Benjamin Locke

In general, it’s a safe assumption that no one enjoys paying tax, and that goes for generations down the line. When it comes to estate planning in Illinois, one of the most common questions my clients ask is: “Will my heirs have to pay inheritance tax?” It’s probably the first question that comes up in […]

If you’ve heard that Illinois is an “at-will” state, and are not quite sure what exactly the term “at-will” encompasses, and what makes Illinois’s “at-will” definition differnet from other states, you’vce come to the right palce. It seems to be a rule that gives employers the ability to terminate employees for almost any reason, yet

If you are located in the state of Illinois, live with a significant other, and think that you are not married, you are correct. Illinois abolished common-law marriage over a century ago, and that choice still has a huge impact on how marriages and cohabitation are seen in the eyes of the law. That being

Illinois has had a strong tradition of standing up for the “Working Man,” and this tradition has had a profound effect on Illinois’s labor laws here. Let’s be clear here; Illinois is a solidly blue left left-leaning state, and has been for a while, meaning these labor laws have been on the books and are,

Sometimes, couples don’t always work out as planned, and if one parent earns more than the other parent, or one parent has the majority of custody, child support is essential, and that includes Illinois. Child support is one of the most important and misunderstood aspects of family law, and the ability to pay or receive

Illinois workers compensation insurance is similar to other states, but just like with everything related to our federalist system in the US, the details differ. If you are running a business or if you’ve been injured on the job, then workers’ compensation insurance should be at the forefront of your mind. In fact, for employers,

Short-term disability in Illinois revolves around the most important part of the phase, “short term”. If you live in Illinois and are dealing with a medical issue that’s keeping you from working, you may be wondering how you’ll keep up with bills while you recover. Luckily, the Illinois government has implemented programs to protect the

If you live in Illinois and recently lost a family member or a loved one, you might be wondering what happens next, especially if they failed to leave behind a big estate or formal will. Most of the time, this would be sorted out in court (in Cook County, a specialty Court called the Probate

Squatter’s rights in Illinois can be a tricky thing to understand, but if you pay attention to any form of media, you’ve probably seen horror stories of squatters taking over properties and somehow being able to stay. One thing is certain, Illinois traditionally leans left on the political spectrum, and thus, squatter’s rights are more