The Small Business Center (SBC) issues business licenses and regulates the business activities of industries as diverse as retail, food and liquor establishments, entertainment venues and theaters, day care centers, manufacturing facilities and motor vehicle repair shops just to name a few.
For more information visit: http://bit.ly/2dHLo7e
This is a great article that was originally posted in the Chicago Tribune: http://trib.in/2dBocWq
Always, seek the consultation of a Real Estate attorney regarding all your transactions related to either selling or purchasing a home.
More than 200 new Illinois laws scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1. Here are the new laws governing Business, Commerce, Labor, Regulation and Licensure: http://bit.ly/1WY6c7V
The Zoning Ordinance Administration Division reviews building permit applications to ensure compliance to the Chicago Zoning Ordinance. Plan reviews are conducted by plan examiners located at City Hall, 121 N. La Salle St., Room 905, Chicago.
Here is a link to their website: Chicago Zoning Ordinance Administration
Here’s a great estate planning article that provide a checklist to help you take care of your family by making a will, power of attorney, living will, funeral arrangements, and more.
However, it is always recommended to consult with an Estate Planning attorney for your particular needs.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/review-your-estate-plan-against-this-14-point-checklist-2015-07-20
Chicago and Cook County condominium laws are some of the most sophisticated and stiff in Illinois.
Whether purchasing a condo or for condo association legal issues it is important to talk with a knowledgeable Real Estate Attorney to help you navigate the complexities of Chicago condo law issues.
The sale of a home, whether you’re the buyer or seller, is an incredibly complicated process. When you go through a closing for a home, you’ll immediately notice the extensive amount of paperwork that needs to be filled out and finalized.
If you were to attempt this on your own, you may easily make a mistake that is going to be a problem later on. These problems could affect your tax return at the end of the year, how much tax you’re paying or generally the sale of the home that makes it difficult to receive the paperwork that you need.
An experienced Illinois real estate attorney will review and inspect every important document for any mistakes made regarding the documents such as:
They will also answer any questions you may have concerning the sale or purchase of a home.
Many people are novices when it comes to real estate and they may easily make mistakes if they don’t really know what they’re doing when buying or selling. An Illinois Real Estate attorney can answer your questions and assist you through the process of home buying or selling so that it can get done quickly and effortlessly.
In the past people used wills to protect their loved ones after their death and to distribute their property to specific people that they may have had a sentimental (or practical) reason that they wanted as a matter of public record. Wills are far more famous to the general public due to movies and books, while trusts have been used by those who have a certain familiarity with attorneys and the legal system. Now that we live in an information society it is easy to bring information to the public that they can use to their benefit. Living trusts are something that is recommend over a standard will. The federal and state laws that regulate estates and property transfer are extremely complicated, especially where it comes to wills. As such the probate process to adjudicate the will and administer the property is lengthy and oftentimes produces deleterious effects on the family who just lost their loved one. Moreover, it is an expensive process and reduces the value of the estate.
Wills, living wills, living trusts, and other end of life documents are difficult to introduce to healthy people because it requires that they think about their own death or the death of people they love. In order to broach the topic, you have to remind people that as they age they will become less well and may very well end up needing care and special facilities. However, it is a fact of life that we do age and eventually die. It is better to prepare while you are younger so you don’t have to think about these things later. However, it also goes without saying that accidents unfortunately happen to young people.
Having a living trust and a living will reduces the risk for your family. Living trusts are the most common method of avoiding probate. They are sometimes called “revocable living trusts” or “revocable trusts”, in case your tax preparer mentioned them last month. These documents are a legal method of avoiding probate altogether and providing for your family members in the event, not only of your death, but also any extended illness.
It’s alway important to seek the advise of an Estate Planning Attorney to work with you to craft the appropriate Living Trust for your needs.
Illinois Power of Attorney law has several changes made for 2015. Public Act 098-1113 provides a major overhaul of the Illinois statutory Power of Attorney related to the health care form including a new FAQ-styled notice, the need to additional witness and agent restrictions, it also incorporates revised options for expressing life-sustaining treatment wishes.
