Salaries at not-for-profits: the IRS takes a hard lookBy Helen W. GunnarssonFebruary 2005Lawpulse, Page 62If you advise or sit on the board of a tax-exempt organization, take note of an IRS initiative to make sure nonprofits aren't paying employees too much.
Social Security and child supportBy Helen W. GunnarssonFebruary 2005Lawpulse, Page 62To what extent do benefits constitute income for purposes of determining a parent's child support obligation?
The ABCs of QDROsBy Helen W. GunnarssonJanuary 2005Article, Page 18QDROs are an increasingly painful – and important – part of practice. And ignoring them won't make the pain go away.
E-filing comes to DuPage CountyBy Helen W. GunnarssonJanuary 2005Lawpulse, Page 8Electronic filing has come to one Illinois circuit court. Can the rest be far behind?
(Not so) dastardly deedsBy Helen W. GunnarssonJanuary 2005Lawpulse, Page 8If you spot a mistake in a deed, don't panic. There might just be an easy fix.
Rogers: Gifts are income when calculating support owedBy Helen W. GunnarssonJanuary 2005Lawpulse, Page 8The Illinois Supreme Court rules that gifts to a noncustodial parent constitute income for purposes of determining his or her support obligation.
When Johnny and Jenny come marching homeBy Helen W. GunnarssonJanuary 2005Lawpulse, Page 8Their jobs had better be awaitin' and the accompanying job rights preserved, or their employers may be guilty of violating federal law.
Ademption preemptionBy Helen W. GunnarssonDecember 2004Lawpulse, Page 614Remember the ademption doctrine from your Wills and Estates class? No? Read on.
All in the (nontraditional) familyBy Helen W. GunnarssonDecember 2004Lawpulse, Page 614The supreme court rules that a man can't vacate a voluntary acknowledgement of paternity even if DNA evidence shows he isn't the father.
Found treasureBy Helen W. GunnarssonDecember 2004Lawpulse, Page 614Dividends on unclaimed stock belong to the owner, not the state, the supreme court rules.
The Illinois Workers' Compensation CommissionBy Helen W. GunnarssonDecember 2004Lawpulse, Page 614The Illinois Industrial Commission will get a new name to go with its new, more efficient approach to doing business, the chair says.
When "one appellate court" disagrees with itselfBy Helen W. GunnarssonDecember 2004Lawpulse, Page 614When appellate district panels disagree, which decision controls? The answer is far from certain.
DUI: the acid-reflux defenseBy Helen W. GunnarssonNovember 2004Lawpulse, Page 562The high court holds that defendants with acid-reflux disease can raise it as a defense if it causes them to regurgitate during breath-alcohol testing.
Filmmaker charged under eavesdropping statuteBy Helen W. GunnarssonNovember 2004Lawpulse, Page 562A filmmaker who taped police without their consent is charged under the Illinois Eavesdropping Statute.
Illinois' new WARN lawBy Helen W. GunnarssonNovember 2004Lawpulse, Page 562There's already a federal law requiring employers to notify workers about layoffs and closing; effective January 1, there'll be a state law to go with it.
No credit for child-support overpaymentBy Helen W. GunnarssonNovember 2004Lawpulse, Page 562The bottom line for obligors – pay what you owe and not a penny more, and keep track of what you pay.
What limits on lawyer–notaries?By Helen W. GunnarssonNovember 2004Lawpulse, Page 562Can lawyers notarize their clients' signatures on wills, POAs and the like? Some say "no," most say "yes."
The Challenge of Representing Mentally Impaired ClientsBy Helen W. GunnarssonOctober 2004Article, Page 518You think your client's judgment might be impaired – must you do what he asks? Can you talk to the family? A look at governing law.
Clients not liable for lawyers' intentional tortsBy Helen W. GunnarssonOctober 2004Lawpulse, Page 508The Illinois Supreme Court holds that clients are not liable for lawyers' intentional torts unless they authorized, directed, or ratified the lawyers' conduct.
A new, higher limit for small-estate affidavitsBy Helen W. GunnarssonOctober 2004Lawpulse, Page 508The ceiling for small estate affidavits has doubled from $50,000 to $100,000. But will it make the well-meaning people who serve as affiants more attractive targets for lawsuits?
When is "special service" good enough?By Helen W. GunnarssonOctober 2004Lawpulse, Page 508How hard must you try to accomplish personal service before you can resort to service by publication? A recent first district case tackles the question.
Will Blakely create sentencing chaos?By Helen W. GunnarssonOctober 2004Lawpulse, Page 508Federal and many state courts are holding off on sentencing hearings in the wake of Blakely, but the case will have limited impact on Illinois state courts. Find out why.
Can cities cap med-mal damage awards?By Helen W. GunnarssonSeptember 2004Lawpulse, Page 450Does home rule authority really empower cities to regulate medical malpractice litigation? Not likely, observers say.
Family limited partnerships get the green lightBy Helen W. GunnarssonSeptember 2004Lawpulse, Page 450This important tax-planning device for farmers and business owners gets a boost from a federal appellate court.
Grandparent visitation, take 2By Helen W. GunnarssonSeptember 2004Lawpulse, Page 450The legislature passes a new grandparent visitation law, which is designed to cure the defects of its unconstitutional predecessor.
New weapons for child-support collectionBy Helen W. GunnarssonSeptember 2004Lawpulse, Page 450Freshly passed bills promise to make child-support collection a little easier, and maybe a little less expensive.
Verbatim-record provision to meeting law amendedBy Helen W. GunnarssonSeptember 2004Lawpulse, Page 450The legislature amended the Open Meetings Act to clarify that verbatim recordings are accessible only in litigation over whether the public body violated the Act. Is the amendment too restrictive?
