Illinois Laws
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Illinois Laws on Recording in Public: What You Can and Cannot Record (2026)
Illinois public recording laws allow recording conversations without consent when no privacy expectation exists. Learn the rules for streets, events, and government meetings.
Illinois Laws on Recording Police: Your Rights and Protections (2026)
Illinois law explicitly allows recording police officers performing public duties. Learn your rights, legal protections, body camera rules, and what to do if stopped.
Illinois Lemon Law (2026): How to Qualify and Get a Refund
Illinois lemon law (815 ILCS 380) gives you a refund or replacement after 4 failed repairs or 30 days out of service within 12 months/12,000 miles.
Illinois License Plate Reader Laws (2026)
Illinois ALPR law explained: 625 ILCS 5/2-130 sharing limits, Expressway Camera Act 120-day rule, FOIA exemptions, and the Scholl appeal.
Illinois Maintenance (Alimony) Laws: The Formula Explained (2026)
Illinois calls spousal support "maintenance." A statutory formula under 750 ILCS 5/504 sets amount (33.3% payer net minus 25% recipient net, capped at 40% combined) and duration (marriage years x multiplier) when combined income is under $500,000.
Illinois Manslaughter Laws: Involuntary, Reckless Homicide and DUI
Illinois has no voluntary manslaughter for born victims; that killing is second degree murder. Involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide start as Class 3 felonies.
Illinois Marriage and Divorce Records: County Clerks Hold the Copies
Illinois issues no certified marriage or divorce copies. IDPH sells a $5 verification from 1962; certified copies come from the county clerk or circuit clerk.
Illinois Marriage License Requirements 2026: Fees, 1-Day Wait
How to get an Illinois marriage license in 2026: both apply in person at the county clerk, wait 1 day, and marry within 60 days in that county. Fees run $32 to $60.
Illinois Medical Recording Laws: Patient Rights, HIPAA, and Consent Rules (2026)
Illinois medical recording laws govern patient recordings of doctor visits, hospital surveillance, and HIPAA compliance. Learn consent rules and legal protections.
Illinois Medical Records Retention Laws (2026 Guide)
Illinois medical records retention laws: how long hospitals and doctors keep your records, HIPAA rules, and patient rights.
Illinois Minimum Wage 2026: $15.00 an Hour, Chicago and Cook County
Illinois minimum wage is $15.00 an hour statewide, $17.05 in Chicago and $15.40 in Cook County. Tipped, youth and learner rates, 2027 outlook, how to file.
Illinois Name Change Laws: How to Legally Change Your Name
Illinois eliminated newspaper publication for name changes in 2025. Here is the current circuit court process, residency rule, fees, and offender restrictions.
Illinois Noise Laws: Quiet Hours, Noise Complaints and Fines
Illinois has state noise rules, but the Illinois EPA says it has no active noise program. Local police and ordinances handle most complaints. Fines here.
Illinois Non-Compete Laws (2026): Are Non-Competes Enforceable?
Illinois non-competes are void unless you earn over $75,000 ($80,000 from 2027), get 14 days and written advice to see a lawyer, and the terms are reasonable.
Illinois Nursing Home Camera Laws: 210 ILCS 32 and the 2027 Assisted Living Expansion
Illinois nursing home camera law under 210 ILCS 32: roommate consent, cost, penalties, and why assisted living coverage does not start until January 1, 2027.
Illinois Open Container Law (2026): Rules and Penalties
Illinois bans unsealed alcohol containers for drivers and passengers under 625 ILCS 5/11-502, with a driver's-area rule that applies even in exempt vehicles.
Illinois Pepper Spray and Stun Gun Laws (2026)
Illinois allows pepper spray at 18+ but penalizes misuse near schools; stun guns need a FOID card and face a carry ban the Supreme Court partly struck down.
Illinois Phone Call Recording Laws: All-Party Consent Rules (2026)
Illinois phone call recording laws require all-party consent under 720 ILCS 5/14-2. Learn rules for business calls, interstate calls, and recording apps.
Illinois Police Body Camera Laws: Mandate & Retention (2026)
Illinois requires bodycams statewide under 50 ILCS 706. Retention, FOIA access rules, and how the Sonya Massey case tested the law, explained for 2026.
Illinois Police Reports: Crash Reports, Incident Reports, and Bodycam Footage
Buy an Illinois crash report through ISP E-Pay or BuyCrash, request an incident report under FOIA, and see the state's detailed bodycam disclosure law.
