Author: MOWK

What You Should Know about Relocation and Bankruptcy

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Now that a new year has started, many take that as their cue for a new start. For some, this can mean a move to a new location. However, you don’t want to derail your economic situation by complicating an existing or upcoming bankruptcy filing. If you’re moving, or have recently moved and you need bankruptcy protection, then there are key factors to consider that will affect your case. 

1. Your relocation destination:

The complexity of your situation will depend on where your new home is located. If you’re moving into another location that is in the same federal court jurisdiction, then it’s as simple as informing the bankruptcy court and the trustee of the change. You may not even have to transfer your case if the new location is nearby. For instance, a move from New Jersey to New York. 

However, if your move is to a place of greater distance, then the process requires a lot more considerations, which is the reason that it’s not highly recommended. Transferring your case requires moving the bankruptcy court for a change of venue; you might have to appear in your current bankruptcy judge’s court to explain why moving your case won’t prejudice your case.  

2. Waiting period:

If you decide to move your bankruptcy case, there is a waiting period before you can file in your new state. You need to have lived in the new state for a majority of the past 180 days (this means at least 91 days) to file a bankruptcy in that state. No specific documents are required to prove your residency, but you can use documentation, such as your lease or utility bills to verify your time in the state. If your time in the new state isn’t enough to meet the requirements, then you can either wait until the time has passed and file then, or alternatively, you can file in your previous state. 

3. Creditors’ meetings: 

Attending your creditors meeting may not be an issue. Due to the pandemic, the meetings are generally conducted by phone. Many trustees accept remote connection attendance, but you can execute a power of attorney instrument to allow someone to sub in you for you, if you prefer.  

4. Exemptions: 

  • Exemptions are the laws that dictate what assets you can keep after filing for bankruptcy. When the property is “exempt,” it means it is protected up to a certain amount. 
  • You shouldn’t sell assets that belong to the bankruptcy estate; this includes any of your prior possessions that are non-exempt, not reaffirmed, or not assumed to belong to the bankruptcy estate for liquidation and distribution. This probably includes your house and any other real estate that you own. If you do indeed sell the bankruptcy estate’s property, the trustee will probably come after you for the proceeds. However, if the trustee files a report of no distribution or abandonment of an asset, then it reverts back to you and you can sell it.
  • You probably can’t reap the benefits from your new home state’s exemptions, if they are more generous than your other state; amendments to exemptions usually require you to be in the new state for 730 days.

Get Legal Assistance with New York Bankruptcy Issues

If your case is a New York bankruptcy or will turn into one, it’s obvious that the laws about residency requirements, exemptions, and the way that it intersects with contemplating bankruptcy after relocation can be difficult terrain to navigate. It makes sense to get expert help from a skilled MOWK Law attorney for your bankruptcy needs. Contact us today. 

What You Should Know about Selling a House “As Is” in New York

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Usually when you’re selling your home, you make repairs and improvements so that it is in the best condition to fetch the highest price possible. However, when you sell your house “as is,” you forgo those repairs and put your home on the market in its current condition, without negotiations with the buyer for any credits to fund any upgrades. Whether you’re in a hurry to unload your property or you simply don’t have the additional funds for renovations, there are various reasons for wanting to go this route. Read on for information about what you should know about selling an “as is” home in New York.

1. The role of real estate agents and real estate lawyers:

Although it isn’t a requirement to have a real estate agent for your home sale, it’s a very good idea because they can offer a lot of support and knowledge, especially with an as-is sale. The agent can help you navigate through home selling procedures and advise you on setting a price. New York requires the participation of a lawyer in all home sales and their duties include drafting a purchase contract, analyzing the title report, and assisting with documentation at closing. 

2. As-is sellers offer significant discounts:

Many buyers are hesitant to purchase because the homes are is disrepair and will require a lot of effort to fix. Thus, the offer will be well below a normal listing. It’s a trade-off: The buyer gets a lower price in exchange for the efficiency of a quick sale. The price that you set is significant because it will determine the final sales price and how soon you get an offer; it needs to be competitive, yet fair to reflect the as-is status.

3. Cash buyers can be good sources: 

If a quick sale is a priority, consider selling to a cash buyer. This means that the buyer pays with cash and you don’t have to wait for them to secure financing, which slows down the home sales process. You can even list the house as “cash offers only.” The drawback is that the offer will likely be a lot lower than fair market value. 

