The Successes of Sisyphus: A TRIBUTE TO DENNIS A. NORDEN March 3, 1945 – September 3, 2011 by Robert Lopardo, President, ATG Trust Company

In Greek mythology Sisyphus was a king punished by being compelled to roll a giant boulder up a hill, only to see it roll back down. Each day he had to repeat this throughout eternity. According to legend he is still at it.

Our own Sisyphus story is much more uplifting, though it was a long time before the rock reached the pinnacle and began its inevitable descent down the other side to the valley of success. One man had much to do with that success.

Dennis (Denny) A. Norden was, at the time of his recent and untimely passing, only 66 years of age. In his role as Senior Vice President and General Counsel at ATG Trust Company, Chicago, he spent much of his time negotiating trust agreement language, advising attorneys on how to handle specific and unique drafting measures to satisfy the never ending variety of things people can think of to complicate the financial paths their heirs and beneficiaries will one day inherit.

But his long road to that role is filled with story after story of the Sisyphus-like efforts he employed along the way during his nearly thirty-year career as an attorney in Kankakee, Illinois (read more).

 

 

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Transfer on Death Instrument - Several strategies exist that bypass the probate process when transferring property; however, each offers unique advantages and disadvantages.

 

Decedents: PA 97-0555 — Governs an owner's right to transfer residential real estate to one or more beneficiaries on the owner's death.

 

Mechanic's Liens: LaSalle Bank Natl Assoc v Cypress Creek 1, LP — Mechanic's lien claimants are preferred only as to the value of the improvements they made.

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Contracts; Foreclosure: Cambridge Financial Services, LLC v Rolon — Continuing to make payments on a mortgage after an agreement that arguably releases a lender’s mortgage interest can provide evidence of intent that overcomes contractual ambiguity.

 

 

 

Closing Procedures: Prevent Claims: Follow these Eleven Tips

 

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