The Business Lounge Podcast

We’re amidst a new decade, and there are a slew of recent Illinois trust laws and federal tax reforms to keep all of us in the estate planning business paying close attention! Read the full article here: https://www.oflaherty-law.com/learn-about-law/changes-to-illinois-trust-code There are many updates that will affect almost all of our customers, as well as a few that may not. This brief update i...

How do you prepare for a #CourtHearing for an #AdultGuardianship? In this video, we cover the basics of what you need to know when appearing in #GuardianshipCourt. Read the full article here: https://www.oflaherty-law.com/learn-about-law/court-preparation-for-adult-guardianship-hearings O’Flaherty Law now serves over 105 counties across Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana. If you have any questions regard...

Illinois has enacted the Domestic Violence Act to provide recourse for people that have been victims of Domestic Violence or Abuse. Read the full article here: https://www.oflaherty-law.com/learn-about-law/recent-changes-to-orders-of-protection-and-domestic-violence-statutes Domestic Abuse can be physical, mental, or emotional abuse that causes harm to an individual. Additionally, the State Legisl...

The Illinois Parentage Act was passed recently by the Illinois Legislature within the last couple of years, and it provides a major improvement to probate law in the area of posthumous children. Read the full article here: https://www.oflaherty-law.com/learn-about-law/recent-changes-to-illinois-probate-law O’Flaherty Law now serves over 105 counties across Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana. If you have...

The Illinois Child Passenger Protection Act lays out child safety guidelines for children in vehicles, and the penalties for violation of those guidelines. Anyone transporting children in a qualifying non-commercial vehicle in the State of Illinois is subject to these laws. Read the full article here: https://www.oflaherty-law.com/learn-about-law/illinois-car-seat-laws O’Flaherty Law now serves ov...

Bankruptcy is a legal process designed to help individuals or corporations restructure their debts. Read the full article here: https://www.oflaherty-law.com/learn-about-law/recent-changes-to-iowa-bankruptcy-law There are different types of bankruptcy proceedings, the most common types occurring under Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code. This is a big decision and before deciding to fi...

There are several ways that a person may acquire United States (US) citizenship throughout a person’s life. Read the full article here: https://www.oflaherty-law.com/learn-about-law/who-gains-us-citizenship-at-birth These forms can be grouped in three main ways: at birth, through US citizen parents after birth and by application. In this article we will be discussing citizenship at birth and the v...

In this episode, Shane Torres and host, Bryan McDonald, discuss how Shane had to build a company and make sure that he didn't sacrifice his life to get that done. Shane shares his personal experiences, challenges and how he not only done this for himself, he also helps other people do the same for themselves. Shane just doesn't know how to do this, he knows how to actually make it happen. The Busi...

If you have worked and earned wages at least part-time in Iowa for work covered by #unemploymentinsurance during the last 18 months, and earned the minimum wages as set by Iowa law, you may be eligible for #unemployment insurance (UI) benefits in Iowa. Read the full article here: https://www.oflaherty-law.com/learn-about-law/can-i-collect-unemployment-in-iowa Eligibility depends in large part on t...

#Naturalization is essentially the way a non US citizen becomes a citizen of the US. It is a process by which the noncitizen tells the US government that they are willing to renounce all foreign loyalties and become a US citizen. Unless you are already a U.S. citizen, naturalization is the only method for #obtainingcitizenship within the United States.  Read the full article here: https://www.ofla...

Many types of retirement and risk management accounts such as life insurance, 401(k), IRAs, and annuities require or strongly suggest that you name a primary and secondary beneficiary. Read the full article here: https://www.oflaherty-law.com/learn-about-law/beneficiary-designation-problems-in-iowa-estate-planning This will designate who receives the assets from the account upon your death. Choosi...

While most Iowans know they really do need a will, the reality is, not everyone is able to have a will written prior to their passing. The State of Iowa has a process for distribution of your possessions should you pass without a will. This process is known as intestate succession. Read the full article here: https://www.oflaherty-law.com/learn-about-law/how-is-an-iowa-estate-divided-if-there-is-n...

