Posted on March 28,2020 in Uncategorized

Free Legal Consultations for Criminal and Traffic matters via video and phone conferencing during the Stay at Home order.

The Law Office of Matthew R Gebhardt, P.C. is offering free legal consultations regarding criminal and traffic matters during the Stay at Home order. Please contact my office to set up a consultation. The time to prepare for your case is now.

We handle matters in the Mundelein, Park City, Round Lake Beach, and Waukegan courthouses on a daily basis.

Call now for a free consultation.

Whether you are charged with a misdemeanor, felony or DUI in Lake County, Illinois, it is imperative that you retain legal counsel to provide you with the best defense possible. At the Law Office of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C., Mr. Gebhardt’s experience as a former prosecutor means that you’ll have access to the best knowledge and education on your side -- an informed and experienced DUI and/or Criminal Defense lawyer working for you at every step of the way. Mr. Gebhardt draws upon his prior experience as a prosecutor to anticipate how the State will present their case against you. He can then determine what defenses will be most likely to prevail and concentrate his efforts in those areas.

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 Posted on March 28,2020 in Uncategorized

Free Legal Consultations for Criminal and Traffic matters via video and phone conferencing during the Stay at Home order.

The Law Office of Matthew R Gebhardt, P.C. is offering free legal consultations regarding criminal and traffic matters during the Stay at Home order. Please contact my office to set up a consultation. The time to prepare for your case is now.

We handle matters in the Mundelein, Park City, Round Lake Beach, and Waukegan courthouses on a daily basis.

Call now for a free consultation.

Whether you are charged with a misdemeanor, felony or DUI in Lake County, Illinois, it is imperative that you retain legal counsel to provide you with the best defense possible. At the Law Office of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C., Mr. Gebhardt’s experience as a former prosecutor means that you’ll have access to the best knowledge and education on your side -- an informed and experienced DUI and/or Criminal Defense lawyer working for you at every step of the way. Mr. Gebhardt draws upon his prior experience as a prosecutor to anticipate how the State will present their case against you. He can then determine what defenses will be most likely to prevail and concentrate his efforts in those areas.

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 Posted on March 24,2020 in Uncategorized

Illinois and Wheeling Real Estate Attorney Matthew R Gebhardt discusses the contract negotiating process in Illinois.

So you have found your new home. Next step is to sign the contract and go to the closing right? Unfortunately, buying a home is usually not that simple. In this series of blog posts, Illinois Real Estate Lawyer Matthew R Gebhardt will examine the process of home buying in Illinois from start to Finish.

Part 1:

Contract Negotiation

Once you find the property you wish to purchase, you will have to make an offer. Many things must be considered when determining what amount to offer for a property. Some of the most important are:

1. Property Condition
2. Property Tax Amount
3. Schools and amenities near the property.
4. Commute time to work and schools
5. Neighborhood crime statistics
6. Utility bills
7. Association dues if applicable

Once you have taken all of the above into consideration, you should base your offer on a figure that assumes you will receive no further concessions from the seller. Often times buyers assume a seller will fix a leaning fence or repair bad plumbing. Do not make this mistake. Your offer should assume that you are buying the house in “as-is” condition. Do not make the mistake of over-inflating your offer by 10 thousand dollars because you assume the seller will be undertaking repairs or offering you repair credits. Make and offer that you are comfortable with assuming you are buying the house “as-is”.

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 Posted on March 24,2020 in Uncategorized

Illinois and Northbrook Real Estate Attorney Matthew R Gebhardt discusses the contract negotiating process in Illinois.

So you have found your new home. Next step is to sign the contract and go to the closing right? Unfortunately, buying a home is usually not that simple. In this series of blog posts, Illinois Real Estate Lawyer Matthew R Gebhardt will examine the process of home buying in Illinois from start to Finish.

Part 1:

Contract Negotiation

Once you find the property you wish to purchase, you will have to make an offer. Many things must be considered when determining what amount to offer for a property. Some of the most important are:

1. Property Condition
2. Property Tax Amount
3. Schools and amenities near the property.
4. Commute time to work and schools
5. Neighborhood crime statistics
6. Utility bills
7. Association dues if applicable

Once you have taken all of the above into consideration, you should base your offer on a figure that assumes you will receive no further concessions from the seller. Often times buyers assume a seller will fix a leaning fence or repair bad plumbing. Do not make this mistake. Your offer should assume that you are buying the house in “as-is” condition. Do not make the mistake of over-inflating your offer by 10 thousand dollars because you assume the seller will be undertaking repairs or offering you repair credits. Make and offer that you are comfortable with assuming you are buying the house “as-is”.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on March 17,2020 in Uncategorized

Deerfield Domestic Battery Lawyer Matthew R. Gebhardt examines the offense of Domestic Battery and Domestic Violence and their penalties under the laws of the State of Illinois.

Domestic Battery or Domestic Violence can be charged as a Class A Misdemeanor or Felony in Deerfield, Illinois.   Supervision is not a possible disposition which means any conviction to theses types of charges will result in a permanent conviction on your record. Convictions can lead to jail time and can negatively impact citizenship status if you are not a citizen of the United States.

