by Jonathan Cole | Nov 3, 2025 | Uncategorized
The Illinois Legislature has passed the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act (Senate Bill 1950) also known as “Deb’s Law.” The bill is now on Governor J.B. Pritzker’s desk awaiting signature, and if it becomes law, it will mark a major development in...
by Jonathan Cole | Oct 31, 2025 | Uncategorized
Understanding the stakes Family disputes over estates are especially painful. When a parent dies and siblings disagree over how the estate (or trust) is managed, emotions, business entanglements and complex legal issues often mix. Law firms that manage contested...
by Jonathan Cole | Oct 30, 2025 | Uncategorized
At the Law Office of Jonathan W. Cole, we often remind clients that estate planning is not a “set it and forget it” task. A recent Illinois appellate case — Johnson v. Johnson (Ill. App. Ct., 2023) — serves as an important reminder of how failing to update your estate...
by Jonathan Cole | Oct 29, 2025 | Uncategorized
The Illinois General Assembly passed a bill is designed to reduce the incidence of third‐party institutions (banks, financial service providers, other entities) refusing to recognize valid powers of attorney (POAs) simply because of procedural or form‐based...
by Jonathan Cole | Oct 27, 2025 | Uncategorized
Illinois recently enacted House Bill 2568 (HB 2568), instituting significant modifications that directly affect trust administration and the fiduciary responsibilities of trustees. Understanding these legislative updates is essential for trustees seeking to safeguard...
by Jonathan Cole | Oct 23, 2025 | Uncategorized
In 2025, Illinois enacted a significant change to its probate laws, raising the threshold for using a Small Estate Affidavit (SEA) from $100,000 to $150,000. This update simplifies estate administration for families managing modest estates and reduces the need for...
by Jonathan Cole | Jan 2, 2025 | Uncategorized
Back and spine problems are one of the most common reasons people apply for Social Security Disability benefits — but not every diagnosis automatically qualifies. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a detailed medical guide, often called the “Blue Book,” to...
by Jonathan Cole | Jan 1, 2025 | Uncategorized
As we ring in 2026, several new Illinois laws go into effect that could impact your family’s planning, long-term care, probate matters, and property rights. Some of these changes make it simpler to settle a modest estate or strengthen protections for vulnerable...
by Jonathan Cole | Jun 18, 2021 | Uncategorized
Illinois has created a new law 755 ILCS 40/10 which amended The Health Care Surrogate Act by changing Sections 10, 20, and 65. This act originally set the guidelines for deciding whether to forgo life sustaining or any other form of medical treatment that involves an...
by Jonathan Cole | May 28, 2021 | Uncategorized
One challenge many Social Security Disability applicants face is the egregious cost of medical records. The medical records departments of hospitals, doctor’s offices, clinics, and specialty locations are both profiteering and blatantly disregarding the rules for...