Illinois Pornography Laws (2026): Legality & No AV Law Yet
Illinois pornography law: obscenity rules, why there's still no adult age-verification law, CSAM penalties, and revenge porn statutes.
Illinois Power of Attorney Laws: Durable, Medical, and Financial POA (2026)
Illinois Power of Attorney Act (755 ILCS 45): property POA requires one witness and notarization; health care POA covered in Article IV. Both types explained with execution rules, agent duties, and revocation.
Illinois Prenuptial Agreement Laws: Enforceability and Limits (2026)
Illinois prenups fall under the Illinois Uniform Premarital Agreement Act, 750 ILCS 10. What makes one enforceable, what it cannot do, and how to change it.
Illinois Probate and Intestate Succession: What Happens Without a Will (2026)
Illinois probate explained: the Circuit Court Probate Division process, $150,000 small estate affidavit, $4 million estate tax, and intestate succession rules.
Illinois Property Records: How to Find Out Who Owns a Property (2026)
Illinois property records depend on your county: a Recorder in larger counties, the Clerk elsewhere. Learn how to find who owns a property in Illinois.
Illinois Public Records Laws: The Illinois FOIA (5 ILCS 140) Explained
How to request public records in Illinois under the state FOIA: the 5-business-day deadline, first 50 pages free, the 6(c) fee waiver, binding PAC opinions.
Illinois Quitclaim Deed: Requirements, Recording and Transfer Tax
Illinois quitclaim deed rules: the 765 ILCS 5/10 form, notary, homestead spouse signature, county recording fees, PTAX-203, transfer tax and fraud alerts.
Illinois Reckless Driving Laws: Penalties, Points and Speed (2026)
Reckless driving in Illinois (625 ILCS 5/11-503) is a Class A misdemeanor, with felony tiers for injuries. Criminal speeding, points, racing and license rules.
Illinois Recording Laws (2026): All-Party Consent Rules
Illinois requires all-party consent for private conversations under 720 ILCS 5/14-2. First-offense illegal recording is a Class 4 felony. Learn the rules, penalties, and exceptions.
Illinois Restraining Order Laws (2026): How to Get an Order of Protection
How to get an Order of Protection in Illinois: who qualifies, how long it lasts (up to 2 years), costs (free), firearm rules, and violation penalties.
Illinois Ring Doorbell Laws: What You Need to Know in 2026
Illinois Ring doorbell laws require all-party consent for audio recording. BIPA blocks facial recognition features. Learn penalties, HOA rules, and legal compliance.
Illinois Scam and Fraud Laws: Where to Report, Your Right to Sue (2026)
Illinois lets a person with actual damage from a deceptive act in trade or commerce sue under the Consumer Fraud Act. Where to report, crypto ATM refunds, elder law.
Illinois School Recording Laws: Student, Parent, and Teacher Rights (2026)
Illinois school recording laws govern surveillance cameras, student privacy, and classroom recording. Learn FERPA, BIPA, and eavesdropping rules for schools.
Illinois Security Camera Laws: BIPA, Audio Rules, and Placement (2026)
Illinois security camera laws involve eavesdropping rules for audio, BIPA for facial recognition, and placement restrictions. Learn compliance requirements and penalties.
Illinois Self-Defense Laws: Stand Your Ground & Castle Doctrine (2026)
Illinois has no stand-your-ground statute, but case law establishes no duty to retreat. Learn how 720 ILCS 5/7-1 and 5/7-2 govern self-defense and castle doctrine in Illinois.
Illinois Severance Pay Laws (2026): Is Severance Required?
Illinois law does not require severance. See the Illinois WARN Act notice and back-pay rules, wage act claims for promised pay, and 2026 agreement limits.
Illinois Sexting Laws: Legal Consequences and Penalties
Understand Illinois's sexting laws: criminal penalties for adults and minors, revenge porn laws, and defenses available under Illinois law.
Illinois Slip and Fall Laws: Proving Premises Liability
Illinois slip and fall law: open-and-obvious bars claims, natural accumulation means no duty for ice/snow, 2-yr SOL (1 yr for government). Modified comparative fault 51% bar.
Illinois Small Claims Court: $10,000 Limit, Fees and How to File
Illinois small claims cover money claims up to $10,000 in circuit court. See filing fees, who needs a lawyer, service rules, appeals and how to collect a judgment.
Illinois Small Estate Affidavit: $150,000 Limit, Rules and Form
Illinois small estate affidavit: up to $150,000 in personal property for deaths on or after Aug. 15, 2025 ($100,000 before). Rules, form and risks.
