Every Wednesday we provide five legal tips based on questions from callers.
I was fired, but was close to a bonus for the work I had done. Can I still get it?
Bonuses after you are fired are only paid if they were 100% guaranteed. Speculative bonuses usually don’t make the cut.
I do a lot of heavy lifting at work and have had some back pain lately. Can I pursue a workers’ compensation case for that?
If you doctor will state that your job duties caused, aggravated or accelerated your back problem then yes you can.
My son is going through a divorce, but he is in jail. Will they let him go to court for the divorce hearings?
You can petition the criminal Judge or divorce Judge to make that happen, but if it’s a serious crime it’s usually not granted. A lawyer can show up on his behalf to represent him even if he can’t make it.
I live in Chicago and have a child custody case going on in Tennessee. Do you know a Chicago lawyer that can handle the case in Nashville?
We don’t because even if an attorney was licensed to practice in both states, to do so would greatly disrupt their practice and cost you a fortune because you would have to pay them by the hour for all of their time away. You should look for an attorney in Tennessee.
Can a business attorney help me figure out if my new business should be a LLC, S-corp or something else?
Yes, but the better service a business lawyer in Illinois can provide is to help put together partnership and operating agreements. The biggest legal messes businesses run in to is when they break up or someone wants out. If you agree up front how to handle that you will save yourself a ton of money and headaches down the road. A business attorney can also help draft documents to use with your clients.
Since 2001, findgreatlawyers.com has been the leading resource for Illinois attorney referrals and legal guidance. If you would like our help please contact one of our lawyers via our on-line form or call (800) 517-1614. We are based in Chicago, but help people find attorneys for legal matters throughout Illinois. All inquiries are free and confidential.