Chicago's Legal Latte

During this podcast, attorney Matthew Sheahin, who has over 19 years of litigation experience and a proven track record, explores the necessity and technique of a good direct and cross examination.

If you or a family member are lucky enough to find love again after death or divorce, estate planning issues can be more complicated than they seem. Listen in, as Attorney Heather Walser explains everything you need to know about planning your estate for a future second (or more) relationship or marriage.

When buying a home for the first time, purchasers often feel overwhelmed. A residential real estate contract can be a complicated document. Real estate attorneys are here to walk purchasers through the entire process, from the signing of the contract all the way through closing. In this podcast, real estate attorney Chance Badertscher explains the process and answers questions that first time home buyers often ask.

Beneficiary designations are among the most over-looked and neglected aspects of a creating a well-rounded estate plan. When was the last time you checked your beneficiary designations on your retirement accounts? Or on your life insurance policies? If it’s been a while, you may be surprised when you review these designations. Have you recently married, divorced, or had children? Have these individuals been properly included (or excluded) as the case may be? Many assets, such as 401(k)s, IRAs, 403(b)s, life insurance policies, and even some bank accounts, allow for the naming of beneficiaries to whom these assets will pass in the event of the owner’s death. Ensuring that all of your assets pass the way you want after your death is of paramount importance for estate planning attorneys and our clients. In this podcast, attorney Ryan Gardner explains how he helps his clients from a holistic standpoint determine how assets are titled, how beneficiaries are designated, and ensures that their assets are provided for in their estate plan, which includes more than just a Will or a Trust. This podcast answers some common questions and provides perspective on how to accomplish your goals with respect to reviewing and updating beneficiary designations.

A few years ago, Airbnb came into the market and became popular very quickly as an online source connecting anyone with a space to rent with those looking for a temporary place to sleep. But with the new “sharing economy” which has also given rise to the likes of Uber and Lyft – and in response to constituents – namely the hotel industry, local government is finding that more local oversight is becoming necessary. On June 22, 2016, the Chicago City Council passed a new ordinance that imposes tighter regulations on the house-sharing industry. Albeit, many are still arguing the regulations aren’t enough. In this podcast, attorney Kelly Anderson unpacks the details of these new regulations.

In this podcast, attorney Amil Alkass discusses the issue of “interim” and “prospective” attorney fees in an Illinois divorce proceeding and addresses when a court will award attorney fees to a spouse from the other during a litigated divorce case.

In this podcast, attorney Joseph Vito discusses the basics of uninsured and underinsured motorist claims.

In this podcast, attorney Tim Hughes explains the steps in contesting property taxes in Cook County, Illinois.

Income tax basis issues as they relate to S Corporation shareholders require an awareness that if overlooked can cause unexpected tax results for the S Corporation shareholders. When an S Corporation shareholder receives his or her annual K-1, a shareholder basis schedule must be included so that the tax preparer can properly report the shareholder's pro rata share income or loss from the S Corporation. In this podcast, attorney Steve Migala and his guest, David Diamond, a CPA and Partner with Kutchins, Robbins & Diamond, discuss these important tax issues and explain how to avoid increased federal and state income taxes, penalties and interest upon IRS audit.

One of the most common issues small businesses face is penalties, time lost, and hassles associated with calculating, paying, and filing required tax forms for payroll. Using a payroll service is a surprisingly affordable solution to this problem. Attorney Jim Voigt and his guest, Stephanie Roadman Lange from Paychex, discuss why using a payroll service can save you time and money, and makes good business sense.