Why Careful Planning Matters
You want to ensure your children are always cared for, but leaving assets to minor children requires more than good intentions. Without the right legal tools, common mistakes can lead to court involvement, delays, and unnecessary expenses.

Mistake #1: Using a Simple Will
Many parents believe a simple will is enough to provide for their children. While a will allows you to nominate a guardian, it often overlooks how inheritances are managed. A simple will requires that children receive their inheritance outright, in one lump sum, once they reach adulthood. Most parents prefer gradual distributions, but…
Continue Reading How to Leave Assets to Minor Children: Avoid Common and Costly Mistakes

At Rincker Law, we believe that great lawyering is rooted not only in legal knowledge but also in compassion, clarity, and connection. Chelsea M. Jannereth, Associate Attorney at Rincker Law’s Champaign, Illinois, office, embodies these qualities through her thoughtful, client-centered approach.
A Lifelong Calling to the Law
Even as a child, Chelsea knew she wanted to be a lawyer. That early dream became a reality after she discovered her true passion during law school: helping families and children through some of life’s most difficult transitions.
“I was inspired to practice family law when I was in law school,” Chelsea…
Continue Reading Meet Associate Attorney Chelsea Jannereth: Guiding Families Toward Clarity and Peace of Mind

When it comes to passing a family operation from one generation to the next, few topics are more important or more emotional than farm succession planning in Illinois. Yet many families delay or overlook key legal details, leaving their legacy vulnerable to conflict, taxes, or even loss of the family land. Avoiding these common legal mistakes can help ensure your family farm stays intact for generations.

Many farm families assume that everyone “knows what will happen” or that verbal understandings are enough. Unfortunately, without a formal plan in writing, disagreements between siblings, heirs,…
Continue Reading 10 Legal Mistakes That Jeopardize Family Farms During Succession Planning

Few things are more personal to Illinois farmers than their land. It represents decades and sometimes centuries of hard work, stewardship, and family pride. Unfortunately, without careful legal planning, that legacy can unravel in a single generation. Estate planning for farmers ensures that your land, equipment, and business stay in the right hands while minimizing taxes and family disputes.
Understanding Estate Planning for Farmers
Estate planning for farmers involves much more than drafting a will. It is a holistic process that coordinates your financial, legal, and operational goals to protect your farm from unnecessary taxes, legal delays, and internal conflict.
Continue Reading Estate Planning for Farmers: Keeping the Land in the Family for Generations

Rincker Law, PLLC is delighted to celebrate Associate Attorney Regan McGuill Booth, who was recently recognized as a Featured Member in the Farm to Firm Newsletter published by the American Agricultural Law Association (AALA).
This national recognition highlights Regan’s passion for agriculture, her impressive academic and professional background, and her ongoing contributions to advancing the field of agricultural law.
A Lifelong Connection to Agriculture
Regan’s connection to agriculture began in childhood, growing up on a small cow/calf operation in Texas. Her involvement in the Texas 4-H Program—showing cattle and swine—and participation in the Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassador Program sparked her…
Continue Reading Rincker Law Attorney Regan McGuill Booth Featured in AALA’s “Farm to Firm” Newsletter

Divorce is never easy, but when it involves a family farm, the process can become even more complex. Farming isn’t just a business, it’s a lifestyle, a legacy, and often, a source of family pride. A farm divorce in Illinois requires careful planning to ensure both spouses are treated fairly while protecting the farm’s long-term viability. In this blog, we share 10 practical ways to have a smooth farm divorce in Illinois, including strategies to minimize conflict, preserve the business, and protect your financial and emotional well-being.

The first step is understanding…
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Running a farm with a business partner can be rewarding, but when differences arise, ending that partnership can quickly become complicated. A farm partnership breakup in Illinois often involves not just financial and legal concerns, but also emotional and family dynamics. In this blog, we share 10 practical ways to navigate a smooth farm partnership breakup so you can protect your interests, preserve relationships where possible, and ensure a fair transition for everyone involved.

Before making any major decisions, revisit your farm partnership agreement. This document often outlines how disputes are handled, how assets are…
Continue Reading 10 Practical Ways to Navigate a Smooth Farm Partnership Breakup in Illinois

Disputes are an inevitable part of running a business — whether between partners, vendors, clients, or employees. The real question is how to resolve them efficiently while protecting your company’s reputation, time, and bottom line. For many Illinois business owners, mediation has become the smarter, more strategic choice compared to traditional litigation. While lawsuits can be costly and disruptive, mediation provides a faster, more flexible, and confidential way to reach practical solutions without damaging valuable business relationships.
Here’s why mediation often makes better business sense.

Business litigation can become public, exposing sensitive financial information,…
Continue Reading Mediation vs. Litigation: The Smarter Way to Resolve Business Disputes in Illinois

The title of trustee implies that this position should be held by someone you find trustworthy, and for good reason. Serving as a trustee of a trust carries significant responsibility and duty not just to you as the trust’s creator but also to the beneficiaries who depend on accurate, faithful administration.
While being named a trustee reflects a high level of trust and confidence, it is voluntary. No one can be forced to accept it. However, they can be forced out. The authority to remove a trustee may be determined by you and laid out in the terms of your…
Continue Reading When a Trustee Becomes a Burden: How to Remove a Trustee

Divorce can be one of the most challenging experiences of a person’s life. Emotions run high, financial decisions need to be made, and the future can feel uncertain. Fortunately, Illinois couples have an alternative to courtroom battles: divorce mediation. In this blog, we share “What to Expect and How to Prepare for Divorce Mediation in Illinois.
Divorce mediation gives couples the opportunity to settle issues like property division, parenting time, and spousal support in a private, cooperative setting—with the guidance of a neutral mediator. If you’re considering mediation, knowing what to expect and how to prepare can make the process…
Continue Reading What to Expect and How to Prepare for Divorce Mediation in Illinois

Family farms are the heart of rural Illinois. But when disagreements arise, whether over land use, finances, inheritance, or management decisions, those conflicts can threaten both the business and family relationships that sustain it. The good news is that many of these disputes can be resolved without going to court. Mediation offers a practical, confidential way for farm families to find common ground and protect their legacy. Below, we share, “How Mediation Can Save your Family Farm.”
At Rincker Law PLLC, we’ve seen how mediation helps Illinois farm families resolve complex legal and emotional challenges. Here’s how it works, and…
Continue Reading How Mediation Can Save Your Family Farm: A Practical Guide for Illinois Farmers

Receiving an inheritance, whether large or small, often comes with a wide range of emotions, from the grief of losing a loved one to the hope and excitement about the possibilities the inheritance may create.
According to Northwestern Mutual’s 2025 Planning & Progress study, over half (57 percent) of Americans who expect to receive an inheritance view it as critical to their long-term financial security.1 Despite this high reliance, many people lack adequate preparation or guidance to effectively manage inherited funds. If you are about to receive an inheritance, there are several steps you can take to ensure that your…
Continue Reading How to Make Your Inheritance Last

When Illinois parents separate or divorce, child custody (known legally as “allocation of parental responsibilities”) can be one of the most emotional and complex issues to resolve. Child custody mediation in Illinois offers a structured, private, and less adversarial way to reach agreements that protect your child’s best interests—without the financial and emotional toll of going to court.
Here are five ways custody mediation helps families find common ground and build healthier co-parenting relationships.

In litigation, parents often find themselves focusing on “winning” custody rather than creating a parenting plan that truly works…
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