Chicago's Legal Latte

Perhaps you are involved in a divorce or custody case in which an Attorney for the Child, a Child Representative, or a Guardian ad Litem was just appointed, either by motion of one of the parties, or by motion of the Court. This individual is an attorney who may have been selected by agreement of the parties, or may be an individual that the Court selected itself. If you have more than one child relative to the case, this individual may be appointed to not just one child, but all of the children relative to the case. If you are new to this process, it is normal to have questions about what this means. Listen in as attorney Colleen Hurley explains the law behind this process.

Businesses today more than ever need to be prudent in how they implement employment policies regarding workplace harassment. Demonstrative methods provide a unique and effective way to educate. In this podcast, Laurie Huspen of Valuable Resources Company joins attorney Ted McGinn to discuss workplace harassment and what employers should do to prevent it.

The new federal tax law passed at the end of 2017 eliminates the tax deduction for alimony, or support, payments. Lavelle Law family law attorney Amil Alkass looks at the impact the change may have on reaching equitable support agreements in the future.

When considering the option of divorce, it is common for couples to worry about the division of their estate, including (and often, most importantly) what would happen to their pet. With the change in Illinois law as of January 1, 2018, a Court can now take into consideration the best interest of an animal in a divorce proceeding and award ownership. In this podcast, family law attorney Colleen Hurley explains this new Illinois law and how it affects divorce proceedings.

To make informed decisions, a business owner must have timely and accurate financial information. But many emerging businesses cannot afford the cost of a full time CFO. The solution is part time CFOs. In this podcast, Kerry Lavelle of Lavelle Law and Lawrence Chester of CFO Simplified discuss the benefits of employing part time CFOs.

In this podcast, Tax Attorney Timothy Hughes and Dana B. Davidson CPA / PFS and President of Dana B. Davidson CPA Company, P.C. continue their discussion about the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) signed into law on December 22, 2017. They also address important updates for Illinois taxpayers.

In this podcast, attorney Heather Glaser provides a summary of new laws in 2018, highlighting those that Illinois business owners should be aware of.

In this podcast, tax attorney Timothy Hughes and CPA Dana Davidson discuss the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was signed into law December 22, 2017. They not only explain the new tax brackets for both individuals and corporations, but also make recommendations for what Illinoisans can DO NOW before the end of the year. Tim and Dana cover the property tax implications and many other aspects of this new law.

Once a disabled child turns 18, Illinois law considers him or her to be an adult able to make his or her own financial, health care and educational decisions, even if this could not be further from the truth due to the child’s disability. As a parent or concerned family member, there are steps you can take to promote a disabled beneficiary’s continued medical and financial well-being. In this podcast, Attorney Brian Warens discusses how to establish an estate plan for a special needs beneficiary, without jeopardizing the beneficiary’s current or future eligibility for means-tested government benefits, and how you can empower yourself to make decisions on behalf of a disabled adult family member.

No one should make the biggest purchase of their lives without first checking out everything beneath the sparkling façade - which is why the standard Illinois Residential Real Estate Multi-Board 6.1 contract contains an inspection contingency allowing buyers to do just that. But beyond just allowing a home inspection, what does the inspection provision get buyers? Listen in, as attorney Kelly Anderson pulls back the curtain on this important step in real estate transactions.