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For some general information about Illinois real estate lawyers please read on.

The role of an Illinois real estate lawyer who is representing either a seller or a buyer typically involves two tasks. First, the lawyer will review the sales contract to make sure that the client is getting what they think they are getting. During this time, the lawyer will also help negotiate for items that are not specifically mentioned in the contract. This usually involves issues that come up during an inspection or related to financing the purchase.

The second major task of an Illinois real estate attorney is arranging and attending the closing. At the closing the whole transaction will become official. As a buyer or seller you will be asked to sign a large amount of documents. The attorney’s role is to make sure the documents say what they are supposed to say and to explain to their client what they are signing. A closing, especially for a first time buyer, can be confusing. The lawyer’s role is to make it a comfortable process.

While these tasks aren’t the only ones that a lawyer performs for a client at a closing, in our opinion these are the most important ones. Still, depending on whether you are buying or selling, your attorney will perform other tasks in addition to the ones mentioned above. If you’re selling, your attorney will order a title commitment, hold earnest money in escrow, prepare the mortgage payoff statement and transfer documents, among other things. If you’re buying, your attorney will make sure the mortgage contingency is maintained, any repairs are made pursuant to negotiations after the inspection, deal with any issues that arise during the final inspection and walk through.

If you have any questions about the role of a lawyer in a real estate closing or would like a referral, please contact us.