LLCs in Illinois - Secretary of State

[Craig Sparling]

I've done one LLC in Illinois and it was easy: $75 to the state, one web form, draft up some routine procedural docs etc. Less than an hours work, everything online approved within a few days.

I recently decided to stretch myself a bit and start putting my holdings into series LLCs.  Filing the parent LLC was easy,  $400 to the state this time, everything online approved within a few days, but then I went to file my first series for a property.  According to the telephone operator it was snail mail only for Articles of Incorporation.  I mailed it overnight, I wait 10 days for them to look at it and say the signature wasn't filled in right, and only then when I called them.  Some operator takes some pity on me and says I can do some of this expedited and in person but only at Lake Zurich, Mount Prospect or Springfield walk in.  I make it to the facility 75 minutes before posted closing, and get sent down to the business desk by the greeter.  I wait for 10 minutes and then a security guard tells me it is closed at 4 PM as indicated by a printed sign....  I took a picture of the hours for my own reference and get chastised by the employee for taking a photo, which is "not allowed at government facilities"....

Enough of the rant,  fellow Illinoisans or else where any tips on how to work on government time while trying to hit closing deadlines.  Is everyone else filing the LLC far in advance and waiting for the right property to put in it?  I am guessing a few will say to have my lawyer do it, but the other LLC was so seamless that it seemed superfluous to have someone get involved.  Perhaps next time.