Articles

From time to time, a board member or property manager may contact us stating that their association wants to update its declaration or bylaws and wondering what it would cost. Before I can answer that question, I explain that there are two (2) basic types of common...

Download this article as a PDF here The issue of emotional support and service animals has been a hot-button issue for years as more individuals in community associations designate their dogs or other animals “assistance animals” (which includes both service and...

Download this article as a PDF here. Condos are bought and sold every day in Illinois. One of the critical roles for the association to play in the transaction is compliance with Section 22.1 of the Illinois Condominium Property Act (“ILCPA”), which requires the board...

Download this article as a PDF here. With the Senate’s recent passage of HB 1438, the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (“Cannabis Act”), Illinois is poised to become one of the 11 states that permit both recreational and medical marijuana use. HB 1438 will likely be...

In a victory for Illinois community associations, a Cook County Court judge awarded a Wilmette condominium association and its attorneys over $1 million in sanctions from a unit owner and his attorney who had filed a host of frivolous claims against the association...

Download the template here. By now, most condominium associations in Illinois are aware of the new requirements imposed by the Boucher v. 111 East Chestnut Condominium Association. If you are not aware of the decision, click here for a link to our article. One of the...

Your Declaration May Require the Association to Refund a Budget Surplus In the past, many (if not most) condominium associations that ended their fiscal years with a budget surplus (that is, a net excess of income over expenses) would add that additional money to the...

Download this article as a PDF here. First, let’s be clear what we’re discussing here – the word “retainer” is used by attorneys to mean different things. An “initial retainer” or “fee retainer” is an advance payment for some legal fees that will be done in the...