The Barth Firm

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The Barth Firm We are available to assist you with both your personal and business legal needs.

Specializing in Wills & Estates; Real Estate Transactions; Contract Review & Drafting; Business Formation to name a few areas.

Selling Your Property? The Closing Starts Before Closing Day.When you’re selling a property, it’s easy to think the proc...
09/03/2026

Selling Your Property? The Closing Starts Before Closing Day.

When you’re selling a property, it’s easy to think the process is simple:

Sign the contract → show up at closing → get your check.

In reality, there are a number of legal and practical issues that need to be addressed before closing day.

Your attorney may need to address:

📄 The purchase contract
🔍 Title issues
🧾 Property taxes and other municipal charges
🏠 Existing mortgages and liens
📋 Required transfer documents
💰 Closing adjustments and expenses
⚖️ Issues raised by the buyer’s attorney or title company

Identifying problems early can help prevent last-minute surprises and delays.

Whether you’re selling a home, vacant land, investment property, or commercial real estate, having an attorney involved early in the transaction can help make the process smoother.

At The Barth Firm, I represent both buyers and sellers in New York real estate transactions.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling, don’t wait until the week of closing to call your attorney.

Buying a Home? Don’t Just Focus on the Purchase Price.For most people, buying a home is one of the largest financial tra...
09/02/2026

Buying a Home? Don’t Just Focus on the Purchase Price.

For most people, buying a home is one of the largest financial transactions they will ever make.

And the closing involves much more than signing a stack of papers.

Before closing, your attorney should be reviewing issues such as:

🏠 Title to the property
📄 The purchase contract
🔍 Survey and property descriptions
💰 Closing costs and adjustments
🏦 Financing documents and lender requirements
🧾 Taxes and other prorations
⚖️ Liens, judgments, easements, and other title issues

Your attorney’s job isn’t simply to sit at the closing table and hand you a pen.

A good real estate attorney should help identify and address potential problems before you become the owner.

If you’re buying property in New York, having experienced legal counsel from contract through closing can make a significant difference.

The Barth Firm represents buyers and sellers in residential and commercial real estate transactions throughout Central New York.

Who Will Make Decisions for You If You Can’t?It’s an uncomfortable question—but an important one.What happens if you’re ...
09/01/2026

Who Will Make Decisions for You If You Can’t?

It’s an uncomfortable question—but an important one.

What happens if you’re temporarily or permanently unable to communicate your wishes?

Who will make decisions about your healthcare?

Who will handle your finances?

Who will pay your bills?

Who will deal with your bank, insurance company, or other financial matters?

Without the appropriate legal documents, your family may have to navigate a much more complicated process to obtain authority to act on your behalf.

That’s why an estate plan should be about more than simply “Who gets my stuff?”

A properly prepared plan can include:

❤️ Healthcare Proxy — designating someone to make healthcare decisions for you.

📝 Living Will — expressing your wishes regarding medical treatment.

💼 Power of Attorney — designating someone to handle financial and legal matters.

📜 Last Will and Testament — providing for the disposition of your property after death.

These documents serve different purposes—and together they can provide a much more complete plan for you and your family.

Estate planning is about more than what happens after you’re gone. It’s also about protecting yourself while you’re here.

The Barth Firm provides estate planning services for individuals and families throughout Central New York.

A Will Is Important. But a Will Is Only Part of an Estate Plan.When most people think about estate planning, they think ...
08/31/2026

A Will Is Important. But a Will Is Only Part of an Estate Plan.

When most people think about estate planning, they think about one document:

“I need a Will.”

And yes—a Last Will and Testament is an important part of an estate plan.

But your Will generally addresses what happens to your property after you die.

What happens if you are alive but unable to make your own decisions?

That’s where other documents become critically important.

An estate plan may also include:

📋 Healthcare Proxy — who can make healthcare decisions for you if you cannot?

📋 Living Will — what are your wishes regarding certain medical treatment and end-of-life care?

📋 Power of Attorney — who can handle your financial and legal affairs if you become unable to do so?

These documents address situations that a Will simply does not.

Estate planning isn’t just about deciding who gets your property.

It’s also about protecting you while you’re alive and making your wishes known when you may not be able to speak for yourself.

At The Barth Firm, I help individuals and families develop estate plans designed around their particular circumstances and wishes.

Don’t wait until your family has to guess what you would have wanted.

