STRATEGY, SYSTEMS & DIY RESOURCES
When to do it yourself. When to slow down. When to get help.
I believe good planning starts with understanding how things actually work—not just what forms to file.
Some matters can be handled responsibly on a do-it-yourself basis. Others look simple on the surface but carry real risk if something goes wrong later. My role is to help clients understand that difference and make informed decisions before they’re forced to make them under pressure.
This page explains how I think about strategy, structure, and DIY, and provides links to public resources for those who want to educate themselves or handle basic filings on their own.
A NOTE ON STRATEGY
Legal documents do not exist in a vacuum.
An LLC, a trust, or a court order only works as intended if it fits into a broader system that includes:
How money actually flows
How decisions are made
How risk shows up in real life
How people behave when things get stressful
My approach—both legally and in advisory work—is grounded in real-world experience building businesses, managing properties, navigating partnerships, and dealing with the consequences when planning is incomplete or unclear.
That’s why I offer:
Flat-fee legal services with defined scope, and
Separate, non-legal strategy and advisory services for clients who want help thinking through operations, systems, and structure beyond documents alone
DIY: WHEN IT MAKES SENSE
DIY can be appropriate when:
The situation is simple and low-risk
There are no partners, investors, or shared ownership
No significant assets are involved
No disputes are anticipated
You understand that mistakes may be costly to fix later
DIY becomes risky when:
There are multiple owners or family members involved
Real estate or significant assets are at stake
You are relying on the structure for liability protection
There is any chance of conflict, enforcement, or litigation
You are trying to “optimize” taxes or creditor protection
The resources below are provided for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.
BUSINESS & ASSET PROTECTION
Public Resources & DIY Information
Entity Formation & Business Filings
Mississippi business entities are formed and maintained through the Mississippi Secretary of State.
Business Services Portal
https://www.sos.ms.gov/business-services
This portal is used for:
Forming an LLC, corporation, or nonprofit
Filing annual reports
Submitting amendments or dissolutions
Conducting name availability searches
Common DIY Filings
The following filings are commonly completed without an attorney in very simple situations:
Articles of Organization (LLC)
Articles of Incorporation
Registered agent changes
Annual report filings
These filings establish or maintain an entity—but they do not, by themselves, provide meaningful asset protection. That protection comes from how the entity is structured, operated, documented, and respected over time.
Key Mississippi Statutes
For those who want to review the underlying law:
Mississippi Limited Liability Company Act
Miss. Code Ann. § 79-29-101 et seq.Mississippi Business Corporation Act
Miss. Code Ann. § 79-4-1.01 et seq.
Mississippi statutes are publicly available at:
https://law.justia.com/codes/mississippi/
LIENS, JUDGMENTS & PROPERTY RECORDS
Understanding How Claims Attach
Asset protection requires understanding how claims actually attach to property, not just how entities are formed.
County Chancery Clerk Offices
Each Mississippi county maintains its own real property records, including:
Deeds
Deeds of trust
Judgments
State and federal tax liens
County clerk information can be found here:
https://www.sos.ms.gov/elections-voting/county-election-information
(Search by county to locate the appropriate Chancery Clerk’s office.)
Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Filings
UCC filings are maintained by the Mississippi Secretary of State.
UCC Filing System
https://www.sos.ms.gov/business-services/ucc
UCC filings are used for:
Secured transactions
Financing statements
Creditor priority disputes
Understanding UCC filings is critical when dealing with:
Business loans
Equipment financing
Investor or lender claims
Priority battles in insolvency scenarios
HOW THIS CONNECTS TO MY PRACTICE
I provide these resources because informed clients make better decisions.
Some clients use this information to:
Handle basic filings themselves
Ask better questions
Understand why structure matters
Others realize that:
The risk is higher than they expected
The cost of fixing mistakes later would exceed the cost of doing it right now
They want help thinking through the system, not just the form
That’s where my work comes in.
WHEN TO CONSIDER PROFESSIONAL HELP
You should strongly consider legal or strategic guidance if:
You are forming a business with partners or family
You own or plan to acquire real estate
You are relying on an entity for liability protection
You are planning for succession, sale, or inheritance
You want clarity rather than guesswork
I offer flat-fee legal services and clearly scoped advisory work so clients can choose the level of support that fits their situation.
NEXT STEPS
If you want help applying this information to your specific situation, the next step is to complete a short intake form and describe what you’re trying to accomplish. I review every submission personally and will follow up with appropriate next steps.