How to Avoid Money Mistakes in Marriage was the focus of a recent episode of the Money Girl podcast featuring family law attorney Cari Rincker. As part of host Laura Adams’ wedding series, Cari joined the show to discuss an important part of marriage that can easily be overshadowed by venues, guest lists, flowers, and honeymoon plans: financial transparency.
Marriage is a romantic commitment, but it is also a legal and financial partnership. Couples do not need to approach marriage expecting it to end. They should, however, understand the financial obligations they are assuming, the laws that could affect…
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Does My Child With Disabilities Need a Guardian at Age 18 in Illinois? The answer depends on your child’s ability to understand, make, and communicate responsible decisions, not simply on a diagnosis. When a child turns 18, Illinois generally treats that person as a legal adult, and a parent’s automatic authority ends. Some young adults may need a court-appointed guardian, while others may be able to make decisions with limited assistance or another legal arrangement.
What Changes When a Child Turns 18?
A parent’s legal guardianship over a child ends automatically when the child turns 18. After that birthday, a…
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Rural Attorney Shortages and Legal Deserts: How States Are Expanding Access to Justice examines a growing challenge facing rural America. Many rural communities do not have enough attorneys to meet the legal needs of residents, farmers, families, and local businesses.
Rincker Law attorneys Sam Ellis and Cari Brett Rincker recently examined several efforts aimed at addressing this problem, including expanded access-to-justice funding in Illinois, a rural practice academy in Indiana, financial incentives for attorneys in Kansas, and technology-based service models developing across the country.
Although these programs take different approaches, they share a common goal: improving access to legal services…
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Agricultural Law Updates for 2026: What Farmers and Agribusinesses Should Know examines several federal and Illinois developments that may affect farmers, ranchers, agricultural landowners, food businesses, and other members of the agricultural industry.
Rincker Law attorneys Sam Ellis and Cari Brett Rincker recently reviewed major developments involving the 2026 Farm Bill, pesticide regulation, specialty crop assistance, antitrust enforcement, rural development, and Illinois conservation programs. Although these developments affect different parts of the agricultural sector, they reflect a common theme: agricultural law continues to become more closely connected with environmental regulation, market competition, federal funding, and national economic policy.
Farmers and…
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Can You Use an Illinois Small Estate Affidavit Instead of Probate? In many cases, yes. Illinois law allows certain estates to transfer personal property through a small estate affidavit without opening a formal probate proceeding. However, the estate must meet specific legal requirements, and the person signing the affidavit assumes important responsibilities regarding debts, heirs, beneficiaries, and the distribution of property.
What Is an Illinois Small Estate Affidavit?
An Illinois small estate affidavit is a sworn, notarized document used to collect and distribute a deceased person’s personal property. Instead of asking a probate court to appoint an executor or administrator,…
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Summer Travel With Children After Divorce: What Illinois Parents Should Know is an important topic for separated and divorced parents planning vacations with their children. A family trip can create lasting memories. It can also lead to conflict when parents disagree about dates, destinations, passports, or missed parenting time.
Whether an Illinois parent may take a child on summer travel depends on the parenting plan, court orders, and the facts of the trip. Some orders require advance notice, while others require consent. International travel may also raise additional passport and documentation issues. Parents should not assume that a vacation is…
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Summer Agritourism Legal Risks: What Farm Owners Should Know is an increasingly important topic for farms that welcome the public. U-pick fields, farm tours, livestock encounters, educational workshops, farm dinners, and seasonal activities can create new sources of revenue. They can also expose the operation to legal and financial risks that may not exist on a production-only farm.
Before inviting visitors onto agricultural property, farm owners should review their insurance, contracts, business structure, property conditions, local requirements, and safety procedures.
Agritourism Changes the Farm’s Risk Profile
Agritourism generally connects agriculture with recreational, commercial, or educational visitor experiences. Once members of…
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The Hidden Gender Gap in Estate Planning and How Women Can Close It

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How your real estate is titled affects far more than just whose name is on the deed. It plays a major role in your legal rights, how vulnerable your property is to creditors, and what happens to the property when you pass away. Many people assume their estate plan will “fix” any issues, but title problems can actually undo your planning if they’re not addressed properly.

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Rincker Law, PLLC is pleased to announce that founder and principal attorney Cari B. Rincker will present at the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education’s Elder Law Short Course 2026.
The two-day continuing legal education program will take place on November 5–6, 2026, at the UBS Tower and Conference Center in Chicago. Attorneys will also have the option to attend through a live webcast.
Cari will co-present the session “Planning Considerations for Farmland” with attorney L. Kaye DeSelms Dent of Dent Coulson Elder Law, LLC. The presentation is scheduled for Friday, November 6, 2026, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Addressing…
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Trademark Protection for Farms, Food Businesses, and Agricultural Brands should be considered before a business invests heavily in packaging, signs, websites, merchandise, or advertising. A farm may spend years building recognition around a name or logo, only to discover that another business has earlier rights in a similar mark. Addressing trademark issues early can help reduce the risk of an expensive rebrand, marketplace confusion, or legal dispute.
What Can Function as a Trademark?
A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, design, or combination of these elements that identifies the source of particular goods or services. It helps consumers distinguish one…
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Choosing the Right Business Structure for a Farm or Family-Owned Business is an important decision that may need to be revisited as the operation grows, changes ownership, or prepares for the next generation. The structure selected can affect limited liability protection, taxation, management authority, financing, succession planning, and what happens when an owner dies, becomes disabled, divorces, retires, or leaves the business.
There is no single structure that is right for every farm or family-owned company. The appropriate choice depends on the owners, assets, business risks, tax goals, land arrangements, and long-term plans of the operation.
Why Informal Business Arrangements…
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Farm Partnership Disputes: How Mediation Can Help Before Harvest Season is especially timely as summer fieldwork intensifies and harvest approaches. A disagreement over money, management, equipment, land, or workload can disrupt operations. It may also strain family relationships and put the farm at risk. Addressing the conflict early through negotiation, mediation, or another appropriate process may help protect the operation before the busiest part of the year.
Why Farm Disputes Become Harder During Busy Seasons
Agricultural businesses operate on deadlines that cannot always be postponed. Crops must be treated, livestock cared for, equipment maintained, and financial decisions made quickly.
Common…
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