4. Requirements for an as-is sale: 

New York law mandates that all as-is sellers disclose any known issues. If not, the seller must pay a credit to the buyer. If you don’t want to make such disclosures, then you can just pay a credit without the disclosure. The fee will protect you from liability in most cases. However, this liability protection doesn’t always apply; for instance, if the buyer is in a special relationship of trust with the seller, it will not protect the seller. An attorney can provide clarity on these issues. Sellers aren’t required to obtain a pre-listing inspection or make any attempts to discover any problems that they weren’t already aware of. However, an inspection might be helpful because it could potentially protect you from some liabilities later on. If you’re working with a real estate agent, they can help you gauge whether it’s worth pursuing. You might also consider making some low-cost repairs because they can have a significant effect on your home’s final sales price. 

5. Closing costs associated with as-is sales: 

As a seller of an as-is home, you will have to pay for a title search, mortgage prepayment fees, real estate transfer tax, attorney fees, and realtor commission fees. This will probably be at least 1-3 percent of the home’s final sales price. 

Get Help with an As-is Home Sale 

Before you sell your home as is, you will want to make sure that you understand how it differs from a normal listing. An experienced real estate attorney can guide you through the process. You can consult with the skilled MOWK Law real estate attorneys to get answers to your real estate questions. Contact us now to get started. 

How Does Covid-19 Affect IP Contracts?

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The Covid-19 crisis has had a devastating impact on every pretty much industry. With businesses struggling to operate under the shadow of shelter-in-place orders, many parties are in the difficult position of not being able to meet their contractual obligations. The business entities that are experiencing this struggle are seeking solutions in their contracts and hoping that they have provisions that can excuse a breach of contract during these unprecedented times. 

Some contracts that have been implicated are IP licenses, which can contain agreements with sales minimums or royalty agreements that are difficult, if not impossible to fulfill during this time of cancellations and business closures. Both licensees and licensors have recourse to excuse or enforce provisions due to the coronavirus. Because the events of Covid-19 will not automatically apply to excusing a nonperformance of a contract, you must first look at the specific license to determine the possibility. 

Does the License have a Force Majeure Clause? 

Many licenses have “force majeure” (superior force) clauses that expressly relieves a party from performance or postpones performance when events or “acts of God” that are beyond their control occur. Although it may seem that the unpredictable environment of Covid-19 is tailor-made for the applicability of a force majeure clause, it depends on the specific license and the ensuing circumstances as to whether the force majeure excuses a given type of nonperformance. 

When analyzing the specific language of the contract, look at the following:

  • The definition of force majeure: Some will mention a pandemic or epidemic specifically, but the contract may still excuse Covid-19 related occurrences if it mentions quarantines or travel restrictions or there is a “catch-all” provision which defines force majeure broadly. However, some majeure provisions are limited to the events mentioned.
  • Identify the performance that the force majeure refers to: Establish whether the clause applies to the type of breach being contemplated. Also, some clauses are drafted to excuse liability that concerns not only nonperformance, but also underperformance. 
  • Any preexisting conditions that must be met: A party might have to complete a prerequisite before the clause is invoked as a nonperformance excuse.  

When there is no force majeure provision or it doesn’t apply, then the parties must rely on the common law contract doctrines of frustration of purpose and commercial impracticability. Unfortunately, they usually don’t result in excusing the performance. However, it’s possible that nonperformance may be excused on “impracticability” or “impossibility” grounds due to an unforeseen change in circumstances due to Covid-19.

Bankruptcy Issues

The coronavirus also triggers issues for IP licenses, such as the potential for bankruptcies and pledges of non-enforcement of IP rights. If there is bankruptcy of a licensor, the license might be rejected by the licensor, making the licensee to either force compliance or pursue a breach. On the other hand, if a licensee declares bankruptcy, some IP licenses have clauses that attempt automatic reversion or termination of IP rights. 

Talk to an Attorney about IP Issues

The Covid-19 crisis will continue to impact business and how contracts are performed. If you’re concerned about how your intellectual property issues are handled during the pandemic, then you may want to talk with a MOWK Law attorney who is well-versed in IP law. Contact us today for more information on how we can help you.

