Here are the Legal & Insurance Notes for Cedar & Iron, organized into five sections: (1) Business Structure, (2) Contracts & Disclaimers, (3) Insurance Requirements, (4) Legal Exposure Scenarios, and (5) Risk Reduction Measures. These form the legal backbone of your solo, high-trust concierge support model.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary Entity | S-Corp: Cedar & Iron, owned via revocable family trust |
| Tax Status | S-corp pass-through, distributions + minimal W-2 |
| Legal Protection | Personal liability shield (via corporate veil), separation from family assets |
| Trust Ownership | Trust protects estate continuity and minimizes probate exposure |
Note: Entity must maintain corporate formalities (e.g. separate bank account, documented decisions, operating agreement) to preserve liability protection.
| Legal Area | What to Include |
|---|---|
| Scope Limitations | Client agreement + Addendum B must clearly state non-medical, non-fiduciary role |
| Confidentiality | Addendum C defines what will/won’t be shared, with family consent provisions |
| Emergency Protocols | Addendum A defines who will be contacted and under what circumstances |
| Termination Clause | Both client and provider may terminate with 30 days’ notice; Cedar & Iron may cancel for safety or conflict with 14 days’ notice |
| Limitation of Liability Clause | Clearly state that Cedar & Iron is not responsible for outcomes beyond control or scope, including falls, health decline, or unacted-upon recommendations |
| Dispute Resolution | Recommend simple clause favoring mediation or arbitration over litigation |
| Insurance Type | Coverage Recommendation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General Liability | $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate | Covers property damage or minor injuries during visits |
| Professional Liability (E&O) | $1M minimum | Covers claims of negligence, emotional harm, failure to act |
| Cyber Liability | $250K+ | If storing sensitive client data digitally (e.g. summaries, emails, shared drives) |
| Commercial Auto or Mileage Reimbursement | Rider or documentation for IRS mileage | Protects you if in an accident while on client errands or commutes |
| Business Property | Replacement value of gear (laptop, phone, tools) | If gear is stolen/damaged while working |
| Umbrella Policy (optional) | $1M–2M | Additional protection if primary limits exceeded |
| Scenario | Legal Exposure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Client falls during or after a visit | Moderate | Document observations + clarify non-clinical role |
| Dispute between children over your involvement | Moderate | Avoid getting triangulated, stick to agreed contact(s) |
| Client declines and no one acts | Low–Moderate | Escalate in writing; document that family was notified |
| Client gifts or offers you money | Moderate–High | Politely refuse or redirect to formal invoice unless pre-cleared |
| Client makes false accusation | High | Always document time in/time out; maintain logs; consider passive consented audio logging for protection if needed |
| Category | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| ✅ Contracts | Service Agreement with Addenda A–C required for all clients |
| ✅ Documentation | Every visit logged (Notion + AI summary + tag system) |
| ✅ Defined Scope | Client-facing “what I do / don’t do” sheet, reviewed at onboarding |
| ✅ Consent | Emergency contacts, family update preferences, summary opt-ins |
| ✅ Termination Rights | Clear protocol for ending engagements |
| ✅ Insurance | General + professional policies sourced annually |
| ☐ Legal Review | Have a small business attorney review agreement annually |
| ☐ Incident Log Template | Add to SOP: form for documenting all serious concerns |
| ☐ Quarterly Risk Review | Track any flagged clients or potential liability shifts (e.g. worsening decline) |