On March 14, 2020, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”), after negotiation with the U.S. Secretary of Treasury. The Senate adopted the bill on March 18, 2020, which the President signed the same day. Under the terms of the legislation, the Act becomes effective no later…
The Denmark Tax Authority’s secret billion-dollar settlement in the dividend case with a group of New York backers is assessed by law and tax experts in the United States. Criticism from Lawrence Kamin partner Michael Wise and others is summarized in this TV2 News (Copenhagen, Denmark) article.
In December 2019, Congress enacted the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019, or as it’s more commonly known, the “SECURE Act.” The SECURE Act took effect January 1, 2020 and changed many rules that govern your retirement plans and other tax deferred plans. As a result, changes may need to be made to…
As of January 1, 2020, numerous changes to the law regarding trusts took effect in Illinois. Herein, we are focusing on the one change we think clients should be most concerned about: A trustee’s duty to inform trust beneficiaries of the existence of the trust and providing them with financial records regarding the trust.
Chances are, you know someone who has been sued. Maybe that someone is you. The fact is, your enviable position as a successful business owner comes with a major downside: You are a potential target for lawsuits (some of which may be frivolous and unfounded) and other attacks that can wreak havoc on your…
Disputes often arise among family members when a loved one dies, including the disposition of remains. These disputes are time sensitive. Death certificates must be timely filed and accurately reflect the method of disposition. Failure to do so could result in regulatory problems for involved parties. The Illinois Disposition of Remains Act, 755 ILCS…
Under Illinois law, a plaintiff who voluntarily dismisses its claim may refile that same claim within one year. Yet, the state’s “single refiling rule” prohibits a party from refiling the same cause of action more than once.
The United States Supreme Court recently decided in the case North Carolina Dept. of Revenue v. Kimberley Rice Kaestner 1992 Family Trust (588 U.S. (2019)) that a State cannot tax income of a trust based solely on a beneficiary’s in-state residency, especially if no distributions are made.
Since 1967, the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) has provided the public the right to request access to records from any federal agency. Federal agencies are required to disclose any information requested under the FOIA unless it falls under one of nine statutory exemptions. FOIA Exemption 4 of the 5 U.S.C. §552(b)(4) prevents mandatory…
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker recently signed into law an omnibus bill aimed at limiting harassment and discrimination within the workplace. The bill amends the Illinois Human Rights Act by requiring annual trainings and disclosures. Additionally, the bill enacts two new laws that may impact Illinois employers: the Workplace Transparency Act and the Sexual Harassment…
