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Criminal Law
Comprehensive Criminal Defense in Illinois. If you need the advice of an experienced criminal defense attorney, contact the Law Office of James P. Casement in Elgin, Illinois for a free consultation about the best way to resolve charges of all kinds. Our trial lawyers represent local residents and visitors from out of state on such felony or misdemeanor charges and in such situations as the following:
- Violent crimes from simple assault to homicide, including Domestic Battery
- Sex offenses
- Burglary, grand larceny, arson, or other property crimes
- Drunk driving charges
- Felony DUI cases based on serious accidents or repeat offenses
- Drug Charges involving possession or small-scale distribution
- Fraud, embezzlement, public corruption or other white collar crimes
- Juvenile offenses
- Speeding, reckless driving and other traffic violations
- Citations issued to out of state drivers
- Driver’s license suspension proceedings and appeals
We represent clients through all stages of a criminal prosecution: first appearance and bond hearing, investigation, pretrial motions, plea negotiations, trial and sentencing. At every step of the way, we concentrate on protecting you from the risk of prison or other severe punishment while looking out for your long-range interests.
Business Organization
The Law Office of James P. Casement counsels clients in all aspects of formation, organization and dissolution of every form of business enterprise, including partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships and joint ventures.
Estate Planning
James P. Casement JD, CPA/PFS, CFP, CFS has substantial experience advising clients with regard to all areas of estate planning, including estate tax avoidance or minimization, probate avoidance, transfers in trust, and trust administration. Jim assists in design and development of estate plans that accurately reflect our clients’ expectations. Jim will provide advice regarding such lifetime services such as wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, charitable bequests and other planning tools, as well as advice regarding postmortem planning techniques.
What Is Estate Planning?
When you die, what will happen to your assets? Who will inherit them? How much will each person inherit? What will happen if you become incapacitated? Who will make medical and financial decisions for you? Who will take over your personal, financial, and medical affairs?
Estate planning is the process of making sure that these questions are answered the way you want. It is done in order to maximize the wealth that you pass on to your heirs after you die with the minimum inconvenience to them. It is also done in order to make sure that someone you trust will be making health care and financial decisions for you in the event that you become incapacitated. Most important of all, it is a way to document your wishes so that they will be adhered to upon your death or incapacity.
Without an estate plan, a large portion of your estate could be taken by estate taxes and probate fees. But a little education and some planning can give you peace of mind and save thousands of dollars for your children and heirs.
You can rely on the Law Office of James P. Casement to create an estate plan that saves you substantial amounts of money, prevents unnecessary complications, eliminates probate expenses and minimizes or eliminates estate taxes. Contact the Law Office of James P. Casement today.
An Estate Plan Is the Best Gift You Can Leave Your Family
Are you aware of the fact that a large portion of your estate may be taken by estate taxes and probate fees when you die? Without an estate plan, judge will decide how to distribute your assets among your heirs by following Illinois laws of in testate succession. This probate process can take over a year to complete and will cost your family thousands of dollars. Furthermore, the government may impose an estate tax on the transfer of your assets to your heirs when you die if your estate is over the applicable exclusion amount. This tax could cost your estate hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Create an Estate Plan Now. Your Family Will Thank You Later
Without an estate plan, your children will be forced to endure an expensive and lengthy probate procedure, wait a year or more to receive their inheritance, and may be required to pay thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars in estate taxes. Don’t leave your children wondering why you burdened them with these delays and expenses when they could have been easily avoided if you had done just a minimal amount of planning.
Beware of Trust Mills
A living trust for $399.00. Sounds too good to be true. Well it usually is. Some companies or firms put on seminars at local hotels or meeting rooms, advertising living trusts at low prices. Usually an attorney will give the presentation and offer you a special deal if you sign up that day. You fill out a questionnaire form and give them your check, which are sent to their computer processing center, usually in another city. Data entry clerks input your information and a computer-generated form living trust is printed based on your responses. Sometimes the final documents are delivered to you by their representative, who may be an annuity sales person, who will then try to convince you to convert your savings, IRAs, 401Ks, stocks, bonds and other investments to annuities with the promise that these annuities will give you a good return on your money, protect your estate from creditors and exempt your assets from Medicare requirements if you need long term care in a nursing home. Such promises are rarely true, but these annuities generate large commissions that are split with the trust mill that you hired to do your trust. That’s where they make their money. Don't rely on these assembly lines to create the best estate plan for you.
Imagine an Attorney That Actually Returns Your Phone Calls
Many attorneys do not return phone calls. You end up spending more time speaking with their secretary than you do speaking with the attorney you are paying good money for. Furthermore, many estate planning firms only have a very limited number of estate planning document forms that they use for their clients’ estate planning needs. If your needs do not fit those documents, you’re out of luck. You may end up signing documents that do not meet your needs or intentions and this fact may not come to light until after you have died. Unlike many attorneys, the Law Office of James P. Casement will actually return your calls and draft documents that are flexible enough to meet your unique financial profile and your specific goals and needs.
You can rely on the Law Office Of James P. Casement to create an estate plan that saves you substantial amounts of money, prevents unnecessary complications, eliminates probate expenses and minimizes or eliminates estate taxes. Contact the Law Office of James P. Casement today.
Family Law
You are a unique individual. Your background, family and upbringing influence your life in different ways from others. When you are going through a divorce, why shouldn't the attorney you choose address the vital aspects of your divorce to reflect your personal needs? The Law Office of James P. Casement in Elgin, Illinois, provides divorce and family law services that reflect who you are, strategies that are tailored to help you achieve your goals of closure and of new beginnings. Contact our firm today for more information.
What Do You Want to Accomplish?
When you first enter our office to discuss your divorce, we will explore the issues that matter to you. Have you spoken to your spouse? Is there animosity? Do you have children? Do you have significant assets? Where are you emotionally? Do you need further education or training to successfully reenter the workforce? Depending on your situation and your priorities, we may be able to resolve matters through mediation. If you and your spouse have accumulated significant assets, we can skillfully address the complexities associated with complex property issues and all related tax issues.
Addressing All of Your Family Law Needs
Our divorce practice covers the spectrum of issues that our clients. Regardless of your specific needs, we work to honestly inform you of the choices open to you. We strive to keep you focused on moving forward through the tangle of emotional, financial and practical decisions you are facing and onto a more positive future. Find out how we can address matters such as:
- Child Custody & Visitation
- Child Support
- Property Division
- Alimony
- Post-Divorce Modifications & Contempt
When you come to the Law Office of James P. Casement, you get the help you need to make a fresh start for yourself and your family. You will receive personalized, attentive and responsive service that addresses your concerns and answers your questions. If you are contemplating divorce and would like to schedule a consultation, contact us online or call us at 847-888-9300 today.