What to Include in Your Service Agreement

Cari RinckerBusiness Law

Small businesses account for nearly half of the economic activity in the United States. To successfully compete with bigger competitors, small businesses are increasingly outsourcing to improve their efficiency and lower costs. Outsourcing allows companies to expand their competencies in key areas without taking on additional full-time, in-house employees. This is a growing trend among small businesses looking for professional …

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What Do Prenups Oftentimes Discuss?

Cari RinckerFamily/Matrimonial Law

I note three key issues usually discussed in prenuptial agreements in this short video.  They are the identification of separate/ marital property, spousal maintenance and estate rights. Interested in a free 15 minute consultation on a nuptial agreement? Please contact cari@rinckerlaw.com or call (217) 531-2179. Share this Article

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Legislative Alert: The Consumer Coverage Disclosure Act (Illinois)

Cari RinckerBusiness/Commercial Law

Employers in Illinois should be mindful of certain new obligations arising under the Illinois Consumer Coverage Disclosure Act (“the Act”) (820 ILCS 46), which came into effect on August 27, 2021. The new Act applies to all Illinois employers that provide group health insurance coverage. What the Consumer Coverage Disclosure Act Requires The Act requires that Illinois employers give their …

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Member-Managed vs. Manager-Managed LLCs: What Is the Difference?

Cari RinckerBusiness Law

When setting up your business, one of the most significant decisions you will make is which type of entity to form. If you have settled on forming a limited liability company (LLC), you must also choose the type of management structure it will have. LLCs can be member-managed or manager-managed. Being an LLC manager means having the legal authority to …

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The Three Parts of the Farm Estate Planning Discussion

Cari RinckerFood & Ag Law

Hear me discuss farm estate planning, business planning and succession planning in this short video.  I discuss all three in my services to farm and ranch clients when doing farm estate planning. Share this Article

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Ask Cari: Is my inherited IRA included in my child support and maintenance calculations?

Cari RinckerFamily/Matrimonial Law

What is considered income for child support and maintenance calculations during a divorce can be very complex especially when it comes to inheritance.  The Illinois Supreme Court recently helped to uncomplicate one gray area when it held that mandatory individual retirement account (IRA) distributions and withdrawals are considered income when calculating child support and maintenance calculations In re Marriage of …

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What Is Reverse Veil Piercing and How Should You Protect Against It?

Cari RinckerBusiness Law

Normally, limited liability business entities, which include corporations and limited liability companies (LLCs), prevent the entity’s creditors from going after an owner’s personal assets to satisfy their claims. But in rare circumstances, courts allow piercing of the corporate veil. When this occurs, creditors who win a legal judgment against the corporation or LLC may target the personal assets of a …

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Child Support During High Inflation

Cari RinckerChild Support, Co-Parenting, Family/Matrimonial Law

In the first quarter of 2022, inflation is up over 8%, the highest since the early 1980s. With this high inflation rate, you are likely paying more for everything for your child – from gas in your car, to diapers and music lessons. Maybe you’re wondering if your child support payments can go up to match your increased costs. Unfortunately, …

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Why a Trust Is the Best Option for Avoiding Probate

Cari RinckerEstate Planning, probate

As Ambrose Bierce once darkly observed, “Death is not the end. There remains the litigation over the estate.” Obviously, ideally, when someone passes away, the paperwork and material concerns associated with the estate are so flawlessly handled (thanks to excellent preparation) that they fade into the background, allowing the family to grieve and remember in peace. In fact, the whole …

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Estate Planning Considerations for Couples with Age Gap

Cari RinckerEstate Planning

With couples of similar ages, planning for the future is naturally a joint effort. However, if you are married to someone who is significantly older or younger than you, the future can look different and mean different things to each of you. To protect yourself, your spouse, and other loved ones, you need to have comprehensive financial and estate plans. …

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Business Ownership and Divorce: What You Need to Know

Cari RinckerBusiness Law, Divorce, Family/Matrimonial Law, General

Divorce is rarely simple. When two people’s lives are intertwined—physically, emotionally, and legally—separating the individual strands can be a task akin to untying the Gordian knot. The longer a couple has been together and the more they share, the more difficult this task becomes. It can be even more difficult if the divorcing couple co-owns a business or one spouse …

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Illinois Prenups: What You Need to Know to Get Started

Cari RinckerFamily/Matrimonial Law

Do I need a prenup before I get married? No one gets married with the intention of getting divorced, but it is always a good idea to protect your rights and your property in the event that life does not goes as planned, regardless of your financial circumstances. Divorce is inevitably complicated, contentious, and unpredictable.  In Illinois, the law requires …

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