Illinois Smart Glasses Recording Laws: Audio, BIPA & Consent
Illinois requires all-party consent for audio recording (720 ILCS 5/14-2) and BIPA written consent before any face scan. Smart glasses penalties reach Class 4 felony and $5,000 per BIPA violation.
Illinois Social Security Disability: Rates & Wait Times
Social Security disability in Illinois: the AABD cash supplement to SSI, 209(b) Medicaid, approval odds, and how long an ALJ hearing takes.
Illinois Squatters Rights and Adverse Possession Laws (2026)
Illinois adverse possession requires 20 years of open, hostile, continuous possession under 735 ILCS 5/13-101. A 7-year track applies with color of title and tax payment. Removal requires a court eviction under 735 ILCS 5/9.
Illinois Statute of Limitations: Filing Deadlines by Case Type
Illinois statute of limitations for civil and criminal cases: deadlines for personal injury, contracts, felonies, and recent 2025 changes.
Illinois Surveillance Camera Laws (2026 Guide)
Illinois surveillance camera laws: home security, workplace cameras, neighbor disputes, audio recording rules.
Illinois Theft Laws: Felony Threshold, Penalties and Retail Theft
In Illinois, theft over $500 is a Class 3 felony and retail theft over $300 is too. See every value class, sentencing range, enhancement and civil rule.
Illinois Trade Secret Laws: UTSA, Remedies & Deadlines
Illinois Trade Secrets Act (765 ILCS 1065): 5-year deadline, customer list protection, damages, and the federal DTSA overlay explained for Illinois businesses.
Illinois Unclaimed Property: How to Search & Claim Your Money (2026)
Illinois holds $5B+ in unclaimed money. Search free at I-Cash, learn to file a claim, and see the new 2026 finder-license rule for paid searchers.
Illinois Unemployment Benefits 2026: $628 Max, Eligibility, Filing
Illinois pays up to $628 a week in 2026, more with dependents, for up to 26 weeks. See the wage test, waiting week, work search rules and how to file and appeal.
Illinois Video Recording Laws: Consent, BIPA, and Surveillance Rules (2026)
Illinois video recording laws cover eavesdropping consent, BIPA biometric rules, and video voyeurism statutes. Learn what is legal and the penalties for violations.
Illinois Voyeurism and Hidden Camera Laws: Penalties and BIPA Rules (2026)
Illinois voyeurism laws under 720 ILCS 5/26-4 criminalize hidden cameras in private areas. Learn penalties, BIPA implications, and what counts as illegal surveillance.
Illinois Warrant Search: How to Check If You Have a Warrant (2026)
Illinois has no free statewide warrant search. Learn how to check if you have a warrant in Illinois through your county Circuit Clerk, sheriff, or Judici.
Illinois Whistleblower Laws: Protections and How to Report
Learn about Illinois's whistleblower protections: who qualifies, how to report violations, retaliation protections, and available remedies.
Illinois Will and Trust Laws: Witnesses, E-Wills, Trusts (2026)
An Illinois will needs 2 credible witnesses but no notary, even if handwritten in Illinois. Electronic and remote-witnessed wills are allowed under a 2021 act.
Illinois Window Tint Laws (2026): Legal VLT Limits
Illinois window tint law allows 50% front if back is 30%+, or 35% front if back is 35%+, or any darkness in back if the front stays untinted. Penalties, exemptions explained.
Illinois Windshield Mounting Laws (2026 Guide)
Illinois windshield mounting laws: restrictions, penalties, and exemptions. Complete guide.
Illinois Workers' Compensation Laws: Benefits, Deadlines, and Your Rights
Illinois workers' comp: no-fault benefits, 66 2/3% wage replacement, free doctor choice, 45-day report deadline, 3-year filing window. IWCC rules explained.
Illinois Workplace Harassment Laws: Annual Training, 2-Year Deadline
Illinois bans harassment on listed traits, with a one-employee rule for sexual harassment. Employers must train staff yearly; IDHR charges are due in 2 years.
Illinois Workplace Recording Laws: Employee Rights, BIPA, and Employer Rules (2026)
Illinois workplace recording laws require all-party consent under 720 ILCS 5/14-2. Learn BIPA rules for biometrics, employer monitoring limits, and employee recording rights.
Is Blackmail Illegal in Illinois? Intimidation, Theft by Threat (2026)
Illinois has no crime named extortion or blackmail. It charges intimidation (720 ILCS 5/12-6), a Class 3 felony, or theft by threat graded by value.