Prather Ebner Wilson

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The Prather Ebner Wilson team wishes you and your loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving! We hope you have a wonderful day, whether you're gathered with family, chosen family or all of the above.

In the wake of the 2024 presidential elections, now is a crucial time for LGBTQ+ families to ensure their estates are protected. Here are three steps you can start taking today: 1. Protecting your rights as a parent is the most important first step. We recommend obtaining an adoption certificate that includes both parents' names. While both names may be on the child's birth certificate, it is not considered legal proof of parentage and can be challenged in court. Adoption certificates ensure both parents have the right to make healthcare decisions. Learn more about obtaining an adoption certificate in Illinois here: https://lnkd.in/gD-FMj9a 2. If your child was conceived with an egg or sperm donor, or through a surrogate, you will want to sever their rights in the most formal and legal way possible. The Prather Ebner Wilson team can consult with you on this process. 3. Create or revisit your estate plan to ensure your medical and financial wishes are accounted for. This includes your charitable bequests, beneficiary designations, health directives and financial and medical powers of attorney. As an LGBTQ+ owned law firm, Prather Ebner Wilson is committed to ensuring all people receive the legal protection and compassionate care they deserve. Visit pewlaw.com to start a conversation and set up a meeting with our team. 

Surf's up! Prather Ebner Wilson's Ray Prather and Emma Connor are in Maui for the RPTE ABA Fall Meeting! We're kicking off the 2024-25 bar year with important committee meetings and discussions on furthering our area of law. We're also excited by the addition of new events that are specially designed to provide guidance for RPTE appointees. This support is particularly important as Emma begins her time as vice chair of RPTE's Alternative Dispute Resolution subcommittee, and as Ray continues his work as vice chair of the RPTE section. Are you attending the meeting? Reach out in the comments — we'd love to meet with you! #RPTEABA #RPTEFallMeeting

Nov. 7 is Illinois Paralegal Day, a time to recognize the great work of our profession's tireless paralegals. Attorneys are most visible in the public eye, but paralegals are responsible for some of our most important legal work — tasks like case planning, development, and management; legal and case research; interviewing clients; making recommendations; and more. Thank a paralegal in your life today! #illinoisparalegalday #paralegals #smalllawfirm

The annual Illinois State Bar Association 2024 General Election Judicial Evaluations and Advisory Poll results are our trusted source of voting information. Consult their findings when filling out your mail-in ballot, or pull it up on your phone while voting in-person. Yes, the ballot for judicial candidates is very long this year. But voting for judges is a crucial part of the election process — they decide cases that affect our lives and community. A few voting reminders: —Voters can bring their phones or notes into a voting booth; you don't need to memorize your chosen candidates ahead of time —Voters cannot take ballot selfies —In Illinois, voters ARE NOT required to show ID if they are already registered at their current home address #2024election #Chicago #Voting

Prather Ebner Wilson is pleased to announce that partner Ray Prather has been appointed as a member of the Illinois State Bar Association Standing Committee on Legislation for 2024-25. In this position, Ray will help serve the association's 27,000 members by attending and participating in meetings; contributing regularly to newsletters; and assisting in the development and production of CLE programs. Thank you for your continued commitment to our professional community, Ray!

Voter ID requirements often weigh the heaviest on our marginalized communities, including transgender, gender nonconforming and nonbinary people. This important guide from Lambda Legal helps TGNCNB people and allies ensure everyone's voice is heard and their votes are cast. You can also help protect voting rights and promote fair elections by serving as a poll worker. Chicago is still looking for election judges and election coordinators for Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 5). Please consider serving in this important role if you are able. Register at https://lnkd.in/gcerRtV5

Mental health is a crucial topic in our high-stress, high-stakes #legal industry. Attorneys, paralegals and other legal professionals can benefit from educating themselves on mental health warning signs, coping tools and boundary-setting. Learn more about key mental health topics and earn #CLE credit in these upcoming American Bar Association webinars: • "Mindful Moderation: Navigating Gray Area Drinking." Noon CDT Monday, Oct. 7: https://lnkd.in/gVBi3j8Z • "Why Lawyer Well-Being Matters: Results and Implications of a 2024 Survey." Noon CDT Tuesday, Oct. 8 https://lnkd.in/gVBi3j8Z • "How Lawyers Can and Should Combat Bias and Microaggressions in their Daily Practice." Noon CDT Thursday, Oct. 24 https://lnkd.in/gThDUsJG Call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

Prather Ebner Wilson is celebrating 1 year of associate attorney Emma Connor's RPTE ABA fellowship! Over her past year on the alternative dispute resolution committee, Emma presented a skills training on Planning for Probate Contests and her first CLE, and attended a variety of legal industry events and conferences. “For me, presenting has been the big skill I’ve worked on this year,” Emma says. In her new role as vice chair of alternative dispute resolution subcommittee of RPTE ABA, Emma continues to grow her knowledge of this niche subject area to better serve her current and future clients. We can’t wait to see what she accomplishes next.