Patrick J. Thomas Agency

Surety Bonds and Commercial Insurance
small business
Surety Bonds for Small Businesses 1024 642 Patrick J. Thomas Agency

Surety Bonds for Small Businesses

Small businesses in many instances are required to have surety bonds. The types of companies that are required to purchase a surety bond can vary from state to state and even from business to business. There are also certain industries in which bonds are generally required. Businesses that work in…

read more
protection
How to Protect Your Estate From Mismanagement 1024 768 Patrick J. Thomas Agency

How to Protect Your Estate From Mismanagement

While setting up your estate is important, protecting it is even more crucial. Without proper protection your estate can be exposed to fraud and mismanagement. These issues are common and can end up eating away at the assets of your estate through litigation in court.   There are many ways…

read more
i agree
The Duties and Responsibilities of a Trustee 1024 682 Patrick J. Thomas Agency

The Duties and Responsibilities of a Trustee

If you have been named a trustee, a great amount of responsibility has been placed upon your shoulders. Being named as a trustee means that the person who owns the trust, often known as the grantor or trustor, has placed the future administration of his or her assets (property, finances,…

read more
professional surety agency
What Surety Agencies Provide that Insurance Companies Can’t 1024 683 Patrick J. Thomas Agency

What Surety Agencies Provide that Insurance Companies Can’t

While you have options when looking to obtain a surety bond, there is no better place to go than a specialized surety agency. It is possible to obtain surety bonds through commercial insurance companies, but the experience and service you will receive by working with an agency is something you…

read more
caution
The Dangers of the Power of Attorney 1024 682 Patrick J. Thomas Agency

The Dangers of the Power of Attorney

Granting Power of Attorney to someone (an agent) is not an easy decision. That is because you are trusting them with your financial or medical decisions, and essentially your personal wellbeing. When an agent has a Power of Attorney over someone, they are responsible for day-to-day financial responsibilities like paying…

read more
legal questions
Questions to Ask Your Attorney About Surety Bonds 1024 682 Patrick J. Thomas Agency

Questions to Ask Your Attorney About Surety Bonds

Obtaining a surety bond can be confusing, but by working with your attorney and an experienced surety bond agency, you can move through the process with little trouble. If you are new to the process, start by asking your attorney these questions. What Type of Surety Bond Do I Need?…

read more
3d printer
How 3D Printing Could Cause an Increase in Temporary Injunctions 1024 682 Patrick J. Thomas Agency

How 3D Printing Could Cause an Increase in Temporary Injunctions

Since the first patent was issued in the US in 1790 — to Samuel Hopkins for a process of making potash — there have been lawsuits involving infringements on intellectual property. These have led to countless injunctions being filed over the years. Although the essential definition of intellectual property has…

read more
vehicle parking lot
How to Obtain a Bond if Your Vehicle Title is Lost, Damaged or Stolen 1024 682 Patrick J. Thomas Agency

How to Obtain a Bond if Your Vehicle Title is Lost, Damaged or Stolen

In Minnesota, all vehicle owners are required by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to have a vehicle title. Unfortunately, vehicle titles can become lost, stolen or damaged to the point where they are unreadable. If this happens, drivers will have to submit an application with the Minnesota DMV to…

read more
conservator audit
How to Prepare for a Conservator Audit 1024 682 Patrick J. Thomas Agency

How to Prepare for a Conservator Audit

Most conservators in Minnesota will inevitably have to prepare for their first conservator audit. The Conservator Account Auditing Program (CAAP) occasionally does these audits to ensure that conservators are properly using the funds that are given to them, and to see that no abuse or fraud is being committed. CAAP…

read more
calculating investments for beneficiaries
What Are the Responsibilities of a Representative Payee? 1024 603 Patrick J. Thomas Agency

What Are the Responsibilities of a Representative Payee?

A representative payee is a person or organization who has been appointed to help beneficiaries manage their benefits. Representative payees can be appointed through the Social Security Administration (SSA) or the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA). The most common representative payee is a family member or close friend. If that…

read more