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General

How a Business Lawyer Can Help Start Your Small Business

Starting up a small business can be overwhelming. There are so many different moving parts you have to take care of. And you want to make sure nothing slips through the cracks so your ideas can be executed seamlessly. One of the most noteworthy parts of starting your business is dealing with the legal side. You may be completely unfamiliar or unaware of what goes on in that sector of running a business, which is why hiring a business law attorney can be game-changing. Making the Decisions In the early stages of decision making, before your business is even open, there are many questions you must ask yourself: where you want the business to be, the name, the tag line, the logo, and more. However, you may not be aware that some of your decisions could get you into some legal trouble. Are there zoning issues where you want your business to be? Is the name already taken, or is there something too similar to it? Is the tagline already...

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Immigration FAQs

When it comes to making the US your new home, it can be stressful navigating through all the steps you need to complete. If you’re looking for lawyers in Rockford IL that will guide you through the process with skill, experience, and compassion, then Crosby Law Firm is the best direction for you. We offer legal guidance and expertise in getting green cards, work visas, family-based green cards, employee-based immigration, and more. What Makes Me Eligible for a Green Card? There are many different types of green cards depending on how you want to apply. Different types of green cards include: green cards through family, employment, as a special immigrant, through refugee or asylum status, for human trafficking and crime victims, for victims of abuse, or several other categories. Our lawyers will help you and determine if you belong to one of these groups and how to apply. What’s a Work Visa? A work visa allows an individual to legally and temporarily reside in the US for work-related matters. Depending...

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Does Inheritance Affect Social Security Disability Benefits?

When a loved one passes away, the effects that ripple outward through their social circle can be felt in many complex ways. Death is often accompanied by remembering...

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How Do I Know It’s Time to File for Bankruptcy?

Sometimes, a person’s tight financial circumstances can be addressed with budgeting, getting a new job, or working out a payment plan. When these options are no longer viable, the weight of debt is too extreme to bear, and creditors are constantly calling to harass you—it is time to consider bankruptcy as an option.  At the Crosby Law Firm, home to the best Rockford bankruptcy lawyers, we work to help our clients make the right decision on how they can handle their debt. Here are some of the factors that often weigh in on this decision.   Do you know how much you owe? Some bankruptcy candidates struggle to put a number on their debt because they have given up tracking it altogether. This is sometimes the case when a person feels overwhelmed by their debt.   Have you considered debt consolidation? Debt consolidation is an option many consider before turning to bankruptcy. There are pros and cons to both; working with the best Rockford bankruptcy lawyers can help clarify your...

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We’re Celebrating Our 40th Anniversary!

This month, we’re proud to celebrate the 40th anniversary of our practice. Since its inception, our law practice has faithfully served the people of Illinois. We take our role as Rockford’s trusted legal counsel very seriously. Oftentimes, potential clients reach out to us because they are going through a difficult time in their lives. A desire to help people is at the heart of what we do; it’s through our legal expertise that we are uniquely positioned to help. Our founding attorney, Michael Crosby, established the Crosby Law Firm in September 1980. As time has passed, we’ve had the opportunity to incorporate many other highly respected and qualified legal professionals. Every attorney who has joined our ranks has brought their own unique legal expertise to the table. Today, we are able to offer a broad range of legal services to the community. Our Practice Areas Personal Injury and Auto Accident Law Real Estate Wills, Trusts, and Probate Social Security Disability Workers Compensation Learn More About Our Team Michael Crosby Mark...

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Proactive Protection for Your Intellectual Property

In many cases, protecting intellectual property is an afterthought for busy entrepreneurs and business owners. In the face of other start-up costs and the time necessary to focus on what makes your business great, many people will de-prioritize protections for the intellectual property that is rightfully theirs. This often results in defensive legal action later on that could have been avoided with a bit of planning. Today, we’ll discuss some first steps you can take to protect your ideas. Believe it Could Happen to You Apart from the cost and time expenditure, oftentimes, business owners will neglect protecting their ideas because they don’t believe someone will try to copy their work. In some cases, business owners who have been the victims of intellectual property theft will report that they weren’t even sure their idea would take off. You can set yourself up for success by guarding your ideas as carefully as you would any valuable. Identify What You Can Protect Before you begin implementing a new idea through your business,...

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What to Include in Your Will

As complex and daunting as the process may seem, creating a will – especially if you have a family – is important. Working with a qualified attorney can simplify the process and help you achieve peace of mind, knowing your family will be taken care of if something unexpected happens to you. Protect What’s Important Your life is represented by a collection of things, items of great sentimental value and items of financial value. You also have people in your life who may need to be taken care of if you are no longer around. The bottom line is you have a lot to protect. The only way to make sure that your assets are distributed the way you want them to be, is to have a will. Don’t leave these decisions to the laws of the state. Even more importantly, if you have young children, creating an estate plan that outlines who will care for them if you should die suddenly will ensure the courts won’t be deciding their...

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When Landlords Should Hire a Lawyer

If you’re the owner of a single property or a small number of properties, you’re unlikely to have a go-to lawyer for renting disputes, much less a lawyer on retainer. Our law firm can provide you with a real estate, bankruptcy, or DUI lawyer in Rockford, IL. Most tenant-related issues can be settled outside of court. Today, we are detailing a few circumstances that may call for legal consultation. You’ve Decided to Evict Sometimes, a notice of eviction is enough to convince your tenant to move. If you think you may be encountering a more volatile situation, hiring a lawyer will help ensure the process is handled quickly and without mishap. If your tenant lawyers up upon receiving their notice, alerts you that they are filing for bankruptcy, or if the space is rent-controlled or within a special housing program, the situation may call for formal legal representation. You’ve Been Accused of Discrimination Even if you’ve diligently followed all HUD guidelines, disgruntled prospects may still accuse you of discrimination after...

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