Once a divorce is final, there are many steps we recommend our clients take to ensure all aspects of life are covered. Although some steps will be outlined in a Marital Settlement Agreement, the topics below will guide you in moving past a divorce. Dividing Retirement Accounts A Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is a legal order dividing a 401k and many pension plans, and the terms of the division are stipulated in your Marital Settlement Agreement. An attorney should help finalize this process as you will need to go back to court to get the QDRO entered. When dividing…
https-www-mkfmlaw-com-images-easyblog_images-865-b2ap3_thumbnail_illinois-employment-discrimination-lawyer-min-jpg
Concerns about COVID-19 have resulted in countless employees working from home. At first glance, it may seem as if remote workers are immune to sexual harassment. After all, if you are not in the office, how could you become a victim of sexual harassment? Unfortunately, many employees are still being subjected to unlawful discrimination and harassment even while working from home. If you or someone you know is experiencing any form of these unlawful acts, it is critical that you seek the guidance of a skilled attorney to protect your rights.  Email or Text Messages May Contribute to a…
Late Monday night, a Chicago bicyclist tragically lost his life as a result of the injuries sustained when he was struck while bicycling on Chicago’s West Side. News outlets are reporting that 72-year-old Walter Williams, Jr. was hit in the early morning by a white sedan in the 1500 block of South Central Park Avenue in Lawndale. After being transported to a nearby hospital, he was tragically pronounced dead. Police later stopped a vehicle that matched the description of the car that fatally struck the cyclist and had damage to the front of the car. At this time there is…
https-www-cannabisindustrylawyer-com-wp-content-uploads-2020-06-what-parents-need-to-know-about-cbd-1-1080x628-jpg
Pennsylvania Adult-Use Cannabis Laws Book Consult Now Pennsylvania Adult-Use Cannabis Laws Pennsylvania adult-use cannabis laws are on every Pennsylvania’s cannabis consumer’s mind. Pennsylvania could see recreational (adult-use) cannabis come to their state if SB 350 passes. Senator Leach of Pennsylvania joins us to discuss the cannabis bill he calls, “the best bill in the nation.”   Listen to it on PodCast or Watch the YouTube on Pennsylvania Cannabis Legalization News.   RELATED POST: How to Open a Cannabis Dispensary in Illinois RELATED POST: How to Open a Dispensary in Oklahoma Want to Open a Craft Grow Get Started Pennsylvania Adult-Use…
https-www-cannabisindustrylawyer-com-wp-content-uploads-2020-06-what-parents-need-to-know-about-cbd-1-1080x628-jpg
Cannabis and Autism Book Consult Now Cannabis and Autism Cannabis and autism – two stigmatized topics that need way more attention. While there are studies that are both for and against the use of cannabis to treat autism symptoms, many consumers believe cannabis is the best and safest treatment. Tiffany Carwile of the Autism Alliance of Ohio joins us for an illuminating discussion about the role cannabis plays in treating autism symptoms.   Listen to it on PodCast or Watch the YouTube on Cannabis and Autism.     RELATED POST: How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card RELATED POST: Medical …
Although e-cigarettes were first marketed as a way for smokers to quit smoking, not only has it been proven that they are not an effective way to quit smoking, but e-cigarette companies, like Juul, have actually gotten young people addicted to nicotine by targeting teens and young adults who had not previously been smokers. Despite the fact that vaping has been marketed as a safe alternative to smoking, the reality is that it has contributed to thousands of cases of lung cancer. In addition to nicotine, many e-cigarettes also contain THC, which is a psychoactive ingredient. Dr. Ngozi Ezik, the…
https-smithamundsen-files-wordpress-com-2020-07-scales-of-justice-2-jpgw764
Contributed by John Hayes, July 14, 2020 On July 8, 2020 the United States Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. civil rights laws barring discrimination on the job do not apply to most lay teachers at religious elementary schools. The decision extends earlier Supreme Court rulings that shielded religious organizations from employment-discrimination claims by ministers, called the “ministerial exception.” This principle, which courts derived from the First Amendment, bars the government from telling a religious institution whom to choose as its faith leaders. Respecting that principle sometimes requires the courts to stay out of employment disputes when the employer…
Stephanie Tang shared insights on identifying, reflecting upon and communicating one’s own needs in a relationship in the UpJourney article, “How to Fight for and Save Your Marriage Alone.”  Accompanied by psychologists, marriage counselors and family therapists, Stephanie and the team of experts offered ideas on solving key issues that spouses face during challenging times. Read the full article here.   Stephanie has years of experience working with divorcing couples whether through litigation, mediation or collaborative law and recognizes the importance of one’s own happiness in each situation.  The post Stephanie Tang Offers Advice to Discouraged Spouses appeared first on Kogut & Wilson.…
