.

The sections of the MRTA permitting the home cultivation of 3 mature and 3 immature cannabis plants, per person (6 mature and 6 immature cannabis plant per private residence), at any one time, do not take effect until the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) issues regulations regarding home cultivation. The OCM must issue regulations for home cultivation by “certified [medical] patients…no later than [September 1, 2021]”. The OCM must issue regulations for cultivation by cannabis consumers “no later than 18 months following the first authorized retail sale of adult-use cannabis products to a cannabis consumer.”

The MRTA also established procedures for expunging criminal records “for many previous cannabis related convictions.”