Articles

Inheriting a House – Illinois Law

The death of a close family member can cause a lot of chaos and stress. When it comes to the paying of debts and distribution of assets, the heirs often need to know the rules for inheriting a house in Illinois. This article will discuss the different types of real estate ownership and… Read more →

Is a Lawyer Required for Probate in Illinois

When a family member dies his or her debts must be paid and remaining property distributed in accordance with a will or the Illinois rules of intestate succession. For many people this will be their first time interacting with the court system and there will be far more questions than answers. I have… Read more →

When Is Probate Required in Illinois

Prior to the death of a loved one few people have any familiarity with the Illinois probate process. In fact, most people I speak to have never been to court before – many have never even spoken to a lawyer. For those that have heard of probate, what they have heard isn’t good…. Read more →

Who Inherits If No Will in Illinois

In my experience a very low percentage of people bother to execute a will before their death and this low rate of estate planning is even more prevalent among people who die at a young age or unexpectedly. Because of this, people commonly ask, who inherits if no will in Illinois. This article… Read more →

How to Terminate a Month-To-Month Lease in Chicago

Having handled hundreds of security deposit disputes in Chicago, a common question I address is how to terminate a month-to-month lease in Chicago. Month-to-month leases come in two primary forms: Oral leases that were month-to-month at the outset; and Written leases that expire and the tenant continues to live in the unit and… Read more →

How to Retrieve a Will from a Safety Deposit Box in Illinois

When a close family member dies, one of the many tasks faced by his or her heirs is searching for, and locating, a will. In many cases the decedent (person who died) locks their will in a safety deposit box thinking that it is the best place for important documents. Historically, the people… Read more →

How Much Does Probate Cost in Illinois?

Losing a loved one is difficult. In addition to the emotional impact of the loss, there is often a lot of transactional work that must be done to wrap up the decedent’s affairs. The formal administration of a decedent’s estate in Illinois is called probate. Probate certainly gets a bad reputation in the… Read more →

Farmer Not At Fault For Reduced Visibility

Property owners owe certain duties to people who use their property with their permission. In Farrell v. Farrell the Third District Court of Appeals was asked to decide whether a landowner should be responsible for an accident allegedly cased, at least in part, by mature corn blocking the visibility of children riding dirt bikes and… Read more →

Illinois Security Deposit Law Less Than 5 Units

I am commonly asked about Illinois security deposit law when there are less than 5 units in the building. This question arises often because the Illinois Security Deposit Return Act only covers buildings of 5 units or more. The answer to this question is complicated and largely depends on where you live and what… Read more →

Is a Dog Owner at Fault When Their Dog Is on the Road?

Owning a dog can bring a lot of joy, but ownership also comes with a great deal of responsibility. Everyone knows that dog owners are responsible for dog bites – but is an owner responsible for other injuries caused by their dog? In this article, we look at a situation where a motorcyclist… Read more →

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  I was struck by two cars while standing on a sidewalk. This was a horrible and traumatic experience. Luckily, I was represented in my civil case by Mr. Brabender. He was compassionate, persistent, and thorough. He did a wonderful job of keeping me informed, staying on top of my case, explaining all of the details of the case to me, providing feedback any time I needed it (he was always available for my questions or concerns), and pushing the case forward so that it could close in a timely manner. I have recommended Mr. Brabender (we call him Andy because he is so friendly!) to my friends and I would use him again. He is intelligent and has a wealth of skills; however, he is also down-to-earth and sympathetic to a client's feelings, specifically he understands how traumatic these events are to the client. My case was closed in a timely manner and successfully. I truly believe this occurred because Andy worked so diligently on my case. I walked away (literally and figuratively!) from my case with a positive experience and impression of lawyers.

  Posted by Sara, a Car Accident client, about 1 month ago.

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