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Recent Blog Posts
What Is a Judicial Foreclosure?
If own your home, you probably are familiar with the concept of foreclosure. You more than likely know that if you fall seriously behind on your monthly mortgage payments, your lender has the legal right to initiate proceedings through which the lender can seize your home. What you may not realize, however, is that foreclosure is a rather complicated series of steps and that Illinois law mandates that the court system must handle the foreclosure process. This means that every foreclosure in the state is known as a judicial foreclosure.
How Other States Handle Foreclosure
There are 16 states, including Illinois, which require the courts to oversee foreclosures. Five other states use judicial foreclosures almost exclusively—but as a customary practice rather than a legal requirement. Non-judicial proceedings are used in the 29 remaining states, either as just an option or because the law prohibits judicial foreclosures.
Common Estate Planning Myths Debunked
A survey conducted by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) shows that only about 40 percent of Americans have a will, trust, power of attorney, or other estate planning document in place. There are countless reasons that so many adults have neglected to create their estate plan. One reason is that many people do not understand the benefits that estate planning can offer them and their families. Some may only have a vague notion of what estate planning even entails and feel too overwhelmed by legal jargon to research estate planning further. Television and movies have not presented estate planning in a very positive light either. There are many myths and misunderstandings surrounding estate planning which are simply not true.
Myth: I Do Not Need to Worry About Estate Planning Until I am Older
When most people imagine someone writing a will, an image of an elderly or sick person comes to mind. The truth is that waiting until you are older to start formulating estate plans is a poor idea for several reasons. The validity of a will can be questioned if the person writing the will, called the testator, is not of sound mind due to advanced age or cognitive decline.
The Dangers of Fake Real Estate Listings and Rental Scams
When you are going through the process of a finding a new home, it understandable that you might feel overwhelmed and exhausted by all of the details. Whether you are looking to buy a new house or just to rent for right now, you have probably spent hours trying to find a place that meets your needs and those of your family.
Sadly, it is all too common in the internet age for unsuspecting individuals who have been worn out by their search to fall prey to online scammers. Even homes listed by qualified real estate agents are often involved in such scams.
Beware of Out-of-State Landlords
A successful real estate agent in the neighboring state of Missouri recently reported that she has just barely prevented at least two scams in six months involving properties for which she was contracted to sell. In one instance, she received a call from prospective renters who were ready to send a deposit to someone in Texas, despite the property being in the north part of Kansas City, Missouri. Apparently, an online scammer had used pictures from the agent’s sales listing and posted the property as a rental on Craigslist. In the post, the scammer purported that she was frustrated with her real estate agent, so she was trying to rent out the property on her own. Fortunately, the would-be renters go a hold of the agent before sending the money to the scammer.
How a Special Needs Trust Can Benefit You and Your Family
It can be terribly challenging to plan for a time when you are not around to care for your loved ones. However, facing this reality by making an estate plan is one of the most selfless actions you can take. This is an especially true if you have a child, sibling, or other close loved one who has a serious disability. If you have been responsible for caring for a loved one who cannot care for himself or herself, you may want to find a way of providing for him or her after you pass away. One way to do just this is through an estate planning tool called a special needs trust.
Planning for the Care of a Loved One with Special Needs
A special needs trust or supplemental needs trust is an estate planning instrument that can be critically important to individuals who have a disabled loved one in their care. This instrument works by allowing the caregiver to place funds in the trust, which can then be used for the future care of their disabled loved one. A special needs trust allows you to put aside money for your loved one without affecting the disabled person’s eligibility for government assistance programs. Special needs trusts can be funded through gifts and inheritances or a lump-sum settlement. Without a special needs trust, money left to your loved one could potential disqualify him or her for certain government aid programs.
Top Four Reasons You Need a Real Estate Attorney When Buying Your New Home
For many people, home ownership is a big part of living the proverbial “American Dream.” That being said, your home is probably the most valuable purchase you will ever make in your life. If you are buying a house for the first time, you might not realize all of the steps that are involved and how complex each of them can be. Throughout the process, there will be many variables to take into account and problems to avoid.