That Traffic Ticket May Not Be As “Minor” As You Think.A traffic ticket can be easy to dismiss.“Just pay it.”But before ...
08/29/2026

That Traffic Ticket May Not Be As “Minor” As You Think.

A traffic ticket can be easy to dismiss.

“Just pay it.”

But before you do, it’s worth understanding what that decision could mean.

Depending on the violation, a conviction can result in:

🚗 Points on your driving record
🚗 Increased insurance premiums
🚗 Fines and surcharges
🚗 License consequences
🚗 Employment problems—particularly if you drive for work
🚗 More serious consequences if you already have violations

The same is true for many offenses that people casually refer to as “minor.”

A summons or criminal charge should not automatically be treated as something you simply pay and forget about.

If you’ve received a traffic ticket, violation, or minor criminal charge, The Barth Firm can help you understand your options and determine the best way to proceed.

Don’t assume the easiest option today is the best option for you tomorrow.

Your Lawyer Should Be More Than Someone You Call When There’s a Problem.Good legal counsel isn’t always about fixing a p...
08/28/2026

Your Lawyer Should Be More Than Someone You Call When There’s a Problem.

Good legal counsel isn’t always about fixing a problem after it happens.

For business owners, having an attorney available for guidance and counseling before a problem arises can be just as important.

Questions about:

• Contracts and agreements
• Employees and independent contractors
• Buying or selling business assets
• Business partners and ownership issues
• Collections and unpaid invoices
• Leases
• Customer or vendor disputes
• Business policies and procedures
• Expanding or restructuring your business

You don’t necessarily need to wait until something becomes a lawsuit—or even a serious problem—to call your attorney.

Sometimes the most valuable legal advice is simply: “Let’s address this before it becomes a problem.”

At The Barth Firm, I work with small business owners throughout Central New York on both the legal issues they face today and the decisions that can help them avoid problems tomorrow.

Starting a Business?Starting a business is exciting—but choosing the right legal structure at the beginning can save you...
08/27/2026

Starting a Business?

Starting a business is exciting—but choosing the right legal structure at the beginning can save you significant time, money, and headaches later.

Whether you are considering an LLC, PLLC, corporation, or another business structure, there are important questions to address before you start operating:

• What type of entity is right for your business?
• Who will own and manage the business?
• What agreements should be in place between owners?
• How should the business be structured for tax purposes?
• What registrations, licenses, or filings are required?
• How do you protect your personal assets?

Business formation isn’t simply about filing paperwork with the State. It’s about establishing a legal foundation for your business to grow.

At The Barth Firm, I help New York business owners navigate formation and the legal issues that come with owning and operating a business.

The right foundation matters.

08/24/2026

📅 When Should You Update Your Estate Plan?

Many people prepare an estate plan and never look at it again.

However, your documents should be reviewed after major life events such as:

👶 Birth of a child or grandchild

💍 Marriage

💔 Divorce

🏡 Purchasing or selling a home

💼 Starting or selling a business

💰 Significant changes in assets

❤️ Death of a loved one or beneficiary

If it’s been several years since your estate planning documents were prepared, now may be the perfect time for a review.

The Barth Firm is happy to review your existing plan and discuss whether any updates are appropriate.

08/21/2026

🚔 Traffic Ticket Friday

Receiving a traffic ticket doesn’t always mean you should simply pay the fine.

In many cases, pleading guilty can result in points on your driving record, increased insurance premiums, and other unintended consequences.

At The Barth Firm, we regularly represent clients in local town and village courts throughout Upstate New York on matters involving:

🚗 Speeding tickets

🚦 Traffic violations

🚙 Moving violations

⚖️ Other minor criminal and vehicle-related offenses

Every case is unique, and the available options depend on the facts and the court involved.

If you’ve received a ticket, contact us before making a decision.

08/20/2026

💡 Estate Planning Myth

Myth: Estate planning is only for retirees.

Reality: Every adult should have basic estate planning documents in place.

Unexpected events can happen at any age.

A comprehensive estate plan may include:

✔ Last Will and Testament

✔ Durable Power of Attorney

✔ Health Care Proxy

✔ Living Will

✔ Revocable or Irrevocable Trusts, when appropriate

Estate planning isn’t just about passing away—it’s about protecting yourself and your loved ones during life as well.

If you’ve been putting it off, now is a great time to get started.

Address

121 West Main Street
Waterville, NY
13480

Telephone

(315)3133337

Website

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