Chicago's Legal Latte

Not every business benefits from corporate or LLC protection.  Tune in for this podcast with James Voigt of Lavelle Law to find out whether your business model actually gains a tangible benefit from incorporation or forming an LLC.

As of May 20, 2014, all corporations at administrative hearings must be represented by counsel.  Previously individuals could represent corporations, LLC’s, entities, etc. at administrative hearings.  A common administrative hearing relates to an overweight truck violation.  This podcast with Jennifer Burt will discuss overweight truck violations and how our office can be of assistance in appearing on your behalf.

Employers are not the only ones demanding social media passwords – schools are doing so too.  There has been lots of media attention about this – resulting in a surge of legislative activity on the issue.  In Illinois, a new law went into effect this year allowing school officials to have access to passwords to students’ social media accounts in certain situations.  The concern, of course, is how this impacts a student’s right to privacy under the Constitution and state laws.  This podcast with Kelly Anderson will explore the new law and how it could affect your children.

The business judgment rule is a presumption that directors of a corporation or those who manage other entities make business decisions on an informed basis, in good faith, and with the honest belief that the course taken was in the best interest of the entity.  This podcast with Steven Migala explores the business judgment rule and explains its meaning and significance to those who serve as directors of corporations and who manage limited liability companies.

You’ve probably heard about the benefits of the different types of trusts that can be created in estate planning.  But your work isn’t done just because you’ve finalized and signed your trust.  For a trust to function property, it must be “funded.”  But what does it mean to “fund” a trust, and why is the funding process so important?  This podcast with Heather Walser will answer these questions and more.

Taxpayers who owe money to the IRS should try to actively resolve their debt.  The IRS has many options from Offers in Compromise to Installment Agreements designed in order provide taxpayers with a fresh start.  If you currently have extensive tax debt and feel that you would benefit from the relief offered by the IRS, tune in to this podcast with Timothy Hughes of Lavelle Law to learn more about the options available to reduce or eliminate your tax debt.

The decision to divorce your spouse is not one taken lightly by the parties involved.  Filing for a divorce can quickly become a complicated and confusing ordeal, especially when children are in the mix.  Another complication that could arise is a “missing” spouse.  The court allows for these types of divorce, called a default divorce.  If you have questions about or have considered a default divorce, listen to this podcast with Heidi Kuffel of Lavelle Law to learn more.

dentity theft has been in the news a lot lately. As the recent security breaches at Target and Home Depot show us, our personal information is more vulnerable than ever. But what are steps that you can take to protect yourself from identity theft and how can an attorney assist you if your identity is stolen?  This podcast with Courtney Kleshinski of Lavelle Law will discuss these points and more and provide clarity on how to protect yourself from Identity Theft.

Most people have heard about estate and gift taxes, but may not understand exactly what they are and when they apply.  In this podcast with Brian Warens, untangle the mysteries behind estate and gift taxes and find out what creates an estate or gift tax return filing obligation and/or liability.

People often throw around terms like “sole custody,” “joint custody,” and “full custody.” But what does that really mean? This podcast with Kristina Regal of Lavelle Law explores different types of custody rights, and the implications of those rights over the lifetime of a child.