Business owners pour their hearts and souls into their businesses. If you own a business or hope to become a business owner soon, it is crucial that you understand how to protect the results of your hard work.

Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are business contracts that prohibit parties from divulging confidential business information. NDAs can be powerful legal tools for protecting trade secrets, client information, and proprietary business practices or methods. However, these contracts must be executed properly to be legally enforceable.

Confidentiality Agreements Have a Range of Uses

Non-disclosure agreements or confidentiality agreements are used for many different purposes. When businesses seek new investors, they share substantial information about their business ideas, inventions, and strategies. What is stopping a potential investor from using this information to start a competing business or selling it to another party? This is why many businesses ask potential investors, partners, or buyers to sign NDAs.

Estate planning is one of those responsibilities that many people put off for as long as possible. However, proper estate planning is crucial to ensuring your wishes are followed if you become incapacitated or pass away. An important part of your estate planning process is choosing a power of attorney (POA). Your POA will have the authority to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to make or express your wishes. It is important to choose someone you trust who can handle this vital responsibility.

The Main Types of Power of Attorney in Illinois

There are two main types of power of attorney. A power of attorney for health care gives someone else the authority to make medical decisions on your behalf. A health care POA will be expected to make decisions about the types of medical treatment you do and do not receive if you are incapacitated by illness or injury.

A financial power of attorney gives someone the authority to handle your finances if you cannot do so yourself. For example, your financial POA may pay your bills or file taxes if you are too sick to manage these issues. You can choose to have the same person act as healthcare and financial power of attorney or you can assign these roles separately.

In July of 2017, new laws went into effect changing the way Illinois courts handle child custody matters. Although the term child custody is still sometimes used informally, the law now describes child custody in terms of parenting time and parental responsibilities. Parenting time is the time that the child is in a parent’s physical custody.

If you are getting divorced or you are unmarried and your relationship is ending, it is important to understand your rights and responsibilities regarding parenting time.

How Is Parenting Time Divided Between the Parents?

Illinois parents are encouraged to work out an arrangement for sharing parenting time and formalize their decisions in their Parenting Plan. The court usually upholds Parenting Plans unless there is some aspect of the plan that is not in the child’s best interests. If the parents cannot reach an agreement, the court will determine an appropriate parenting time schedule for the parents based on factors including but not limited to:

Starting a business is an exciting, if not overwhelming, process. Entrepreneurs eager to make their business dreams a reality must address seemingly countless issues. One of the most crucial questions new business owners will need to answer is how to structure their business. There are several different types of business structures, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Fortunately, entrepreneurs do not have to figure all of these legal issues out on their own.

If you want to start a business, contact an experienced business law attorney who can evaluate your short- and long-term goals and help you determine the business entity that will best meet these goals.

Evaluating the Pros and Cons of Each Business Structure

Most people have noticed that companies have letters like "LLC" at the end of their company name, but few give any thought to what these letters mean. However, when you start a business, all of these abbreviations take on a new meaning.

Most experts agree that it is a seller's market. Homes are in great demand, supply is low, and house prices are skyrocketing. If you are like many people, you may be interested in selling your home. However, selling your home is a major undertaking and it can be easy to make mistakes or overlook responsibilities. As you prepare to sell, consider the following suggestions.

Choose an Experienced Real Estate Agent

It is possible to sell your home without a realtor. However, there are many serious risks associated with "for sale by owner" transactions. Usually, these risks outweigh any potential cost savings associated with an FSBO sale. Real estate agents have access to large networks of potential buyers and ample experience with the home selling and buying process. Your agent can help you identify unqualified buyers and negotiate the best price possible.

Retain a Skilled Real Estate Lawyer

In addition to your agent, you should also consider retaining a knowledgeable real estate lawyer. Selling your home is most likely one of the largest and most consequential financial transactions you will ever make. A real estate lawyer will help you ensure all agreements and contracts are executed properly and do not contain errors or omissions. Your attorney can conduct due diligence and attend the real estate closing with you. If unexpected disputes or legal problems arise, your attorney will be there to handle it.