Understanding Partition Actions in New York

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When people own property as tenants in common, they own it with other co-tenants and any one of them can force a partition (division) and sale of the property. For centuries, partition actions have had unfortunate consequences for many individuals trying to retain property. More recently, real estate investors used this tactic to their advantage by acquiring shares of property at well-below market rates; often, with the end result forcing owners to leave their family home. To help combat this, states like New York have passed a version of the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act (UPHPA). 

Tenants in Common

Family members can inherit property from a parent or other relative from a will or through New York’s

intestacy laws when the relative doesn’t have a will. The UPHPA only applies if the family members were left the property as tenants in common with their other family members. 

A tenant in common relationship is one where two or more individuals share the ownership rights in property. Each independent tenant in common is considered an individual owner.  For example, a father dies and leaves his home to his four daughters as four tenants in common, with each one owning a 25 percent interest in the house. Alternatively, they could own different shares. For instance, one daughter could be a tenant who owns 40 percent, and the other three daughter/tenants could each own 20 percent. 

Tenants in common have the right to pass down their own share of the property to any beneficiary in a will or trust; family members can independently sell their part of the ownership, or they can borrow against it. However, one tenant can’t sell their portion without the approval of the other owners unless the court issues a partition action. 

When Owners Don’t Agree

If there is disagreement about whether or not to sell the property, the owner that wants to sell may file a lawsuit for a partition. These types of lawsuits have grown in popularity due to an increase in property values and more siblings inheriting property they want to sell while their sibling/co-owners (often those living on the property) don’t. 

In these situations, (prior to the enactment of the UPHPA) many commercial real estate investors would buy a share of the property. Then the investors would request a partition action, which would result in family members being forced to sell their family home at an auction sale; these homes sell for much less at auction than they do on the open market. 

What the UPHPA Does

Although the owner still has the right to force the sale of jointly owned property, the New York legislature wants to ensure that family members have the opportunity to first buy out one another’s interest before selling the property to a third party. When families can’t agree as to whether or not to sell a property, they will need to attend a mediation session. The purpose of the mediation is to work out the issue before a partition occurs. If the owners can’t reach a resolution through mediation, then a New York judge may require the sale of the property through the open market, not an auction.  

New York Real Estate Lawyers

If own property with someone else and are having difficulty agreeing with them, then you might have to consider a partition action. Although this impasse may be difficult, talking to an experienced real estate lawyer can help you through the strain going through this process. That’s why it’s a good idea to get in touch with the skilled MOWK real estate lawyers. Let us answer your questions. Contact us today. 

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How to Execute a Tax-Free New York Real Estate Exchange

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Generally, if you plan to make a real estate sale, you must deal with paying taxes. When the transaction involves investment property, you can be taxed on any profits (capital gains) that you’ve made on the sale. However, if you reinvest the money in a similar property within a certain time period, you can delay paying taxes on the property. This property swap method is known as a 1031 Exchange. Here’s some information on how to execute a tax-free New York real estate exchange. 

1. Ensure the replacement property meets the 1031 requirements: There are rules regarding the replacement property that must be met, including the following:

  • The replacement property (in addition to the property being sold) must be for investment or business purposes only.
  • Compared to the property being sold, the replacement property must be similar or “like-kind”, which the IRS defines as “property of the same nature, character, or class.” The rules refer to the exchange of commercial investment property for residential property (and vice-versa) to be considered “like-kind.” An exchange involving a U.S. property for a foreign property, however, is not considered “like-kind.” 
  • The replacement property should be of equal or greater value to the one being sold.
  • If there are mortgages, the amount on the replacement property must be the same or greater than the mortgage on the property being sold. If it’s less, the difference in value is treated as “boot” and it’s taxable. 
  • The replacement property must be identified within 45 days.

2. Understand how the exchanges are structured: The exchange can be performed in a few different ways: 

  • Simultaneous exchange: make a disposition of the relinquished property and acquire the replacement property at the same time 
  • Deferred exchange: dispose of one property and subsequently exchange for one or more other like-kind properties within the required time frame  
  • Reverse exchange: acquire the replacement property where an intermediary acts as an exchange titleholder for no more than 180 days. During this time frame, you must dispose of the relinquished property in order to complete the transaction. 

3. Use a qualified intermediary: To successfully execute the reverse exchange, an intermediary’s involvement will ensure that that you’re in compliance:

  • Their role is to be your agent when you sell the original property and hold the proceeds.
  • Then you will inform them when you identify potential replacement properties.
  • Next, the intermediary will use the funds to acquire the replacement and complete the exchange within the time frame.   
  • After the contract terms are agreed upon, the intermediary should receive copies. 