In 2019, Governor Pritzker signed Public Act 101-0504 into law, which amends part of the Illinois Pension Code. Effective July 1, 2020, the new law certain website posting requirements for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) and for municipalities. Of most interest to municipalities is the new requirement that municipalities with a website post a link to the IMRF “Employer Cost & Participant Information” webpage on their websites. Although the law became effective July 1, 2020, this website posting requirement does not take effect until January 1, 2021. The law also makes it clear that it does not require a municipality…
http-www-2civility-org-wp-content-uploads-attorney-shekar-jayaraman-225x300-jpg
Our Lawyer Spotlight series highlights Illinois lawyers who are demonstrating the ideals of professionalism in their daily lives. These attorneys are teaching us how to adapt and thrive in the changing legal environment. Shekar Jayaraman is the Principal Attorney at Jayaraman Law, LLC, where his practice focuses on civil, commercial, and real estate litigation; business formation and corporate governance; and estate planning and probate. How is Jayaraman Law adapting to the changing work environment? At Jayaraman Law, even prior to COVID-19, we considered ourselves to be a very “tech-forward” law firm. We have always taken pride in allowing clients to…
Today’s blog entry is a two-for-one dealing with the fact that definitional terms still matter even after the amendments to the ADA. In the first case, Colton v. Fehrer Auto, North America, LLC, we revisit the question of whether being short is a disability without more. In the second case, Darby v. Childvine, Inc., we look at the question of whether a person with BRCA1 gene who undergo a preventive surgery to prevent breast cancer is a person with a disability. As usual, the blog is divided into categories and they are: Colton facts; Colton reasoning physical or…
https-www-rosenfeldinjurylawyers-com-news-wp-content-uploads-2019-12-child-abuse-1024x683-jpg
Sexual abuse of children is the most insidious type of crime because it produces harms that often do not manifest themselves until years after the abuse occurred. For this reason, the crime usually goes unreported until after the state statute of limitations (SOL) for bringing a lawsuit has expired, leaving the victim no legal recourse to seek recompense from the civil justice system. However, as a result of growing awareness about the nature of sexual abuse and its lingering effects, as well as widely publicized cases involving pervasive abuse within high-profile organizations, some states including Illinois are making changes to…
https-www-lawjtlg-com-wp-content-uploads-2020-07-marah-bashir-kqkkufxqz1q-unsplash-scaled-jpg
How to Appeal Illinois Commercial Property Taxes A major expense for most commercial landlords and tenants is property taxes. In Illinois, the commercial property tax is based on two things — the tax rate imposed by the county or township, and the assessed “fair market value” of the property. If you believe the latter is too high, you can appeal your building’s assessment. What is “Fair Market Value”? First, let’s understand how the assessment process works. County officials assess fair market value (FMV) based on one of three methods: an analysis of the actual sales prices for similar properties in…
https-www-dupagecountycriminallawyers-com-images-easyblog_images-643-b2ap3_thumbnail_wheaton-criminal-lawyer-min-4-jpg
One of the most well-known aspects of the United States’ culture is how much emphasis is put on personal freedoms, especially when it comes to firearms. To the Founding Fathers, access to firearms was so important that they even included a provision for them in the Constitution. However, with the changes that have taken place in the world since the 1700s and now, gun ownership is not an absolute right in the United States and is actually left up to individual states to set rules and regulations. In Illinois, residents must qualify for, apply, and receive a firearm owner identification…
On July 2, 2020, the PAC issued updated guidance to public bodies regarding complying with the OMA and FOIA during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are very few substantive changes from the previous guidance issued in April, except to update the guidance to be consistent with the recent amendment to the Open Meetings Act authorizing remote meetings during a disaster. We have summarized the guidance below: OMA Guidance Requirement for Physical Presence of a Quorum for Members of a Public Body   On June 12, 2020, the Governor signed Senate Bill 2135 (Public Act 101-0640) amending the OMA, which allows…
In most divorce and parenting cases, the court wants to keep both parents in the child’s life. What this looks like, exactly, varies from family to family. For parents who both have played an integral role in the child’s upbringing, … Continue reading → The post I Have Just Been Granted Supervised Visitation – What Now? appeared first on The Law Office of Van A. Larson, P.C..…