by Jonathan Cole | Dec 5, 2025 | Uncategorized
Blended families are incredibly common in Illinois—second marriages, stepchildren, children from prior relationships, and households that look different from the traditional “nuclear” family. While these families are full of love, they also introduce unique legal...
by Jonathan Cole | Dec 4, 2025 | Uncategorized
Your Online Life Needs an Estate Plan Too We plan for our homes, bank accounts, cars, and personal belongings — but what about the parts of our lives that exist only online?Today, most Illinois residents have hundreds of digital assets without realizing it, including:...
by Jonathan Cole | Dec 3, 2025 | Uncategorized
The Hidden Risks Illinois Families Don’t Know About Many Illinois parents believe that adding an adult child to the deed of their home is a simple way to “avoid probate” or “make things easier.” It sounds appealing — one form, one signature, and the house...
by Jonathan Cole | Dec 2, 2025 | Uncategorized
📝 Tougher travel and border-exit/entry procedures As of December 26, 2025, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) — under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) — will begin mandatory biometric screening (including photographs and fingerprint/...
by Jonathan Cole | Dec 1, 2025 | Uncategorized
Law Office of Jonathan W. Cole P.C. — Your Neighborhood Law Firm The holiday season is about family, gratitude, and creating memories that last a lifetime. But there’s one gift many Illinois families overlook — and it’s the one that brings the most peace, security,...
by Jonathan Cole | Nov 25, 2025 | Uncategorized
Estate plans often include gifts of farmland, rental properties, or family homes — and sometimes, they include special rights for long-time tenants or family members to purchase that property. But as an important 2024 Illinois appellate case reminds us, the exact...
