Estate planning contains a few phrases that sound more intuitive than they are. “Completed gift” is one of them. Suppose you transfer $3 million of investments into an irrevocable trust for your children. Have you made a gift? Are the investments still part of your estate? Who pays the income tax? Will the investments receive a new tax basis when you die? Surprisingly, the answers to those questions do not necessarily move together. A trust can involve a completed gift while still being...

A DAO does not need U.S. founders, U.S. token holders, or a Wyoming office to use Wyoming’s DUNA statute. The Act’s eligibility test asks different questions: does the association have at least 100 members joined by mutual consent for a common nonprofit purpose, has it elected into the DUNA Act, and is it not already organized under another law? Nothing in that test requires U.S. citizenship or residency. That makes the DUNA unusually accessible to a globally distributed DAO. It does not make...

Moving to Wyoming requires a long checklist: change your driver’s license, register your vehicles, find a new doctor, update your insurance. Somewhere farther down that list should be your estate plan. The good news is that moving across state lines does not ordinarily turn a valid will or trust into scrap paper. Wyoming law is fairly accommodating to estate-planning documents created elsewhere. But “still valid” and “still a good estate plan” are two different things. A document drafted...

In September 2025, Uniswap Governance became the largest DAO to adopt Wyoming's DUNA statute, converting into an entity its own foundation called "DUNI" after a token-holder vote carried by roughly 52.9 million votes. Thousands of people who had never filed so much as a DBA now hold a formal, if unfamiliar, kind of membership. The pitch behind that vote (behind most DUNA conversions) is that the wrapper solves the liability problem. And it does, mostly. But "mostly" is not good enough when it...

Somewhere in your DAO's smart contract is probably a function that pays out protocol fees, pro rata, to a few thousand wallets holding your governance token. Nobody drafted a partnership agreement. Nobody filed an election. Most of the wallet holders have never spoken to one another, let alone agreed to go into business together. Under federal tax law, none of that may matter. This piece covers four things: how the tax code can find a partnership without anyone intending to form one; what...

In June 2026, the ENS DAO's governance forum took up a proposal that would hand its Foundation Board administrative control over the DAO's operational wallet, its ENS token holdings, and a roughly $65 million Endowment Safe. One Security Council member called it, plainly, "the equivalent of treasury capture by ENS Labs." Nobody disputed that the Foundation needed some authority to function. The fight was over how much, checked by whom, and for how long, which is exactly the question every...

Your business has grown to the point where you need help. That is a milestone worth celebrating — and the moment your legal obligations change significantly. Most "first employee" checklists you'll find online are written for a national audience. They cover the federal basics and stop. New Mexico layers several requirements on top of federal law that apply from your very first hire, and Albuquerque adds its own wage rules that just changed. This guide walks through the obligations in the...

Two jurisdictions claim to be first. Wyoming says it was the first government anywhere to give a DAO a legal home, in 2021. The Marshall Islands says it was the first sovereign nation to do the same, a year later. Neither claim is wrong, and neither answers the question a DAO with contributors on five continents actually has to answer: which one, if either, should hold the treasury? This piece compares the two leading "DAO LLC" statutes — Wyoming's and the Marshall Islands' — on three things:...

If you've ever joked that your dog is the only family member who deserves your money, Wyoming law is prepared to take you seriously. But there's a right way and a wrong way to do it, and the wrong way is more common than you'd think. Let's walk through the mechanics. The Problem: Your Pet Is Property Start with the uncomfortable legal reality. In the eyes of the law, your dog, cat, or horse is personal property — legally closer to your pickup truck than to your children. Property cannot own...

Intellectual property and data rights are among the most technically complex and financially consequential issues in federal aerospace and defense contracting. When companies deliver technical data or computer software developed in whole or in part with government funding—or in collaboration with national laboratories—the allocation of rights can significantly affect both current contract performance and future commercial opportunities. Understanding the governing rules, anticipating...