4. Report the exchange: After the exchange is complete, you must send all copies of the sales and purchase documents so that the IRS will be notified. Otherwise, you would be subject to taxation and this would defeat the purpose of all of this effort!

Talk to an New York Real Estate Attorney about a Tax-Free Exchange

Executing a tax-free real estate exchange requires a lot of knowledge about the intricate steps to perform. You will want to be sure to get information from an experienced New York Real Estate lawyer to ensure that the process runs smoothly. The attorneys of MOWK Law are well-versed in real estate transactions and are ready to help. Contact us today for more information. 

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New York Court System

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Why Racial Bias in the New York State Court System Matters to You 

The results of a review of racial bias in the New York State court system were published this month.

 On June 9, 2020, Chief Judge Janet DiFiore of the Court of Appeals and of the State of New York appointed Jeh Johnson as Special Adviser on Equal Justice to review hostile opinions about racial groups in the courts. This independent inquiry arose because of race-related issues across the country, including the death of George Floyd, which resulted in unrest and rioting. 

Results of the Independent Review on Racial Bias 

Not surprisingly, the review found that racial bias exists in the New York court system. The study cited specific examples of bias: 

  • Court officers could not report incidents of unfair treatment because of adverse career consequences or 
  • Court officers yelled more at litigants of color or at those who did not speak English as a first language 
  • Court officers are more likely to require litigants and attorneys of color to show identification or enforce the policy of no cell phone usage against them. 

We at MOWK Law understand that this widespread racial bias against individuals of color or from ethnic backgrounds can result in unfavorable results in court. As this study confirmed, we also understand that employees of color or ethnic employees may be treated unfairly in their employment in the New York court system.

Recommendations Resulting from the Review on Racial Bias IN New York Courts

Mr. Johnson and his team interviewed hundreds of people across the court system. They came up with many recommendations to address and fix racial bias problems that are rampant in the New York court system, including:

  • Court system’s leadership should have zero tolerance for racial bias, applicable to everyone working in the New York court system.
  • All court personnel should be trained against racial bias and informed about cultural sensitivity.
  • Jurors should be educated about biases and prejudices they are exposed to in society, including with specific rules and jury instructions.
  • Court personnel should adhere to a policy restricting use of social media for racially or culturally offensive remarks that reflect poorly on the court system. 
  • There should be better practices to improve complaints and investigations to better handle racial bias and race discrimination incidents.
  • Legislation and rules should be reviewed for possible bias or negative impact on people of color.

What this means for You

Have you been involved in the New York court system on a civil matter or criminal defense matter? If so, have you had a negative experience due to your race? Would any of the Special Adviser’s recommendations help address your experience in the New York court system? 

Have you been employed by the New York court system and have been treated unfairly because of your race or ethnicity?

If you answered yes to these questions, you may have recourse.

New York Lawyers Familiar with the Court System

If you have gone through the New York court system and have been treated unfairly because of your race or ethnicity, you may want to explore whether you have options to address your outcome. If you have been employed by the New York Court system and have been treated unfairly due to your race or ethnicity, you may have an employment action. 

The skilled attorneys at MOWK Law can help assess your situation. Please contact us for more information.

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What You Need to Know About New York COVID-19 Bankruptcy

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With all of the business closures in New York due to the impact of the coronavirus, it’s not surprising that many people would consider filing for bankruptcy to deal with financial hardships. Taking this step can be a way to have a clean slate and erase debts, but making this decision requires knowing all of your options. Here are some important things that you should know about filing a bankruptcy in New York in the Covid-19 era. 

New Procedures in Bankruptcy Courts

The court rooms in New York that hear bankruptcy cases are still functioning, but the processes and procedures have been modified to comply with public health concerns. Obviously, these modifications are on-going and vary, depending on the specific area, but here are some examples of the general changes that the New York Bankruptcy Court has made:

  • Restricts access to all of the New York bankruptcy courtrooms by allowing only employees and other specified individuals to enter.
  • Suspends all in-person bankruptcy appearances.
  • Mandates that all scheduled hearings will be held over the phone.
  • Encourages parties to file bankruptcy petitions electronically. But accepts paper filings that are mailed or dropped off in a sealed envelope.
  • Authorizes a waiver of fees for public access to court electronic records for certain pro se parties.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

If you’ve been laid off due to Covid-19 and struggling with debt, you may opt to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. This form of bankruptcy eliminates most unsecured debts, including credit card debt and medical bills, and gives you a clean slate. The process is generally quick (3-6 months to finalize), but the pandemic has caused court delays. 

