5/14/2023 The Illinois Supreme Court’s recent decision regarding Supreme Court Rule 102 has made headlines in the Illinois litigation realm this Spring. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 102 determines how a summons (i.e. an official notice of a lawsuit) must be served on a defendant/respondent. Prior to the...
What is an estate inventory? An estate inventory is essentially a list of assets that the deceased owned. It can include personal property, real estate, automobiles, bank accounts, investment accounts, business interests, and animals. It is the responsibility of the executor or personal representative to marshal...
Many individuals incorporate annual gifting into their estate planning strategy for good reason – it is an easy way to remove assets from what may otherwise be a taxable estate without any gift tax consequences to the donor. What is considered a gift? Generally, any transfer...
According to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, a Right of First Refusal relates to when a party intends to leave the minor child or children with a substitute child-care provider for a significant period of time. In that event, that party must first...
With everyone heading back to campus, it is important to discuss an important piece of estate planning with your young adult. While typically Power of Attorney documents are thought to be primarily for more established adults, anyone over the age of 18 should have them in...
What is Dissipation, and How can it affect my Case? In divorce proceedings, dissipation is the spending, by one party, of marital property for a non-marital purpose. Dissipation must occur after the marriage is "irretrievably broken." Dissipation can take many different forms but is most commonly...
