Northwind Law
IL

Illinois Legal Guides

Understand Illinois's specific laws and regulations across six major practice areas. Each guide covers state statutes, court procedures, and key legal differences.

Legal Guides for Illinois

Personal Injury

Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence system with a 51% bar, meaning plaintiffs who are 51% or more at fault cannot recover damages. The state has a two-year statute of limitations for mo...

Statute of Limitations: 2 years from date of injury
Comparative Negligence: Modified, 51% bar
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Family Law

Illinois family law is governed by the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5). Illinois became a purely no-fault divorce state in 2016 when it eliminated all fault-based ground...

Residency Requirement: 90 days in state
No-Fault Ground: Irreconcilable differences (sole ground)
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Criminal Defense

Illinois has undergone substantial criminal justice reform in recent years, particularly with the passage of the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act, which eliminated cash b...

DUI: BAC 0.08%; Class A misdemeanor for first/second offense; aggravated (Class 2-4 felony) for subsequent offenses
Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act: Recreational marijuana legal; adults 21+ may possess up to 30 grams of flower
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Estate Planning

Illinois imposes a state estate tax with an exemption of $4 million per individual—significantly lower than the federal exemption. This makes estate tax planning essential for many Illinois residents,...

State Estate Tax: $4 million exemption; graduated rates up to 16%
Small Estate Threshold: $100,000 for affidavit
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Business Law

Illinois business law is governed by the Illinois Compiled Statutes, including the Limited Liability Company Act (805 ILCS 180), the Business Corporation Act of 1983 (805 ILCS 5), and various statutes...

LLC Formation Filing Fee: $150 (Articles of Organization)
Corporate Income Tax Rate: 7.0% plus 2.5% Personal Property Replacement Tax
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Real Estate

Illinois real estate law is characterized by mandatory judicial foreclosure, high property tax rates, significant transfer taxes, and strong tenant protections in Chicago. The state uses mortgages and...

State Transfer Tax: $0.50 per $500 of value ($1.00 per $1,000)
County Transfer Tax: $0.25 per $500 of value ($0.50 per $1,000)
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