Tired of the endless calls from creditors about your past due bills? Afraid to check your mail? Lost your job? Experienced a serious illness, but had no health insurance? Are you in mortgage foreclosure? Or worried you will lose your car or your home? Bankruptcy may be your answer.

Most people believe that with the sweeping changes in the bankruptcy laws in 2005, Americans could no longer file for bankruptcy protection. This is false.

You can still seek protection from your creditors by filing either a Chapter 7 or a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Most people who qualified for bankruptcy protection prior to 2005 are still eligible under the new laws. Shaw & Associates have kept up with all the changes and are able to provide you with the help you need.

Also, filing bankruptcy does not mean you will lose your car or your home. In many cases, bankruptcy can help you keep your home and your car.

Bankruptcy can also improve your credit score in many cases.

Our bankruptcy fees include an initial consultation to determine what is your best option, preparation of all the required forms, analysis of your debt, attorney representation, and filing. It does not include the court filing costs, debtor education fee, credit report, and tax transcripts.

Alternatives to Bankruptcy: However, if bankruptcy turns out not to be an option for you, Shaw & Associates can still help you with alternative solutions to eliminate or reduce your debt without filing for bankruptcy protection.

Mortgage Foreclosure: Are you behind three or four mortgage payments? Have you been served with a Mortgage Foreclosure Lawsuit or a notice that your lender will be filing a mortgage foreclosure action against you? Please call us immediately for help. We can help you come up with a solution, which can mean saving your home and sometimes even reduced monthly mortgage payments. But time is of utmost importance. Don’t delay because you are afraid – reasonable help is at your fingertips.

Please call today to make an appointment with Shaw & Associates to discuss your options and come up with a plan.

Our basic fee includes preparation of the petition and all necessary documents needed for an uncontested divorce. Contrary to popular belief, Illinois is NOT a no-fault divorce state, you must have a legal reason for divorcing your spouse. We can help you from beginning to end in preparing everything necessary to give you a smooth divorce. We will also file your petition and get you a Court date in as little as 2 weeks from the date we file your completed and signed petition and documents. Fee does not include required Court filing fees.

In many cases, you and your spouse may need or want a marriage settlement agreement, in that case, Shaw & Associates has attorneys available to meet with you and prepare a marriage settlement agreement at reasonable fees. As always, a quote will be given to you prior to an attorney starting any work for you.

If your divorce ends up being contested or you need an attorney to represent you, Shaw & Associates can provide you with attorney representation to help you get what you are entitled to and what you want. Other services include Child Support, Restraining Orders, and Child Custody issues.

If you are starting a new business it is important to think about protecting your personal assets. Incorporating your business may offer you the asset protection you need and is a smart way to structure your existing or new business. Our fees include preparation of all the necessary documents and filing. We will also obtain an Employer Identification Number for your new corporation and apply for Sub S Chapter election with the IRS for your corporation at no extra charge. Our fees do not include the state filing fee.

Preparation of a Shareholder’s Agreement is also available from an attorney at Shaw & Associates and is recommended where there are more than one shareholder in the new corporation.

Consult with an Associate to determine which business structure is best for you and whether a shareholder’s agreement is necessary for you.

A limited liability company is one form of business organization you may create for your business. It has many advantages over a traditional incorporation, partnership, and sole proprietorship. If you have or plan on starting a business, an LLC may be a good option for you, especially in protecting your personal assets.

The basic fee includes preparation of the necessary forms and filing them with the secretary of state. We will also obtain an Employer Identification Number for you from the IRS, should you require one at no extra charge. State filing fees are not included. Preparation of an operation agreement is also available from an attorney at Shaw & Associates, especially recommended where there is more than one owner involved in the LLC. Please contact us for more detail.

Shaw & Associates provides all legal services for real estate related services. If you are purchasing or selling a condominium, a home, or a building, we can provide you with solid legal representation for a reasonable fee. Our attorneys will make sure everything is in order before and during the closing. Besides Residential Real Estate, our attorneys also provide Commercial Real Estate services as well, including reviewing and drafting commercial leases. We offer full services for our clients and are well versed in 1031 or Starker Exchanges, which can help you save taxes on capital gains for investment properties.

Our fees include reviewing sales contracts, preparing necessary documents required for closing, title review, and attorney representation at the closing. Our basic closing fees cover closings within a five-mile radius of our offices. We do closings outside of this radius for an additional fee.

A Living Trust is similar to a Will but avoids probate Court and certain estate taxes. Depending on the size of your estate, a living trust may be a better option for you over a Will. A living trust also gives you more flexibility in your estate planning than a Will. Please speak to an Associate for more information.

The basic fee covers an initial consultation with an attorney from Shaw & Associates and the preparation of your revocable living trust. back to top

Most Americans do not have a Will or any estate plan. A Will is one way to have your estate wishes carried out after your death. This is even more important if you have minor children and want to designate specific guardians to care for your children. Please talk to an Associate for help in planning your estate.

The basic fee includes an initial consultation with an attorney from Shaw & Associates and the preparation and execution of your will.

A Living Will is designed to help you deal with many of the unpredictable health issues in your life. A Living Will communicates your health care wishes for you when you are unable to because of illness, accident, or injury. Without a living will your spouse, family, and even the state may fight to determine your health care needs and even whether you live or die. If you feel strongly one way or the other, you should have a Living Will to ensure your healthcare wishes are respected.

The basic fee includes preparation of your living will and health care power of attorney.

The basic fee includes preparation of all documents and filing the documents in Court. The fee does not include the Court filing fees or the required publication fees.

You may change your name for any reason except if you have been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor, in which case you cannot file a name change unless 10 years have passed since completion or discharge from your sentence or you have been pardoned. Any person registered as a sex offender under the sex offender registration act may not file a petition for a name change until the person is no longer under a duty to register under the act. Please ask an Associate for more details.

Our affiliate law firm, Shaw & Associates can provide you the attorney representation you need including personal injury, medical malpractice, civil rights violation, debt collection, contract disputes, and more.

Shaw & Associates offers a wide array of legal services for businesses including contract review and drafting, employment issues, employment agreements, lease review, licensing, municipal violations, and general business consulting.

We are also experienced in municipal code violations, including, building code violations and business license violations.

If you need legal help and it is not listed above, we can still help you. Just ask!