Definitions of Domestic Battery / Domestic Violence

(a) A person commits domestic battery if he or she knowingly without legal justification by any means:

(1) Causes bodily harm to any family or household

member;

(2) Makes physical contact of an insulting or

provoking nature with any family or household member.

(a) A person who, in committing a domestic battery, knowingly causes great bodily harm, or permanent disability or disfigurement commits aggravated domestic battery.

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 Posted on March 17,2020 in Uncategorized

Waukegan Domestic Battery Lawyer Matthew R. Gebhardt examines the offense of Domestic Battery and Domestic Violence and their penalties under the laws of the State of Illinois.

Domestic Battery or Domestic Violence can be charged as a Class A Misdemeanor or Felony in Waukegan, Illinois.   Supervision is not a possible disposition which means any conviction to theses types of charges will result in a permanent conviction on your record. Convictions can lead to jail time and can negatively impact citizenship status if you are not a citizen of the United States.

Definitions of Domestic Battery / Domestic Violence

(a) A person commits domestic battery if he or she knowingly without legal justification by any means:

(1) Causes bodily harm to any family or household

member;

(2) Makes physical contact of an insulting or

provoking nature with any family or household member.

(a) A person who, in committing a domestic battery, knowingly causes great bodily harm, or permanent disability or disfigurement commits aggravated domestic battery.

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 Posted on March 16,2020 in Uncategorized

Waukegan Bond Hearing and Bond Reduction Lawyer Matthew R Gebhardt

Do I need an attorney for a Bond Hearing in Lake County?

The answer to the above question is an unequivocal YES! Once arrested in Lake County, you will be taken in front a judge for a bond hearing, usually within 24 hours. The bond hearing will be your first contact with the Judge and can be critical in setting a tone for the entirety of your case.

At the bond hearing, the judge will verify your identity, inform you what you have been charged with, advise you of your rights and ultimately determine your bail. Without an experienced bond hearing lawyer at your side, you could wind up with an excessively high bond and have no other choice but to wait out the pendency of your case while you are incarcerated; some serious cases can take over a year to resolve. That is a year of your life that you can’t get back even if you are ultimately found not guilty of all charges. For this reason alone, it is imperative that you have an experienced Bond Hearing and Bond Reduction lawyer at your side from the very beginning.

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 Posted on March 16,2020 in Uncategorized

Lake County Bond Hearing and Bond Reduction Lawyer Matthew R Gebhardt

Do I need an attorney for a Bond Hearing in Lake County?

The answer to the above question is an unequivocal YES! Once arrested in Lake County, you will be taken in front a judge for a bond hearing, usually within 24 hours. The bond hearing will be your first contact with the Judge and can be critical in setting a tone for the entirety of your case.

At the bond hearing, the judge will verify your identity, inform you what you have been charged with, advise you of your rights and ultimately determine your bail. Without an experienced bond hearing lawyer at your side, you could wind up with an excessively high bond and have no other choice but to wait out the pendency of your case while you are incarcerated; some serious cases can take over a year to resolve. That is a year of your life that you can’t get back even if you are ultimately found not guilty of all charges. For this reason alone, it is imperative that you have an experienced Bond Hearing and Bond Reduction lawyer at your side from the very beginning.

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 Posted on March 15,2020 in Uncategorized

Pulled over for a suspended license in Lake County, Illinois?

If you have been pulled over while driving on a suspended license in Lake County, Illinois, you have been given a “must appear” in court citation. The reason this offense requires an in-person court appearance is because it is a Class A misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of 364 days in the Lake County Jail. As such, it is imperative that you address the issue(s) causing the suspension of your driving privileges as soon as possible.

Often times, addressing the underlying cause of a license suspension can be a very daunting task to undertake without help from a professional. At the The Law Offices of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C., we pride ourselves in having the full and most up to date knowledge regarding the inner workings of the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office. We can help you navigate through the red-tap of the Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles and get you on your way to driving legally in the State of Illinois.

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 Posted on March 14,2020 in Uncategorized

Waukegan Court and Covid-19 (Corona Virus), Court Closings, Cancellations, Reschedule, Etc.

So, you have a court date coming up. That is stressful enough. And now, with the recent developments concerning Covid 19 (Corona Virus), finding information about your case can be even more difficult to obtain than usual.

Depending on the type of case you have and the location it is to be adjudicated in, your case may have been postponed. While the respective court clerk’s offices will do what they can to assist you in finding your case, they can be difficult if not impossible to reach via phone.

It is important in times like this to get quick reassurance. That is why our office is here to assist you. Should you have questions about your court case, please do not hesitate to contact my office. Our staff will look up your case information at no charge to you and provide you with your court date and location.

Whether you are charged with a misdemeanor, felony or DUI in Lake County, Illinois, it is imperative that you retain legal counsel to provide you with the best defense possible. At the Law Office of Matthew R. Gebhardt, P.C., Mr. Gebhardt’s experience as a former prosecutor means that you’ll have access to the best knowledge and education on your side -- an informed and experienced DUI and/or Criminal Defense lawyer working for you at every step of the way. Mr. Gebhardt draws upon his prior experience as a prosecutor to anticipate how the State will present their case against you. He can then determine what defenses will be most likely to prevail and concentrate his efforts in those areas.

Continue Reading ››