Recent Blog Posts
Will ABLE Accounts Help Disabled Individuals in Illinois?
For someone like Patty Vasquez, whose son, Declan, has been suffering since birth due to the fact that the fibers that connect the right and left sides of his brain are missing, the news that Illinois lawmakers have authorized the use of Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts gives her and her family… Read More »
Can I Be Fired for Using Medical Marijuana?
In 2013, Illinois passed the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act (The Compassionate Use Act) to allow patients with select health conditions to possess and use marijuana. The Compassionate Use Act will be in place until late 2017, at which point state lawmakers will expand or cut the program. Some of the… Read More »
What Does the Recent Illinois Supreme Court Rule Mean for Unemployment Benefits?
Early in February, the Illinois Supreme Court reached a ruling in the case of Petrovic v. Department of Employment Security. The case involved the provision in the Illinois Unemployment Insurance Act that allows employers to deny unemployment benefits to a former employee if that employee has been terminated due to “misconduct.” The ruling has… Read More »
Are All Your Children Covered Under Your Illinois Estate Plan?
When people talk about their children, it’s usually pretty clear to whom they are referring. However, when second marriages are commonplace and when assisted reproductive technologies allow many different types of couples to create children by various means, is the line always so clear? For estate planning purposes, parents must ensure all their children… Read More »
Wish to Leave Money to a Caregiver in a Will?
The Illinois legislature has updated its probate law that will affect a caregiver in a will and people who wish to leave gifts of money over $20,000 to a caregiver at the time of death. The probate code has a list of “Presumptively Void Transfers,” which are transfers of money or property at the… Read More »
How Can An Estate Planning Attorney Help With Collectibles?
Collectors can spend a lifetime amassing things like comic books, baseball cards, and artwork. However, collectors often don’t pay enough attention as to what will happen to their possessions when they die. They may hope their children will find a passion for their stuff, or they may figure another collector will pay their heirs… Read More »
How Companies Are Using Social Media to Fire Employees
Social media has changed the world, connecting millions of people through websites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. For some managers, social media activity has become a factor when deciding to fire employees. Political and religious posts, photos of parties and other activities employers frown upon can sometimes cost workers their jobs. In other cases,… Read More »
Does the Americans with Disabilities Act Work in Illinois?
Twenty five years after the Americans with Disabilities Act, a landmark federal law outlawing hiring discrimination, people with disabilities in Illinois are still having difficulty getting hired. The ADA has created access in many ways. It has led to many improvements, such as the creation of wheelchair lifts and curbs, technology that assists the… Read More »
Attorney Service on Church Boards: Do’s and Don’ts
BY JAMES H. PLUYMERT Attorneys are often asked to serve on their church’s Board of Directors. This can be a wonderful opportunity to serve in a high-impact role for the Kingdom. There will be challenges and a wide variety of expectations about the attorney’s skills, expertise, and ability to contribute meaningfully. There will likely… Read More »
Are Unpaid Internships Legal?
Many college students who are on the verge of graduation will take unpaid internships to prepare for their careers. It is usual for employers to desire prepared employees, so many universities around the country have built internship requirements into the curriculum. Recent grads accept such positions typically to gain experience and a foothold in… Read More »