PA 98-0776 (SB 1098) Corporate Liability post dissolution
Allows for a corporation that has been dissolved to continue to be liable up to five years after the dissolution. Any legitimate claim against the corporation could be from any period before, during, or after dissolution up to five years. The law reverses a decision made by the Illinois Supreme Court.
PA 98-0774 (HB 5701) ‘Ban the Box’ bill
Prohibits employers from seeking information regarding a potential employee’s criminal history until after an invitation to interview or a conditional offer of employment has been extended. Intended to allow job seekers with criminal history to be considered on their merits and experience rather than being dismissed out of hand for an offense
PA 98-0862 (HB 5622) Payroll cards
This law establishes requirements and regulations for the use of payroll cards by employers – stored value cards offered by some companies to their employees as an alternative to payroll checks or direct deposit. Payroll cards are similar to debit cards and can be used to make purchases or withdraw cash at ATMs. Regulations include prohibiting the employer from forcing an employee to accept a payroll card in lieu of other payment, and ensuring the employer provides a complete written explanation of the terms and conditions of the payroll card account including any fees that may be involved.
PA 98-0911 (HB 4790) Hair braiding licensure standards
Provides that an individual licensed as a hair braider teacher may practice hair braiding without being licensed as a hair braider. The purpose of this change is to bring the same standards to barber oversight as is done with cosmetology.
PA 98-1037 (HB 4157) Employee status for interns
Adopts the federal definition of “intern” to the Illinois Human Rights Act, giving employee status to unpaid interns at Illinois businesses for the purpose of sexual harassment claims. An “intern” is considered an employee if: the employer & intern agree to no wages; employer is not committed to hiring the person; and the closely supervised work provides experience for the benefit of the person performing the work, but does not displace regular employees.
PA 98-1119 (SB 3405) Protecting small businesses from patent trolls
Any person sending demand letters about patent infringement must have an actual legal claim that is valid. Offenders will be subject to sanctions for engaging in a deceptive business practice.
PA 98-1051 (HB 5563) Equal pay investigations
Allows Departments of Labor (DOL) and Human Rights (DHR) to combine Equal Pay and Sex Discrimination investigations and investigate an equal pay violation when a sex discrimination violation is also alleged, so that employers do not have to undergo TWO investigations.
PA 98-1050 (HB 8) Workplace pregnancy accommodations
Provides that it is a civil rights violation for employers: to not to make reasonable accommodations for employees with conditions commonly related to childbirth or pregnancy; to require a job applicant or employee to accept accommodations; to require an employee to take leave for a medical condition related to childbirth or pregnancy; or to retaliate against a person who has requested, attempted to request, used, or attempted to use a reasonable accommodation.
PA 98-0838 (SB 2999) Licensing of roofing contractors
An applicant for licensure must submit to IDFPR evidence that they have an unemployment insurance employer account number issued by IDES, and that there is not a delinquency in payment under the Unemployment Insurance Act. All persons performing roofing services under the Act shall be licensed as roofing contractors, except for persons who are deemed to be employees of a licensed roofing contractor.
PA 98-0874 (SB 1103) Occupational Safety and Health Act
This new Act, like the two Acts it replaces, applies only to public employers (the federal OSHA Act governs occupational health and safety in the private sector). One new change in the combined Act allows the Attorney General to bring an action in a circuit court to enforce the collection of any civil penalty assessed under the Act.
PA 98-1096 (SB 1778) Resale Dealers Act
The act requires that a resale dealer maintain a standard record book that has been approved by local law enforcement. It provides that the resale dealer shall record a detailed account of each transaction in the record book and establishes additional requirements concerning record books. Further provides that every resale dealer shall require that ID be shown by each person selling any goods, articles, or other things to the resale dealer and establishes additional requirements concerning acceptable forms of ID. It establishes criminal offenses that a person may be charged with for violating the Act, and amends the Pawnbroker Regulation Act to repeal a provision concerning requirements for unregistered buyers conducting business at temporary buying locations. Defines resale dealer.
http://www.thecaucusblog.com/2014/12/new-laws-effective-2015.html