For many Wyoming families, animals are not incidental property. A horse may be central to a family's identity. Cattle may anchor a ranching operation. A dog may be the animal everyone loves. But when a person dies, animals create immediate confusion. Who owns them now? Who can move them? Who has authority to deal with the brand inspector, veterinarian, boarding facility, or family member already in possession? This article focuses on a single question: when the owner dies, who gets the...

In the aerospace, directed energy, and defense technology sectors, speed matters. Traditional Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)-based contracting can deliver rigor and predictability, but it often moves too slowly for today’s rapid technology cycles. Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) offer a powerful alternative for prototyping and early-stage development, allowing the Department of Defense to engage more quickly with both traditional and non-traditional contractors. Regions with strong...

Federal investment in aerospace, directed energy, and defense technology is creating meaningful opportunities for companies that can move quickly, protect sensitive information, and operate within the federal procurement framework. But in these sectors, technical capability alone is rarely enough. Contractors also need disciplined systems for conflicts of interest, cybersecurity, data rights, sourcing restrictions, and teaming arrangements before a promising opportunity becomes a compliance...

Wyoming is one of a minority of states that allows a person to create an irrevocable trust, name themselves as a discretionary beneficiary, and still shield the trust assets from most future creditors. That structure is the Wyoming Qualified Spendthrift Trust (QST) — Wyoming's version of a domestic asset protection trust (DAPT), codified at Wyo. Stat. §§ 4-10-510 through 4-10-523. A QST can be a powerful planning tool, but it is not a magic shield, and the trade-offs are real. Below is a...

A founder decides to raise $200,000. A former colleague will put in $75,000. Two family friends will contribute the rest. In exchange, they will receive minority interests in the company. It feels like a private business transaction. Legally, it may also be a securities offering. That distinction matters because federal and New Mexico securities laws generally require an offer or sale of securities either to be registered or to qualify for an exemption from registration. Being a small...

A power of attorney (POA) is a legal paper that lets someone you trust make decisions for you, particularly if you can’t. It’s like picking a backup person to step in when you need help. Setting one up is a big deal, so here are some simple things to consider to make sure it works the way you want. 1. Who Should You Pick? The person you choose—called your “agent”—needs to be someone you trust without reservation. This could be a family member or a close friend. They’ll handle things like...

If you’re starting a business in Albuquerque, one big decision is choosing how to set up your company. Two popular options are an S Corporation (S Corp) and a C Corporation (C Corp). They’re both corporations, but they work differently—especially when it comes to taxes, ownership, and growth. Here’s a breakdown of the differences and why you might pick one over the other. What’s a C Corp? A C Corp is the “classic” corporation. It’s a separate legal entity from its owners, meaning the...

A transfer on death deed is a simple tool you can use in New Mexico to pass your house or land to someone after you’re gone. Let’s break it down so it’s easy to understand. A Transfer on Death Deed (or TOD Deed for short) is a legally recorded deed that says who gets your real property—like your home—when you pass away. You write it up while you’re still alive, and it only takes effect after you’re not here anymore. Until then, you’re still in control of your property. You can live in it,...

If you’re starting a small business in Albuquerque, one of the first big decisions you’ll need to make is choosing a business structure. This is like choosing the foundation for your house—it affects how you pay taxes, handle paperwork, and protect your personal assets if something goes wrong. Don’t worry if it sounds complicated; we’ll break it down into simple steps so you can figure out what works best for you. What’s a Business Structure Anyway? A business structure is just the legal...

If you live in Teton County, Wyoming, and are thinking about your estate plan, you might want to consider using a Limited Liability Company (LLC). An LLC is a business structure that can protect your personal assets and help you pass wealth to your family in a smart way. Here’s why and how it could work for you. Why Use an LLC in Your Estate Plan? Protect Your Assets An LLC keeps your personal money and property separate from your business or investment risks. For example, if you own rental...