You've taken the time to plan for the future and create your estate plan. After working with a Chicago estate planning attorney to make sure all assets are accounted for and all contingencies are covered, you're feeling the satisfaction of a job well done. … [Read more...]
The activist group Castle Coalition gives Illinois a D+ rating when it comes to protecting property owners against eminent domain. That doesn’t mean there aren’t defenses available, as it is often possible to beat eminent domain with the help of an Illinois real estate attorney who specializes in eminent domain defense. … [Read more...]
New Regulations Affect Illinois Realtors in 2016 Of the more than 600 bills crossing the governor’s desk in 2015, several dealt with real estate issues. New programs regarding property foreclosures, fraud alert systems, and other changes went into effect as of January 1st. Both realtors and those looking to buy property should take a moment to understand the changes, some of which are listed below. … [Read more...]
Estate attorneys are facing a new and difficult challenge: the division and distribution of digital assets after death. Illinois is one of many states struggling to draft legislation to protect digital property for intestate estates, but 2015's Senate Bill 1376 faced significant opposition from online companies. These companies argue opening digital assets to an estate violates the original property holder's right to privacy, and is therefore impermissible. … [Read more...]
Governor Rauner made good on his State of the State pledge to empower his newly formed Illinois Business and Economic Development Corporation(ILBECD) with an executive orderrecently. With it he ordered the Illinois Department of Commerce to work with this new private non-profit corporation to attract more businesses to the state. … [Read more...]
Small businesses are important to building a healthy economy. They provide access to goods and services that consumers want, which helps to stimulate the economy. But most importantly, they help fuel job growth. Times have changed, and being a small business owner has become increasingly difficult. … [Read more...]
The Estate Tax has gone through numerous changes throughout the past 100 years. Rates of taxation have changed, along with attempts to repeal or reform the law. Probate lawyers must constantly follow changes to the laws to advise their clients on how to best plan their estates. … [Read more...]
Starting a new business is an exciting time, but that excitement can turn to horror quickly for business owners who fail to file the proper paperwork. Every business, from a part-time operation out of a person's garage to a multi-national corporation must file a series of documents with the state and federal government to achieve legal status to operate. With the assistance of a commercial attorney, new business owners can navigate the treacherous waters of business creation and protect their … [Read more...]
In a commercial lease there is a lot more at stake than just rent money; the success or failure of the business can hinge on the lease. Renters who do not take the time to consider carefully the terms of their agreement may face hefty maintenance costs, discover themselves responsible for unexpected taxes, or even find their business without a home. Illinois protects commercial lessees in three areas of particular importance. … [Read more...]
Same-sex marriage has been one of the most polarizing issues in recent years, and its legality on a national level was not resolved until only last year. Before that, its legality was decided one state at a time. This means that many couples had to leave their own state to legally wed. While the first same-sex marriage licenses in the United States were issued in 1975, gay marriage did not become officially legal in any state until 1999. Policy on same-sex marriage varied widely between then and … [Read more...]