An important thing to keep in mind is that you must wait eight years after the filing date of your first Chapter 7 case before you can file for another. This could be a risk because of the uncertainty of your financial circumstances during the pandemic. For instance, if you became infected with the coronavirus or another illness and you rack up a lot of medical bills, then you wouldn’t be able to file another Chapter 7 case right away. 

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Another option for individuals and businesses is filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Here, you don’t have the advantage of liquidation and you must eventually pay back your creditors; the repayment plans typically allow for about three to five years to get in line with the payments. This type of bankruptcy allows for the reorganization of a business, but this type of bankruptcy is based on businesses that are expected to be profitable. If that’s not the case, then there could be further problems down the line, especially when it’s difficult to gauge profitability during the coronavirus crisis.  

Get Help with Your Bankruptcy Filing in New York

If you’re unemployed, laid off, have been furloughed, or are experiencing any other loss of income due to Covid-19, you’re probably concerned with the state of your finances and your ability to pay your bills. Although government entities and creditors have enacted measures to assist with financial woes, it might not be enough. If you’re considering filing for bankruptcy, you want to be aware of all of your options and the skilled New York bankruptcy attorneys at MOWK Law can help you assess your situation navigate New York bankruptcy in these stressful times. Contact us for more information. 

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Should I Update My Beneficiary Designations Because of COVID-19?

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The COVID-19 pandemic motivated many people contemplating their own mortality to take the important step of creating a will and other documents encompassed in a New York estate plan. This step helps ensure your wishes are known and followed; it also makes provisions for worst case scenarios. 

If you already had a plan in place, you may think you’re in the clear. However, even though you’ve done the heavy lifting, it’s still important to continue checking your beneficiary designation forms periodically and take steps to keep your estate plan in line with your current situation and wishes. 

What Are Beneficiary Designation Forms?

A Last Will and Testament may name beneficiaries for certain pieces of your estate upon your death, such as:

  • Real estate
  • Bank accounts
  • Personal effects

However, it cannot designate your beneficiaries for a few other assets you may also possess. Instead, you must fill out separate forms, known as beneficiary designation forms, identifying who those assets pass to. For example, these designations are required for:

  • Benefits from a life insurance policy
  • Annuities
  • Various retirement accounts

Because these designations override anything in the will contradicting them, it is critical this is done correctly and remains up to date.

Mistakes on Designation Forms

Estate planning professionals specialize in preparing and executing the documents you need to put your estate plan in place and keep it in line with your current situation and wishes. Though they prepare the documents you need to sign, you should always review every document and form – including beneficiary designation forms – yourself prior to signing to make sure they are correct and complete. The preparers are human, after all, so errors may inadvertently occur otherwise. 

Updating Forms After Life Changes and Family Changes

Many individuals satisfied that their estate plan is complete fall into the trap where they can forget about those documents. This means that the documents are woefully out of touch with the current individuals in their lives and life changes such as:

  • Birth
  • Death
  • Marriage
  • Divorce

Failing to update estate planning documents often ends with unintended consequences that go against what they truly wish to happen.

Not updating your beneficiary designation forms in a timely manner could mean your new granddaughter gets no benefits from your life insurance policy, as she wasn’t yet born when you designated beneficiaries. Assets could also end up in the hands of people you wouldn’t currently want as beneficiaries; your ex-spouse may enjoy inheriting your retirement account as the beneficiary you designated, but it’s doubtful you want them to have it after a bitter divorce. 

Speak to a New York Estate Lawyer

People should feel accomplished after they create and execute a comprehensive estate plan– it’s critical to make sure your wishes are carried out. However, just because you did this work doesn’t mean you can rest on your laurels forever – things change, and documents such as beneficiary designation forms must change with them to keep them aligned with your wishes. The experienced New York estate planning attorneys at MOWK Law can review your estate plan and help you update it so that is reflects your wishes in your current situation. Contact us today to learn more!

