The recent passage of a moratorium on tiny houses in Ward 2 comes with some conditions, namely, that the city engage in a review of zoning and housing policies, hold at least two community engagement sessions, assess economic, environmental and social impacts of tiny homes in Ward 2, and make recommendations to the city council […]
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Free speech 101
The principle of free speech is a cornerstone of American democracy, enshrined in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It guarantees that “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech,” basically protecting an individual’s right to express ideas, opinions and beliefs without government interference. Yet, when it comes to the workplace, […]
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Probate and how to avoid it
Have you attended an estate planning seminar or read promotional materials that claim you must have a living trust to avoid probate? Has a salesperson come to your home with frightening information about probate? What is probate, and how can it be avoided?Probate is the administration of a person’s estate though the courts. Probate can […]
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The Big Beautiful Bill
Politicians have some significant differences, but they all seem to have one thing in common – most of what they say isn’t true, or isn’t quite true. What you think “no taxes on tips,” “no taxes on Social Security benefits” and “no taxes on overtime” mean might not be what those things mean in the […]
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Illinois cybersecurity laws
In today’s digital world, cybersecurity is no longer an option – it’s essential. Whether you’re a business handling customer data or an individual concerned about your digital footprint, knowing your rights and responsibilities is critical. Cybersecurity laws serve several crucial purposes. They establish standards for protecting sensitive information, outline consequences for cybercrimes, mandate breach disclosures […]
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Evicting a tenant
Evicting a tenant is a legal process that can be complex and emotionally charged for both landlords and tenants. In Illinois, eviction laws are governed by state statutes, local ordinances and court procedures. For landlords, understanding the correct steps is essential to ensure compliance with legal requirements and to avoid potential financial or legal repercussions. […]
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The lurking danger of legacy liability
One would think that when purchasing a business through an asset sale, a seller’s legacy liabilities stay with the seller and don’t attach to the buyer. In most instances that’s true. The purchaser of a business asset is not going to be on the hook for existing liabilities connected to the assets. But there are […]
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Plan for a successful succession plan
Every business needs a succession plan. If you are a business owner, you will cease to own and control your business at some point, due to death, disability, sale, gift or liability reasons. If you plan in advance, you may be able to control whether or not your departure is successful. Your succession plan may […]
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Be aware of these legal developments
Here are a few things happening in the legal world. Corporate Transparency Act The Corporate Transparency Act was enacted in 2021 with the stated purpose of helping to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, corruption and tax fraud. The original effective date was Jan. 1, 2023. The Corporate Transparency Act required small business entities to disclose […]
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Placing a value on pets
Historically, pets have been treated like any other personal property. Unless your pet was a prized purebred or a service animal, the law placed very little value on it. Pets had no rights, and the law did not take into account their best interests. But a lot of that has changed. If your pet was […]
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When boilerplate is not the best option
I recently met with a prospective client to discuss representing him in a possible business venture. As we discussed the scope of my representation, he said that he planned to sign some standard contracts with various venders and he would not need my help because, other than the price terms, it was all just boilerplate. […]
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New laws in 2025 will affect Illinois employers
Starting in 2025, there will be quite a few new laws that will affect Illinois employers. Changes include wage transparency obligations in job postings, inclusion of family responsibilities and reproductive health decisions as protected categories under the Illinois Human Rights Act, stricter record keeping and access requirements under the Personnel Records Review Act and additional […]