We talk to tens of thousands of people every year about various Illinois legal questions. Some turn into full blown blog posts. Others we take and once or twice a year do a “best of the rest” post. Here are some great Illinois legal questions we received in 2025. If you’d like a free consultation with a lawyer in Chicago, please call us any time at 312-346-5320.
Is Common Law Marriage Legal In Illinois?
The answer is no and yes. It’s not recognized if it is created in Illinois, but the State does recognize common law marriages that are formed in another state that considers it valid. The bottom line for most people is that if you want Illinois to recognize your marriage, just do it formally.
Is There Any Way Around The Statute Of Limitations For Medical Malpractice?
The person who asked this also said, “I’m still suffering and it’s not fair because I didn’t know about the time limit.” Unfortunately that does not matter. The only real exception is if the victim has a brain injury that incapacitates them (think being in a coma) and even then it’s not guaranteed. This is why if you think you are a victim of medical malpractice in Illinois it’s important to act ASAP.
My Brother Was Killed In A Car Accident. His Wife Filed A Lawsuit. Can I File My Own?
Wrongful death lawsuits in Illinois are filed on behalf of the estate of the person who died. There can only be one estate and thus only one lawsuit. Since the wife is the primary beneficiary of the estate, it’s her right to bring the lawsuit and benefit from it. The brother, while having a legit personal loss, can not bring his own case.
Are Video Wills Valid In Illinois?
No, but they can be used as supplementary evidence if there’s a will dispute. In other words, don’t rely on them.
Here Is An Illinois Workers’ Compensation Question We Got That Is A Bit Of A Story
I was asked to help unload furniture from a truck. My brother in law had custom furniture built and they had free delivery. The business was there to deliver the furniture, but they were a guy short so they asked my brother in law if he could call someone to help. I was called because they didn’t have anyone else to call. In the process of unloading I got injured. Would I be covered by workers comp?
That is unfortunate, but since you are not an employee, it is not a work comp case. This would have been true even if they offered $50 to help. This is likely no case at all unless the delivery company was negligent in him getting injured.
We love answering Illinois legal questions when we can and it is always free to call us. Please reach out any time.