As part of the home buying process in Illinois, the buyer will sign a promissory note and a mortgage (unless the home is paid for in full). What happens when you miss your mortgage payments? Read the full article here: https://www.oflaherty-law.com/learn-about-law/how-does-an-illinois-foreclosure-work The promissory note is a contract between the home buyer and the lender stating that the home buy...

In Iowa, when a married couple has a child, the husband is automatically presumed the father. His name will be placed on the birth certificate and no additional information is necessary. But how can a father establish or refute paternity? Read the full article here: Even if the husband is not the father, her husband would be the legal father and could be liable for child support should the couple...

In this week's OnPurpose Growth video, Sophie Chiche, CEO and Founder of BeCurrent, explains why productivity is about finding your purpose and not about doing more stuff. The Business Lounge is a shared office space, a podcast channel, and a way to enhance your business and expand your network. Stay tuned for weekly episodes! The Business Lounge will be bringing you business advice and conversati...

Each divorce or child custody case varies as to what is needed to resolve the case. While you or your spouse may know some of the general information being sought your attorney does not. The information you gather will help your attorney to educate you regarding your rights and facilitate a strong settlement. Read the full article here: http://www.oflaherty-law.com/learn-about-law/in-illinois-what...

It is not hard to get a divorce in Iowa but it does take time. Iowa is considered a “no fault” state. Read the full article here: https://www.oflaherty-law.com/learn-about-law/how-hard-is-it-to-get-a-divorce-in-iowa-iowa-divorce-guide-2021 In other words, you do not have to prove your spouse caused your marriage to fail nor does your spouse have to prove you caused the marriage to fail. A Court wi...

Trusts are common tools used in estate planning, and other situations which require a third party to take control of an owner’s property to be distributed to a third party. Read the full article here: While creation of trusts involve several unfamiliar legal terms, the basic idea of a trust is to allow someone else to hold onto your property for the benefit of a third person. For instance, you may...

Discovery provides a complete understanding of the issues and facts. It occurs after you have filed for divorce or child custody—it is the “investigation” phase, and one of the most significant steps in the divorce or child custody process. It is the exchanging of information. Read the full article here: http://www.oflaherty-law.com/learn-about-law/what-is-discovery-in-an-illinois-divorce-and-chil...

Many types of retirement and risk management accounts such as life insurance, 401(k), IRAs, and annuities require or strongly suggest that you name a primary and secondary beneficiary. This will designate who receives the assets from the account upon your death. Read the full article here: https://www.oflaherty-law.com/learn-about-law/beneficiary-designation-problems-in-iowa-estate-planning Choosi...

This video gives an in-depth explanation of college contribution, what it means, what expenses can be ordered to be paid, and how much a parent can be ordered to pay for college contribution. College contribution is a form of child support to be paid for a child who is no longer a minor child. Read the full article here: https://www.oflaherty-law.com/learn-about-law/illinois-child-support-college-...

In December, Governor Kim Reynolds announced a new $9 million program created through the CARES Act to provide for rental payment assistance to low-income Iowans facing eviction and assistance to transition homeless Iowans back to housing. This program was launched as an effort to help those facing home insecurities due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Read the full article here: https://www.oflaherty-la...

In a previous article titled “How Does an Illinois Foreclosure Work” we briefly touched on Loss Mitigation options. Loss Mitigation is a general term for options to avoid foreclosure. Read the full article here: https://www.oflaherty-law.com/learn-about-law/what-are-my-rights-in-an-illinois-foreclosure O’Flaherty Law now serves over 105 counties across Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana. If you have any...

In Iowa, employees work at will. Generally speaking, this means that an employee can be fired at any time for any reason or no reason at all. Read the full article here: https://www.oflaherty-law.com/learn-about-law/iowa-wrongful-termination However, there are some exceptions to this general rule. If an Iowa employer fires an employee for a discriminatory reason, in violation of an employment cont...

When getting a divorce, the issue of gifted property often arises. If one party is personally gifted something such as jewelry and they are the only ones who were intended to have it and use it, does it remain theirs after a divorce? Read the full article here: https://www.oflaherty-law.com/learn-about-law/division-of-gifted-property-in-iowa-divorces What if there is a gift given to both parties,...