Erwin Law Answers

The New Corporate Transparency Act: What YOU Need to Know

The US government recently passed a new law aimed at reducing dark money activities such as the financing of terrorist organizations and money laundering. This legislation, known as the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) will be administered by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, otherwise known to most as FinCEN. It takes effect January 1, 2024. This […]

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Words Matter - The Pitfalls of Using "Please Advise" in Professional Communication

  When navigating the seas of professional writing, it's crucial to be mindful of phrasing. A commonly-used phrase, "please advise," can sometimes, inadvertently, lead to choppy waters. Here's why you may want to reconsider using it in your professional emails, legal documents, or other correspondences. The Ambiguity of the Ask "Please advise" is a blanket […]

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Cheers to 30 Years!

While most of the communications you receive from Erwin Law are informational or educational in nature, this one’s a bit more personal... 2022 marks Erwin Law’s 30th Anniversary. And I find myself feeling overwhelmed with gratitude. I’ve been blessed with a wildly supportive, very understanding family that has made many sacrifices to ensure the Firm’s success … […]

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Evictions: Important Housing Provider Update

Housing providers in Chicago should be aware of a pilot program being initiated by the US Department of Housing in the first half of 2022. The “Right to Counsel” program is designed to ensure low-income tenants will be provided with legal counsel in eviction cases and is being funded, in part, with an $8 million […]

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Eviction Update: Time to File?

Evictions in Chicago are taking longer than ever before – five or six months, at the earliest. If negotiating with your tenant hasn’t been fruitful, you should consider beginning the eviction process immediately. Starting the process shouldn’t keep you from continuing to try and negotiate an amicable termination of the tenancy – in fact, in […]

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Illinois Eviction Moratorium Ending and The Next Steps for Housing Providers (Landlords)

Some form of eviction moratorium has been in place for the last 18 months in Illinois. As one of the last remaining states with an eviction moratorium in place, the Illinois Moratorium expired as of October 4, 2021.

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Erwin Law is looking for a new, entrepreneurial teammate!

Are you a Zoning Attorney looking for the best of both worlds … a breakout opportunity without the financial risks involved in a solo practice? We’re ready to round out our successful real estate practice with a Zoning associate. If you’ve got 2 to 3 years of experience, are looking for flexibility and independence, and are posed […]

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Important New Restrictions for Suburban Landlords

The new “Cook County Residential Tenant and Landlord Ordinance” creates hidden pitfalls that all existing landlords, as well as purchasers of multi-units in Cook County (except for Chicago, Evanston and other municipalities with home-rule landlord tenant ordinances), would do well to learn and avoid.

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Eviction Moratorium Update

Governor Pritzker has again extended the eviction moratorium in Illinois through April 3, 2021. As has been the case over the past few months, Illinois landlords can only initiate the eviction process if: (1) a tenant poses a “direct threat to the health and safety of other tenants or is an immediate and severe risk to the Property” or (2) the tenant is not a “Covered Person” as defined under Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order. 

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Another big win!

Erwin Law, led by senior litigation partner Dan Hawkins, prevailed in a hard fought matter in Cook County’s Law Division. A creditor, represented by a large, well respected Chicago firm. sought a personal judgment against our clients. The creditor had credit bid the full amount of its judgment at a judicial sale, which should have […]

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