Families caring for an adult with disabilities often face difficult decisions about safety, long-term care, financial management, and medical decision-making. In Illinois, one of the most important tools available to help protect a vulnerable adult is legal guardianship. Guardianship allows a trusted person to step in and make essential decisions when an individual cannot safely make those decisions alone. In this guide, we explain when guardianship is needed for a disabled adult in Illinois, how the process works, and what families in Champaign and Shelbyville should understand before filing. Rincker Law PLLC works with families across Central Illinois to help…
Continue Reading Guardianship for a Disabled Adult in Illinois: A Guide for Champaign & Shelbyville Families

When a parent becomes unable to care for a child due to illness, absence, instability, or unexpected life events, another trusted adult often steps in. In Illinois, this legal responsibility is known as guardianship for a minor child. Families in Champaign and Shelbyville often turn to guardianship when they need a stable, court-recognized plan to protect a child’s well-being, education, healthcare, and daily needs.  In this blog, we explain how to establish guardianship for a minor in Illinois, what legal steps families must follow, and how the family law team at Rincker Law PLLC can help guide parents and relatives…
Continue Reading Guardianship for a Minor Child in Illinois: What Champaign and Shelbyville Parents Should Know

Why Communication Matters in Estate Planning
Creating an estate plan is a deeply personal process, but keeping it entirely private can lead to confusion, delays, or unintended consequences. Communicating your estate plan to the right people ensures your wishes are honored and your loved ones are prepared to act when needed.

A Tiered Approach to Sharing Your Estate Plan
1. Trusted Decision-Makers (Full Access)
Who to Inform:

• Spouse or significant other
• Personal representative or executor
• Trustee and successor trustee
• Agents under financial and medical powers of attorney
• Guardian for minor children

What to Share:

• Location of estate planning documents (will,

…
Continue Reading Who Should I Tell About My Estate Plan?

Why Naming a Guardian Matters
No parent wants to imagine not being there for their children, but planning ahead is one of the most loving and responsible things you can do. If you don’t legally nominate a guardian for your minor children, a judge—who doesn’t know your family—will decide who raises them. That choice could be someone you never would have picked, and without your guidance, family disputes may arise. In the worst case, your children could end up in foster care.

How to Choose the Right Guardian
Selecting a guardian is a major decision. Consider these factors:

• How well

…
Continue Reading Do It Now: Name a Guardian for Your Minor Children

It’s not uncommon for identical trademarks to exist for different goods and services. Maybe your farm equipment company is identical to a trademark registered for a restaurant, or your software company’s mark matches one used for a clothing line. Naturally, this can raise concerns: Does this mean I can’t use my trademark? Is someone infringing on my mark?
The good news: identical trademarks can often coexist—as long as they’re used in connection with different goods or services that aren’t likely to cause consumer confusion.

Trademarks aren’t about owning a…
Continue Reading Ask Regan: I Found My Trademark Registered for Different Goods and Services — Does That Create an Issue?

Why Estate Planning Is Essential for New Parents
Welcoming a new baby is a joyful milestone, but protecting your child goes beyond babyproofing and car seats. Estate planning for new parents ensures your child is cared for, your wishes are honored, and your family’s future is secure.

Provide for Your Child’s Care
One of the most important reasons for new parents to create an estate plan is to nominate a guardian for their minor child. This decision should be yours—not left to the court. You can nominate a guardian in several ways:

• Last Will and Testament: Officially nominate a guardian

…
Continue Reading New Baby? Time to Create Your Estate Plan

Originally published in the Illinois State Bar Association Rural Practice Newsletter (October 2025 Issue). Reprinted with permission.
Understanding the Rural Legal Desert
Across the United States, access to justice remains an ongoing challenge in rural America. A 2025 Iowa State University study found that over half of all non-metropolitan counties now qualify as “legal deserts”—areas with fewer than one private-practice attorney per 1,000 residents. Even more alarming, 11 percent of those counties are classified as critically underserved, meaning residents have little to no access to local legal counsel.
While these statistics are concerning, they tell only part of the story.
Continue Reading What’s in the Rural Law Practice News? Rincker Law Attorneys Featured in the ISBA’s October 2025 Issue

At Rincker Law, PLLC, our founding attorney, Cari Rincker, recently had the opportunity to speak with two undergraduate pre-law organizations at the University of Illinois. The interactive Q&A sessions gave students a chance to ask candid questions about the realities of law school, career paths, and life as a practicing attorney.
As a former adjunct professor at the University of Illinois College of Law, Cari has always been passionate about mentoring future lawyers. Her insights reflect not only her professional expertise but also her personal journey from growing up in rural Illinois to running a multi-state law practice serving clients…
Continue Reading So, You Want to Be a Lawyer? Insights from Cari Rincker’s Q&A with University of Illinois Pre-Law Students

Many people are familiar with criminal, family, or corporate law but fewer understand what it means to practice agricultural law. During recent Q&A sessions with pre-law students at the University of Illinois, Attorney Cari Rincker explained what makes agricultural law such a unique and rewarding career path. Below we share, “From Farm Fields to Courtrooms: Understanding Agricultural Law (and Why It’s Different).
Ag Law: An Industry-Based Practice
Unlike most areas of law, which are defined by a specific legal issue (such as divorce or real estate), agricultural law is industry-based, serving the farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses that make up the backbone of rural America.
Continue Reading From Farm Fields to Courtrooms: Understanding Agricultural Law (and Why It’s Different)

Why Estate Planning Matters for Foster Children
Welcoming a foster child into your home is a life-changing experience. Whether through the court system, an agency, or extended family, foster relationships often become deeply personal. Yet, the law may not recognize this bond when it comes to inheritance. Without a proper estate plan, state intestacy laws determine who inherits your assets—and foster children typically have no automatic right unless legally adopted. Even kinship care (when relatives foster children) may not guarantee inheritance rights.
Key Takeaway:
Without a written estate plan, foster children may be left without legal protection, leading to confusion…
Continue Reading Foster Children Estate Plan: Secure Their Future

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