In many cases, homebuyers work with a real estate broker or an agent to help them find the right home and to streamline the process. Your agent, however, is only a part of the bigger picture. A qualified real estate lawyer can provide the legal protection you need along the by:
- Acting as an advocate. Your real estate agent might be friendly, helpful, and charismatic, but the main goal of an agent to facilitate the sale of the home. This means he or she will often be an intermediary between the buyer and the seller. A lawyer, by comparison, is dedicated to protecting your interests, regardless of whether a sale takes place;
Benefits of Utilizing an Advance Healthcare Directive in Your Illinois Estate Plan
For many people, it can be hard to know which estate planning tools and documents are appropriate for their circumstance. Estate planning has become almost synonymous with a Last Will and Testament, but drafting a will is by far not the only important aspect of estate planning. One estate planning tool which you may not have heard of is an advance healthcare directive—the most common type of which is a living will. A living will allows a person to make decisions about their potential future medical care in advance. If you are someone who wants to have a say in the types of medical intervention you could receive if you become incapacitated through illness or injury, an advance directive may be right for you.
A Living Will Puts You in Control
Few would argue that medical advances made in the last several decades are anything short of remarkable. Many people are able to survive and even recover from illnesses and injuries which would have led to death even just a few years ago. Because of this, more and more individuals are realizing how important it is to make decisions about medical treatment and end of life care in advance. A living will allows you to dictate the types of medical intervention you do and do not want if you are incapacitated by illness or injury. More specifically, a living will can allow you to:
What You Should Know About a Short Sale
While the economy has steadily improved over the course of the last decade or so, things are still not where they should be in many respects. As people experience financial hardships, some are forced to sell off assets, houses included—often for less than they are worth. This is referred to in real estate as a short sale, and it can be quite complex to navigate through on your own.
Short Sale Requirements
Many people are vastly unaware as to how complex a short sale can be, but it can be because there are not only questions regarding the nature of the asset for sale, but also the remainder of the debt or loan that is not being resolved by the short sale. Short sales are only successful if everyone involved (the seller, the bank or other entity holding the loan, and anyone else) agrees to take less money than they might otherwise make. However, a lender does not actually have to agree to a short sale in order for one to go forward, at least in Illinois; only the mortgage holder must agree, and the two are not always the same.
Should My Will Have a No-Contest Provision?
Are you worried about what will happen to your surviving family members after your death? Maybe in the course of your conversations about your estate plan, you have seen warning signs that your children or other loved ones are not thrilled about your decisions. Or, perhaps you are concerned that one of your family members will be overcome by grief to the point where they cause problems without realizing what they are doing.
If you have such concerns, you may wish to consider adding a no-contest provision to your will. A no-contest provision can help reduce the possibility of your will being challenged after your death.
“In Terrorem” Clauses
A no-contest clause is sometimes known as an “in terrorem” clause. The Latin phrase “in terrorem” translates to “by way of threat.” Put simply, a no-contest provision threatens any heir who files a will contest in an effort to deter fighting between family members after the creator the will dies.
Construction Defects: Understanding Your Purchase Contract
Before construction began on your new home, a purchase contract was established between you and the builder. The agreement specified the expectations for the construction of the home, closing of the purchase, and likely included plans or detailed specifications to be followed during the building process. What happens, however, if the builder fails to meet the terms of the contact or the home is found to have construction defects? While you may have grounds to file a lawsuit against the builder, it important to first examine your contractual agreement, as it may potentially limit your available courses of action.
Implied Warranty of Habitability
As a purchaser of new construction, you generally have the right to expect that the construction will be completed in compliance within industry standards. Illinois courts have established over time an Implied Warranty of Habitability that offers a level of protection to new home purchasers who find latent defects in the home’s construction and have no other legal recourse. The scope of the implied warranty, however, is fairly narrow and applies only to defects that make the home reasonably unsuited for its intended use.
Dual Agency in Real Estate - What Every Home Buyer and Seller Should Know About Their Real Estate Agent’s Interests
People often assume that a real estate agent is there to represent them and their interests. Sadly, this is not always the case. Neither state or federal law prohibits a real estate agents from having conflicting interests, and some exploit that loophole to the fullest extent possible. Learn more about “dual agency” among real estate agents, including how it could affect your next real estate transaction, and discover how our seasoned Wheaton real estate attorneys can minimize the risks.
Dual Agency in Real Estate - What It Is and Why It Matters
In an ideal world, a real estate agent would work with only the buyer or the seller - never both. Sadly, dual agency is extremely common among agents. In this scenario, the agent provides services to both the buyer and the seller, and that allows them to keep the entire commission. In short, the only interests they are representing are their own, and that can create all kinds of issues in a real estate transaction.
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