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Recent blog posts
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2026 Compliance Checklist for Breweries in Illinois: Licensing, Distribution, and Regulatory Risks
: 2026 Compliance Checklist for Breweries in Illinois: Licensing, Distribution, and Regulatory RisksBrewing craft beer is your passion and your business. But you know that there are many rules and regulations you have to follow. As 2026 draws nearer, you need to ensure you have all your ducks in a row. The right Illinois lawyer can help you navigate the complex rules breweries face. Using a 2026…
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Estate Planning Before 2026: What Illinois Families Should Update Before the New Year
: Estate Planning Before 2026: What Illinois Families Should Update Before the New YearYour estate plan is not unchanging. In fact, you have to keep it up to date with any big changes or to plan for the New Year. As 2026 approaches and we leave 2025 behind, it is important to consider what has changed in your life lately. Perhaps you had a new child, a divorce,…
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While allowed, it can be tricky to sell a house during Illinois probate. During probate, you are wrapping up a person’s life and dealing with the things they owned. This means selling assets, paying debts, and much more. When real estate is part of it, it can be even more complex. Yes, you can sell…
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What do you do when you’ve lost a trust? You go back to basics: the elements of a trust, and when all else fails, probate! A Short Story About a Client Who Lost a Trust We had a case where a client’s mother (let’s call the mother Betty Smith) had deeded her home into trust…
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When my dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, my parents were living in my childhood home in Wilmette, and they had a modest life savings. In the course of sharing my dad’s diagnosis with friends and family, one thing they kept hearing was how expensive Long Term Care would be; the cost could completely drain their…
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Listing your Chicago property on Airbnb may seem lucrative, but if you’re not careful, it can cost you. Homeowners who want to list their property must be careful to avoid penalties by paying attention to the restrictions in the Chicago Shared Housing Ordinance and their building’s governing documents. The restrictions are noted below, along with…
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Estate Planning for Property Transfers to a Non-Citizen Spouse
: Estate Planning for Property Transfers to a Non-Citizen SpouseAs a general rule, spouses can transfer an unlimited amount of property to each other without paying tax on the transfer.[1] The rule includes transfers made upon death.[2] The so-called “unlimited marital deduction” delays taxation on the transfer of property until it is transferred out of the marital unit. The rule applies to US citizens as well…
