J Patrick Donnell and Associates

04/30/2020

Off to see a client this morning. Yes, I'm doing it when necessary, and am being very careful. Otherwise, I'm encouraging Zoom appointments whenever possible.

02/13/2020

Can I grow ma*****na in Illinois for my own consumption? Only if you have a medical ma*****na card, and no more than five (5) plants. NO, if you do not have a ma*****na card. This is NOT intended as providing specific legal advice. If you have a question, please consult an Illinois attorney.

02/13/2020

Smoking W**d in Illinois. I came across this interesting website that answers a lot of questions about consumption of ma*****na in Illinois. One question NOT answered, "Can I smoke it on my porch of my condominium?" While condominium associations CAN regulate the consumption of ma*****na in the COMMON AREAS (halls, sidewalks, basements, etc) if they choose to do so, they CANNOT regulate the consumption WITHIN your condominium. Porches are usually limited common areas so this is still up in the air, BUT until they say no, you are OK to use it on your porch. If a condominium association does attempt to restrict the consumption of ma*****na on a porch of a unit, that's seems iffy. This is NOT intended as providing legal advice. If you have a question, please consult an Illinois attorney.

Answers to frequently asked questions about Illinois’ cannabis legalization law.

02/08/2019

I heard a radio show that's caused me to consider something I've never considered before. People being required to pay bail or go to jail before they've had a trial, the theory of bail being that it will insure that they will come back for their trial to recover their bail. But wait a minute, being put in jail BEFORE THEY'VE BEEN TRIED?

And what about those who can't pay the bail? They go to jail until some time in the future when their trial occurs. They can't go to work and there's a great risk that what little income they may have will stop, making them poorer. If they go to jail they can't take care of their kids. If they go to jail they have less opportunity to meet with their lawyer, or get witnesses to prove their innocence. There several more ramifications, all bad. All this BEFORE they have gone to trial and had a chance to prove their innocence.

There is a growing movement to stop causing people to go to jail because they cannot afford bail. Following is an article about how California is dealing with this question.

Something to think about.

Reform groups argue the bill signed by Gov. Jerry Brown won't do enough to shift the criminal justice status quo.

12/20/2018

There are over 200 new laws taking effect in Illinois on January 1, 2019. Here's the list:

ALSO see comments below for a few of them:

If you are unsure of what any of these mean, please consult an Illinois attorney.

With the start of the New Year always comes a new set of laws to obey. Read a complete list here, and see the top new Illinois laws for 2019.

12/07/2018

Looking to move to a new home in the not to distant future? Get a spiral notebook and make the first four pages for what you want in your new home. Write down all those things that are so important you will remember them, just in case you don't.

Along with those big ticket things (number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, back porch? Hardwood floors?, distance from your work, neighborhoods you like, elevator to get to your floor or number of floor you are willing to walk up and down? Parking? .....) include the things that pop up in day to day life:

Don't want the sun rise shining in your bedroom window? Write it down.

Don't want a streetlight shining in your bedroom window? Write it down.

Must have an ice-maker in the refrigerator? Write it down.

Would really like a condo or apartment on the corner of the building? Write it down

Want to live near, but not next to, the building trash chute or trash cans? Write it down.

Want to live within two blocks of public transportation? Write it down.

Really want a gas, not an electric, stove? Write it down.

No dinky shallow bathtubs? Write it down

This list is an ongoing thing. When you come up with something else you want or don't want, add it to the list.

When the time to start looking comes around you'll have all those thing written down to remind you, AND you can make a copy and show it to a real estate agent to let him or her know what you are looking for.

When you do start looking you can use the notebook to make notes on places you've seen. Be sure to staple any information you receive about the property in the notebook. Tape any business cards you gather to the inside of the front of the note book for easy reference. DO NOT get obsessive about keeping the notebook neat or pretty. The point is to have all the information in one place where you can find it. Tape or staple things to pages so they don't fall out.

Happy home hunting!

P.S. if you have any suggestions of your own, post them below. Thanks.

12/07/2018

It's that time of year when selling a house is very difficult. Very few people are buying. GREAT! If you are thinking about putting you home on the market when things start to get moving in a few months, now is the time to think about and start getting your home ready. Not sure what to do? Contact a real estate agent now and ask her or him what you can do to make your home ready to hit the market.

Also, consider having a home inspection done now. Yes, it's going to cost you BUT a buyer is most probably going to have one done so why not get one done and avoid any surprises? Find out those things an inspection will reveal and take care them before your house hits the market.

Prepare now, sell faster when you list it.

07/24/2018

Friends in the Chicago area: If you are considering cremation services, I have learned about this service. It is the lowest price for similar services I've seen. The next closest I've seen is at least $1,500 more than Planet Green.

12/14/2017

Wills, Power of Attorney for Health Care, Trusts. This is the time of year that people think about these. New Year's resolutions are made to update a will or a trust, or to make a will.. In my experience people tend to have a small window of time or energy when they are willing to deal with these topics. If you are thinking about it, do it, or at least put it on your calendar to look into it. You'll be glad you did.

11/30/2017

FOLKS PAYING child support. If your circumstances change and you cannot make the ordered payments, consult an attorney immediately. Do NOT put it off. If you are under a court order to pay, you are required to make the payments, regardless of your changed circumstances, until you get a new order changing the amount to be paid.

Go to court. Tell the judge what happened. See if you can get the required amount changed..

In all fairness, if you start making more, pay more. They are your kids. Help them.