Access to Justice for Illinois Consumers
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Free Tools and Information
for Cook County, IL Consumers
Illinois Inheritance Law & Probate Procedure
- Illinois PROBATE COURT FINDER:
- Probate Court for Cook County: Key information about your local probate court (Probate Court in Illinois) for Cook County.
- How Probate Works in Illinois: How to handle the probate of an inheritance at Cook County's probate court.
- Here are links to:
- Small Estates Procedures in Illinois: Learn how to use Illinois's Small Estate procedures that can save you time and money.
In Michigan you can use an Affidavit if the estate does not include real property and the value of the entire estate, less liens and encumbrances, is less than $24,000 (adjusted for inflation). There is a 28-day waiting period.
Mich. Comp. Laws 700.3983.
There is also a summary probate procedure for estates with a value of $15,000 or less, after payment of funeral and burial costs, or if the value of the entire estate, less liens or encumbrances, doesn't exceed the homestead allowance, exempt property, family allowance, and costs of administration, funeral expenses, and last illness expenses.
Mich. Comp. Laws 700.3987.
- Illinois Estate Taxes:
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Illinois, like most states, does not impose an estate or inheritance tax. Only a few states do.
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- Avoiding Probate in Illinois. Find out what property bypasses probate death and goes directly to beneficiaries. such as:
Bankruptcy & Debt
- MEANS TEST CALCULATOR
- for Cook County, Illinois (applies the state and county income and expense standards into your means test calculation. Updated with the latest median income and expense standards for May 15, 2024)
- Illinois BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION FINDER: Search detailed listings of bankruptcy exemptions under Illinois law and Federal law, for use in filing out Schedule C, when you file for bankruptcy.
- Federal Exemptions available in Illinois?:
Yes. Michigan residents can use the Federal or State exemption systems.
Michigan has passed a special set of exemptions designed only to be used in bankruptcy cases (found in Section 600.5451). Although debtors can use the the exemptions in Michigan's "bankruptcy only" exemption statute, as well as ANY OTHER exemptions found in other Michigan statutes, such as exemptions for life insurance. (See In re Sasasak, 426 B.R. 680.)
- Illinois Homestead Exemption
Real property including condo to $46,125, $69,200 if over 65 or disabled; property cannot exceed 1 lot in town, village, city, or 40 acres elsewhere; spouse or children of deceased owner may claim homestead exemption. Spouses or unmarried co-owners may not double.
- Illinois Vehicle Exemption
Motor vehicle to $4,250 (adjusted for inflation, April 1, 2023).
- Federal Exemptions available in Illinois?:
- Illinois BANKRUPTCY COURT ESSENTIAL INFO: Get information about using your local bankruptcy court.
Michigan is divided into 2 federal districts with main cities in
- Detroit, Flint, Bay City (Eastern District)
- Grand Rapids, Marquette (Western District)
- FREE BANKRUPTCY FORMS:
We'll tell you which bankruptcy forms you need and where to find them.
Democracy In Illinois, Cook County, Chicago
- Elected Representatives: Find out the websites and phone numbers of those representing you at the Federal, State, County, and City levels of government.
- How to Vote: Learn how to register and where and when to vote in Cook County, IL.
- Gerrymandering in Illinois: Has your state been gerrymandered? Find out how to end gerrymandering and have voters pick politicians, not vice versa.
- Tracking Issues: Organizations that track legislation you care about
Illinois Unemployment Benefits
- Benefit Amounts in Illinois: Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
- Minimum:
- $157 per week
- Maximum:
- $362 per week
- Duration:
In Michigan, you can receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of 20 weeks. This was extended to 26 weeks for a period of time during the pandemic, but has since reverted to 20 weeks.
- Minimum:
- Eligibility: >Whether you qualify for unemployment.
- How to Apply: How to apply for unemployment in Illinois.
- Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency
- 866-500-0017
- Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency
- Unemployment Office Near Me? How to find your local unemployment office.
- COVID-19 Benefits: We tracked the rise and fall of COVID-19 unemployment benefit payments.
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Illinois Wage & Hour Law
- Illinois Minimum Wage:
The minimum wage in Michigan is $10.33 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, employees in The Wolverine State must be paid at least $10.33 an hour.
Cook County Minimum Wage
In Cook County, the current minimum wage is $14.00 an hour.
Chicago Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in the city of Chicago is currently $15.80 if you work for an employer that has more than 20 employees, or $15 an hour if you work for an employer with four to 20 employees.
- Overtime Pay: Every state has rules about weekly maximum hours and overtime. Learn about the overtime laws in Illinois and whether they apply to you.
- Wage Claims: If you're being unlawfully underpaid, you need to learn how to file a "Wage Claim" in Illinois.
- Tips : Every state has special pay rates for tipped workers. Find out the rules for tipped workers in Illinois.
In Illinois, your employer may pay you a minimum wage of $3.93 an hour, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your total hourly pay up to the full minimum wage, $10.33 an hour. If you don’t earn enough in tips to bring your compensation to the full minimum wage, your employer must make up the difference.
- Illinois Minimum Wage:
Find a Lawyer in Cook County, IL
- Our Lawyers by Zipcode section allows users to find a local lawyer using the best online resources, including on topics we don't cover.
- DUI, Criminal Defense
- Auto Accidents & Personal Injury
- Immigration
- Legal Aid