Des Plaines and Hoffman Estates Legal News

Chicago Zoning: Where Can You Build Your Church? If you are the head of a religious organization and wish to build a house of worship in the city of Chicago, things are not quite as simple as “on this rock, I will build my church.” Although residential zones in the city allow people to build churches, commercial zones require a special permit, which the City Council frequently denies. Our Des Plaines and Hoffman Estates lawyers have experience assisting churches with zoning issues, and we welcome religious organizations to contact us for more information. Zoning Principles Zoning is an important part of the laws regarding land use. Municipalities enact zoning laws to both regulate land use and to regulate land characteristics. The purpose behind zoning generally is to allow the local government to regulate land use and maintain harmony by ensuring that the buildings within each zone are compatible with one…
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When you decide to create a final will and testament, you will be asked to consider several questions to aid your attorney in the preparation of your will. You may also find yourself reconsidering these questions if you decide to change your will at a later date. To ensure your estate planning process goes smoothly and your heirs do not run into any issues when probating your estate in the future, work with an experienced Des Plaines estate planning attorney. Deciding How Your Property Will Be Distributed When you begin thinking about your assets and to whom you would like to leave them, you will need to consider what real and personal property you own and whether there is anything specific you want to bequeath to a particular person. Some questions to consider are: To whom do I want to leave my house? Who should get my cars, boats, and…
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Trusts vs. Wills: Pros and Cons of Each While no one wants to prepare for his own demise, if you have considerable property or even just a few valuable things, setting up a plan to dispose of your assets after your death is important. You have several estate planning options available to you, but the most common are wills and trusts. Our Hoffman Estates and Des Plaines attorneys have compiled pros and cons of trusts and wills to help you make an informed decision about which estate planning method is right for you. Trusts: Pros and Cons A trust is a pool of assets held for the benefit of a third party called a beneficiary. A trustee oversees the trust’s disposition to the beneficiary. You can create a trust by establishing one in your will, or you can create a trust while you are still alive (a “living trust” or…
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No one starts a business with the intention of closing it down. But the reality is that most entrepreneurs start and dissolve several businesses before they find the winning combination that assures their financial future. Today’s economic climate is tougher than ever and even once-flourishing businesses find themselves contemplating termination. When your venture has reached the point where the time has come to close your doors, it is important to consult with a business lawyer who understands the serious legal consequences of dissolving a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation or limited liability company. While it is sometimes possible to merely stop operations and walk away from the business, doing so can leave the entity intact and open yourself up to future lawsuits from creditors or other interested parties. Proceeding with a formal dissolution process through experienced legal counsel is a much safer bet. The specific steps you need to take in…
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