Marc J. Blumenthal now offers video conferencing for initial estate-planning meetings. Click here to schedule
marcjblumenthal

ESTATE PLANNING, BUSINESS,
AND REAL ESTATE LAWYER

I’m ready to get started

July, 2015 Archives

Archives for 2015

3 qualities to look for in your managers

“People don’t leave jobs, they leave managers” is a saying that many Illinois business owners are familiar with. According to Forbes, many employees will abandon positions with large salaries, competitive benefits or opportunities for advancement due to issues with their managers. As any business lawyer understands, poor management can also expose businesses in Arlington Heights to disputes or legal issues. It is essential for business owners to reduce the risk of these outcomes by making … [Read more...]

Should you hire family members to work for you?

As most business owners know, bad hiring decisions can have steep costs. According to Forbes, replacing a bad hire can cost 30 percent of that person’s yearly salary. Poor hiring decisions can also adversely affect productivity and morale. To avoid these issues, many business owners may consider hiring family members. However, as any attorney knows, this approach can offer drawbacks that business owners in Illinois should understand beforehand. Potential benefits Familiarity is a factor … [Read more...]

Can a will successfully be challenged?

According to the American Bar Association, roughly 55 percent of people in the country pass away before putting a will in place. Those who do take the right steps in their estate planning can rest assured that the majority of wills pass through the probate process without any issue. However, residents in Illinois who disagree with the terms of a decedent’s will do have some legal recourse. A Wheeling wills attorney has probably seen several situations in which family members have … [Read more...]

Every adult should have a power of attorney

When she was 26, a Chicago resident was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. WGNTV reports that now, at 41, the cancer is back and the woman worries about how her children will handle her end-of-life concerns. The woman was reluctant to appoint one of her children as her power of attorney, as she herself had to care for her own mother, who died of cancer.The woman’s home health care advocate convinced her to put her wishes in writing, which the woman says has brought her peace of mind. Any … [Read more...]

Improve your curb appeal and attract buyers with these 3 tips

Working on the appearance of a home can be time-consuming, but industry experts say it is well worth the investment. According to a report in The Washington Post, homeowners in Illinois and across the country can expect a 150 percent return on investment for landscaping projects alone. Where and how homeowners spend their money can affect how quickly the house moves, as any Oak Lawn property lawyer would know. Sellers should invest in making these three changes to boost their curb … [Read more...]

How does an appraiser determine a home’s value?

Lenders in Illinois nearly always require homebuyers to get a house appraised prior to issuing a loan. According to Bankrate.com, problems can occur when the appraisal falls below the sale price of the home. Mortgage companies will typically only approve loans that are at or below the appraisal. Therefore, industry experts recommend that sellers obtain an appraisal before ever listing a home. As any real estate attorney in Elk Grove would know, there are several factors used to determine … [Read more...]

Increase your profit margin through social media

Social media is a vital resource for increasing profit margins. As technology becomes a more and more important part of daily life, it influences people’s purchasing habits and the ways they share information. Smart businesses use social media to stay in touch with their customers and build a wider consumer base, as every Illinois business attorney is aware. A recent study published in the International Journal of Marketing, Financial Services and Management Research shows that social media … [Read more...]

SEO: What is it and how can it help your business?

Search engine optimization, or SEO, is the practice of promoting and improving a website to elevate the amount of attention it receives from search engines. Business owners working with a business attorney in Lake County should keep in mind that there are many different aspects to SEO and a company’s strategy can either be relatively simple or highly complex. Basic SEO strategies Although no two SEO plans are the same, most campaigns use several basic strategies. These include some of the … [Read more...]

What should your employee handbook include?

Business owners who work with a Cook County business lawyer often devise employee handbooks that outline what is expected of their employees and what employees can expect from them as their employer. Business owners creating a new employee handbook or updating their current one should make sure that their handbook contains several key pieces of information to accomplish this main purpose. Anti-discrimination policies Employers are required to abide by equal opportunity employment laws, … [Read more...]

Selling a home: Is it a good idea to renovate before listing?

When homeowners go to sell their home with the assistance of a real estate attorney in Chicago, they strive to sell their house for as much as possible. One strategy many homeowners use in order to achieve this goal is to renovate major aspects of their home, like their kitchen, before putting it up for sale. Although renovating can be beneficial, homeowners should carefully consider which projects to perform to obtain the highest return on their investment. Some renovations are better than … [Read more...]

    Get Help Today!

    Simply fill out the our online form, and one of our attorneys or staff members will contact you to schedule your appointment.

    We value your privacy. Your information will not be shared without your permission.

    The use of the internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form.

    I have read and understand the disclaimer

    Memberships & Associations

    • logo
    • logo
    • logo
    • logo
    • logo
    • logo