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

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…
Continue Reading 10 Ways to Have a Smooth Farm Divorce in Illinois

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