Prof. Victoria J. Haneman
Tax law professor; commentary spanning tax, policy, and intersections with business/legal systems.
Lawyer and Attorney Are Identical Terms in the U.S.
Every three months or so, the bots start posting threads about “what is the difference between a lawyer and an attorney?” In the U.S., the answer is nothing. We use the terms interchangeably. There is no reason to try to play devil’s advocate on this one. The American Bar Association and state bars use the term interchangeably. Judicial opinions use the terms interchangeably. Law schools, government agencies, and statutes use the terms interchangeably.
Best Business Books Challenge Assumptions, Spark Strategic Rethinking
Some of my favorite business books are not the ones I agree with completely. They are the ones that challenge assumptions and help me to rethink strategy. Or force me to argue back in the margins. Add your favorites in the...
Law Values
Morbid but real law fact: The law values a human life differently depending on where the person dies. Wrongful-death payouts vary wildly by jurisdiction, income, and age.
Race Winnings Taxed Heavily Despite Massive Expenses
Race winnings are fully taxable as ordinary income, and by the time the owners take their 80%, they’ve already spent years burning cash on purchase price. Keeping a top-tier racehorse in training can easily run six figures annually, per horse,...
Veil Piercing Succeeds 30‑50% When Bad Cases Pursued
The data on piercing the LLC/corporate veil is sparse, jurisdiction-specific, and often misunderstood. The data generally shows that courts do pierce LLC/corporate veils, but but not routinely. And across multiple studies (state and federal cases), plaintiffs succeed roughly 30–50% of...
Prenups Require Cooling‑Off, Full Disclosure, Dual Representation
Based upon the limited information we have available on Mike and Constance Fernandez’s prenup, it looks like some attorneys may have really dropped the ball when it comes to this prenup. Why? • You NEVER sign a prenup on the wedding day....
Smart Buyers Do Due Diligence Before Purchasing Homes
The smartest home buyers do their own due diligence. Here are some of the questions to ask or issues to investigate. #homeownertips #homeowners #homeownership #invest #wealth
Don’t Trust Listings; Verify Noise, Smells, HOA, Permits
The smartest home buyers don’t simply trust the listing or the disclosures because legally the seller may not be required to tell you something that can ruin your life. What are some things that you should be verifying? • Noise patterns....
America's Secret Role as Global Tax Haven
I was interviewed by Reveal for their new podcast: “Inside America’s Race to Hide the World’s Money.” It’s about how the U.S. quietly became one of the best places in the world to park wealth. Out of reach and out of sight. If you...
Asset Protection Depends on Vulnerability, Not Net Worth
Asset protection isn’t about how much money you have. It’s about how easily someone can take it. There are people with $200K who should be worried. And people with $5M who are basically invisible. The trigger is simple: 👉 Can you be sued easily? 👉...
Lawyers Help Free Only Through Structured Volunteer Programs
Most lawyers get constant requests on social media to provide free legal advice or take on work at no cost. I understand why…there’s a real access-to-justice gap in the US. But there are reasons lawyers can’t just jump to help...
Twin DNA Tests Challenge U.S. Paternity Presumptions
This is not an isolated situation. There are published court opinions on this issue in the U.S. Nevada goes so far as to address it by statute (a “presumption that a man is the natural father of a child” if...
Tax Loophole Means Three Distinct
“Tax loophole” is a rhetorical term not a legal term that is usually used in a casual or sloppy way to reference 1 of 3 very different things: 1. Explicit incentives intended by Congress (which are policy choices moreso than loopholes) 2....
South Dakota Divorce: Fair, Not Equal, Asset Splits
South Dakota follows equitable distribution—not a clean 50/50 split. That means a judge divides property based on what they think is fair, not necessarily equal. Interestingly, fault can creep in to divorce proceedings in SD and the courts can consider marital...
Financial Alignment Beats Resentment in Relationships
Sharing the same financial values is the difference between building a life together and quietly resenting each other over money. Try this question on a first date: “Be honest—if you could take a $12,000 tax deduction every year by saying you paid...