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  • April 16, 2020 9:00 AM | Anonymous member

    From: Chicago Bar Association/YLS Section

    CPA's President Tisha Delgado and Director of Membership Kristina Judge have consistently volunteered with the Chicago Bar Association's Wills for Heroes Program over the past few years. They assist in notarizing and witnessing simple wills and powers of attorney for first responders.  

    Now, in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Chicago Bar Association's Wills for Heroes Program will offer free estate planning assistance to COVID-19 essential healthcare workers who are bravely putting their own safety at risk to serve the public during the health crisis.

    Program dates have not been set yet, but CPA members will be available to assist.

    This program is available to eligible essential healthcare workers and their spouses or partners. Please visit www.chicagobar.org/chicagobar/wills for more information and to learn if you are eligible for the service.


  • April 16, 2020 8:00 AM | Anonymous member


    During our Q&A yesterday with the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County and her Division Chiefs, we learned that citations, wage garnishments, and bank freezes are not being heard during the pandemic.  Here is a link to the executive order signed yesterday by Governor Pritzker

    https://www2.illinois.gov/…/Exec…/ExecutiveOrder2020-25.aspx

    Did you miss the webinar? Not to worry! CPA members can access the recording at any time in our Member Resource Center. Membership has its benefits. Join us today!

  • April 13, 2020 6:00 PM | Anonymous member

    We’re excited to announce that this Wednesday, April 15th, CPA President Tisha Delgado will be joined by Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County Dorothy Brown and Marcus Niro of CourtFiling.net for a webinar discussion.

    The discussion will focus on the Clerk's new CCC portal for accessing criminal cases, adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic, and plans for the future.

    After registering, you'll have an opportunity to submit questions to Clerk Brown. We will tackle the most popular questions live during the webinar. Be sure to join us on Wednesday, April 15th at 3pm CT.

    Register here: https://mailchi.mp/courtfiling/webinar-dorothy-brown


  • April 10, 2020 6:00 PM | Anonymous member

    From: Facebook post-Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County

    Valuable information released today in a Facebook LIve post from The Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Electronic notices were being sent out resetting court hearings, when Chief Judge Evans extended the order to keep courts closed until May 18.

    The Clerk’s skeleton crew has been working hard to reset all dates again. If you have questions, please let us know in the comments and we will reach out to the Clerk for answers.

    https://www.facebook.com/cookcountyclerkofcourt/videos/520458788632785/

  • April 10, 2020 9:42 AM | Anonymous

    From the Illinois Courts

    In light of the ongoing public health concerns relating to COVID-19 and the Governor of Illinois’ extension of prior Executive Orders entered in response to COVID19, the Court’s order of March 24, 2020 extending the relaxation of the requirement in the Court’s Electronic Filing Procedures and User Manual to give parties 14 days instead of the usual five days to provide the Court paper copies of specified documents e-filed through April 7, 2020, is amended to further suspend the paper copy requirement until further order of the Court.


  • April 09, 2020 6:00 PM | Anonymous member

    From: Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County

    Clerk Dorothy Brown officially launched CCC Attorney Portal on the Clerk’s Office’s website today, granting attorneys with active licenses in Illinois, access to, and search abilities for, CRIMINAL CASE INFORMATION online.

    The portal allows attorneys to access the Clerk’s Office’s new Odyssey case management system for criminal case information upon proper registration and validation. 


  • April 09, 2020 8:37 AM | Anonymous

    From: National Notary Association

    With many states issuing emergency executive orders, proclamations and guidance temporarily authorizing remote online notarization (RON) or remote notarization of paper documents, members of Notary community have asked if these notarizations would be covered by their bonds and errors & omissions insurance policies. In general, the answer is yes.

    The NNA reached out to Merchants Bonding Company for guidance. Here’s what you need to know.

    A remote notarial act performed in a state that issued an emergency measure is a valid notarial act and generally should be covered under an applicable bond or E&O policy as long as the notarization conforms to the emergency measure and was performed while the emergency measure was in effect, according to Gina Lockwood, Senior Claims Attorney with Merchants Bonding Company.

    Many states that have enacted emergency measures have authorized traditional Notaries to perform RON under certain circumstances or subject to certain criteria. It is extremely important that Notaries read, understand and comply with any state-specific requirements to obtain authorization to perform remote notarial acts during this temporary period and ensure that they do not exceed the authority granted to them in performing RON.

    Since these orders are temporary, Notaries should be conscious of the start and end date of the orders to make sure that they are not performing RON acts outside the authorized period.

    The requirements to perform RON under the emergency measures are extremely varied from state-to-state. For example, some of these requirements may include, but are not limited to, to the following:

    • Taking a state-approved training class;
    • Providing notice to the state prior to engaging in an initial remote notarial act;
    • Using state approved vendor platforms to perform a remote notarial act;
    • Notarizing hard copy documents sent via mail following performance of a remote notarial act; or
    • Maintaining video records of remote notarial acts for a certain period of time.

    Notaries should continue to maintain good records during this period, including records of their compliance with any steps required under the emergency measures to perform RON, as verifying compliance with these requirements will be an important step in determining whether coverage exists under any bond or E&O policy for acts performed during the temporary period.

    Michael Lewis is Managing Editor of member publications for the National Notary Association.


  • April 06, 2020 6:00 PM | Anonymous member

    From: Chicago Daily Law Bulletin

    Lawyers who need to conduct business at the Cook County circuit clerk’s office will have to set up an appointment first.

    Circuit Clerk Dorothy A. Brown’s office announced that in-person services must now be scheduled in advance due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19

  • April 02, 2020 4:00 PM | Anonymous member

    Governor JB Pritzker launched a new statewide effort today called ‘All in Illinois’ to reinforce the state’s core message, backed by scientists and public health experts: stay at home and stay safe.

    As Illinoisans continue to practice social distancing to stay healthy, ‘All in Illinois’ is a way to unite residents across the state and remind them we are all in this together.

    All in Illinois is supported by a series of public service announcements featuring famous Illinois natives, including Jane Lynch, Deon Cole, Jason Beghe, Jackie Joyner Kersee and Matt Walsh. The PSA videos reinforce the importance of staying at home during the COVID-19 crisis and encourages everyone to do their part to stop the spread of the virus. The PSA celebrity videos can be viewed by visiting Allin.Illinois.gov​.

    People can also show their solidarity by updating their Facebook profile photos with the All in Illinois frame image and share messages with friends and family on social media using the #AllinIllinois hashtag. Additionally, Illinois residents can show they’re committed to being part of the solution by displaying All in Illinois signage in their yard or in their window. 



  • March 30, 2020 5:52 PM | Anonymous member

    From: Chicago Bar Assoc-Young Lawyers 

    All industries will feel the ripple effect either directly or indirectly and the legal practice is no exception. While much of attorneys’ work can be done remotely, they are still dependent upon support staff and paralegals.  Real estate attorneys are no different and not only rely on their office support, but also on real estate brokers, lenders, title companies and municipalities.  The disconnect between real estate attorneys and these partners, the lack of continuity, and the disruption of ordinary business distributions will undoubtedly affect productivity.  There are some jobs or tasks that cannot be done remotely at all and the real estate industry is heavily dependent on physical interaction. When physical interaction is limited or precluded altogether, the volume of real estate closings suffers a dramatic decline.


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