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Ending a New York Business Partnership

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Most people don’t enter into a business partnership expecting it to end, but relationships can sour, problems may come to light, or even an unexpected economic downturn due to the COVID-19 pandemic can happen and necessitate dissolution. Though it sounds easy in theory, difficulties can arise if you and your partner failed to address dissolving the partnership in New York when it was formed. It’s akin to creating a prenuptial agreement before marriage – if you divorce, the prenup guides the process. If not, you start from scratch when problems already exist. 

Review All Your Business Documents

Wait to take actions that dissolve the partnership until you review all the documents related to your business. Either the partnership agreement, the Articles of Incorporation, or both may include information about how the business partnership would be dissolved. If a process is laid out, a New York business transaction attorney can review the documents and guide you through the process to ensure everything is done correctly. 

If Dissolution Isn’t Addressed in Your Partnership Agreement

If the documents offer no guidance, as often happens with informal partnerships involving spouses or family, you need to write down your intention to dissolve the partnership and send it to your business partner by certified mail to create a notification record. Though your partnership may have been informal, you want to be formal with dissolution to be on the safe side.

File Dissolution Documents and Resolve Creditor Claims

You should also file dissolution documents with New York State to notify your creditors that your business won’t take on any more debt under the partnership’s former terms. Though this isn’t mandatory, it’s prudent because as a business partnership, both partners are responsible for the partnership’s debts – any decisions made before notifying New York and creditors of dissolution obligates both partners. If you have outstanding debt or creditor claims, these must be resolved before you are free and clear.

Consider Tax Implications

It’s important you remember that, if you have them, you still need to deal with taxes owed for the year you dissolve the partnership as well as the year prior to avoid trouble with the IRS or tax offices at the local or state level. Filing annual returns or quarterly taxes will likely save you and your partners enormous headaches down the road.

New York Business Transactions Lawyer

Business partnerships form because parties believe they can achieve great things together; that’s why dissolving a partnership is generally not a pleasant experience. However, it’s important to ensure the proper steps and formalities are followed with regard to creditors and tax liabilities to avoid continued problems and stress that persists long after the partnership ends. To make sure you’re protecting yourself and completing the process thoroughly and correctly, it’s wise to speak to an experienced New York business transactions lawyer at MOWK Law before beginning the dissolution process. We will look out for your best interests and work to ensure you can confidently close the door on this chapter. Contact us today to have your questions answered and get started today.

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Do I Qualify for the USPTO’s Expedited Patent Appeals Pilot Program?

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Anyone who has ever dealt with the government when applying for a patent knows how slow the process can be. However, that may be changing for good. At the beginning of July this year, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) launched a pilot program called the “Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program” intended to fast track original design, plant, and utility patent application appeals. The program is a follow up to the Track One prioritized examination program, which successfully streamlined priority applications for both utility and plant patents. 

Goals of the New Pilot Program

The USPTO hopes the new program will advance applications more rapidly and streamline the process of ex parte appeals that take place in front of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. The hope is that an application accepted in to the Fast-Track Program will have a decision on their appeal in no more than 6 months from the official acceptance date of their appeal into the Program. 

Guidelines Related to Program Acceptance and Length

Not everyone will be able to participate in the program. Currently to apply, an applicant must:

  • File a petition once the Patent Trial and Appeal Board issues the applicant a notice their appeal is on the docket
  • Pay a $400 petition fee

At the date the program launch, the USPTO stated the Fast Track program would run until the earlier of 500 petitions have been granted or July 2, 2021. At the end of the program, the USPTO will evaluate the results to determine whether the program should be finalized and made permanent as-is, or if additional changes are needed to make the program sufficiently successful. However, considering the success the Track One program had in a different stage of the patent application progress, it’s unlikely the program will fail and need additional work. 

New York Intellectual Property Lawyers

Anyone involved in creation of intellectual property knows the painstaking, time-consuming process and headaches involved in dealing with government agencies to get a grant of protection in the form of a trademark, copyright, or patent. Even though the process is slowly becoming streamlined, it remains to be seen if the new program implemented will be successful. Even if it is, the process is still complicated and can be confusing for someone unfamiliar with the process. For advice on the patent process, help with the application, or counsel if you find yourself dealing with an appeal of your patent application, experienced counsel can make all the difference. Contact the experienced New York intellectual property lawyers at MOWK Law today to let us answer your questions, learn more, and get started.