What does attorney review include?

Attorney review gives you an opportunity to have the purchase or sale contract reviewed by a real estate attorney after it has been signed. The review may include explaining important terms, identifying provisions that need attention, and discussing possible changes based on the transaction. The scope of the review depends on the contract and the circumstances of the deal.

How much do you charge?

Legal fees depend on the type of transaction and the services involved. Our office will explain the applicable fees and what is included before representation begins. If you have questions about the cost of your transaction, contact our office and we can discuss the details with you.

What happens if problems are found during inspection?

An inspection may uncover repairs or other issues that were not apparent when the property was first viewed. If that happens, your attorney can review the inspection findings along with the contract and explain the options available to you. Depending on the circumstances, the parties may negotiate repairs, a credit, changes to the agreement, or another resolution.

What happens on closing day?

Closing is when the final documents are reviewed and signed and the transaction is completed. Your attorney can review the closing documents, go over the figures and prorations, and address any outstanding legal or title matters. For buyers, the attorney can review and explain the lender’s loan disclosures, verify the closing figures, and oversee the execution of the mortgage documents. For sellers, the attorney can confirm that applicable title clearance conditions have been addressed, review the deed and closing documents, and help facilitate the proper disbursement of final sales proceeds. Once the required documents are in order, the parties can complete the closing and move forward with the transaction.

What is a Transfer on Death Instrument?

A Transfer on Death Instrument (TODI) is a cost-effective estate planning tool in Illinois that allows a property owner to designate a beneficiary to receive their residential real estate upon the owner’s death, subject to applicable legal requirements. One of the primary benefits of a TODI is that the property may pass directly to the designated beneficiary outside of the probate process, potentially reducing the time, expense, and administrative burden associated with probate.

CHICAGO REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY

DUPAGE COUNTY REAL ESTATE LAWYER

Experienced legal guidance for buyers, sellers, and property owners throughout McHenry County, backed by more than 41 years of Illinois real estate experience.

Real Estate Transactions Feel Simple Until the Unexpected Surfaces

Buying or selling residential real estate can involve more than signing a contract and attending a closing. A transaction may include attorney review, inspections, financing, title work, and other requirements that need attention before the deal is completed. At Shawn Bolger Ltd., we provide experienced legal guidance to home buyers, sellers, property owners, and families throughout DuPage County. Our work includes contract review, title matters, estate-related property transactions, and Transfer on Death Instruments (TODIs). We help clients understand the legal documents and requirements involved in their transactions.

Real Estate Deals Move Fast. We Aim to Keep Them on Track.

The time between signing a purchase agreement and closing can involve several important steps. Questions may arise about the contract, inspection, financing, title, or closing documents. We review the legal documents involved in the transaction, explain important terms, and discuss questions that may come up as you move toward closing.

Residential real estate contracts often define important obligations, deadlines, and performance requirements, including:

Purchase price and closing terms
Money and financing provisions
Title insurance requirements
Residential closing documents
Transfer on Death Instruments (TODIs)
Other property transfer requirements

Why the Attorney Review Period Matters Under Illinois Law

The Illinois attorney review period gives buyers and sellers an opportunity to review the purchase agreement and discuss its terms before the contract becomes final. During this period, questions about inspections, financing, contract provisions, or other matters may arise. We review the purchase agreement, explain important provisions, and discuss possible changes based on the circumstances of the transaction.

The attorney review process may involve:

Understanding your rights and contractual responsibilities.
Reviewing proposed changes to the purchase agreement.
Discussing questions about contract terms and deadlines.
Reviewing possible issues before the transaction moves forward.

Addressing Hidden Title Issues Prior to Closing

One of the more common parts of a real estate transaction is the title review. Title records may identify matters that need to be addressed before closing, including:

Unreleased mortgages or liens
Old mortgages that were not properly released
Clerical mistakes or recording errors
Missing documents or ownership questions
Outstanding property-related matters

We review the title information and discuss any issues that may need attention before the transaction is completed.

Navigating Probate and Inherited Property Sales

Transferring or selling inherited property can involve additional legal requirements, particularly when the property is part of an estate. The process may require coordination between the estate representative, beneficiaries, title company, and other parties. We assist with real estate matters involving estates and can discuss the legal requirements that may apply to the sale or transfer of inherited property.

This may include:

Probate real estate sales
Inherited property transfers
Transfer on Death Instruments (TODIs)
Other estate-related real estate matters

Coordination and Professional Oversight at the Closing Table

A successful residential closing brings together buyers, sellers, lenders, title companies, real estate professionals, and other parties involved in the transaction. Closing documents, settlement statements, title matters, and other paperwork may need to be reviewed before the transaction is completed. Our role is to review the legal documents, answer questions, and discuss any legal issues that arise before closing.

Serving Homeowners and Families Across DuPage County

Shawn M. Bolger Limited has represented residential buyers, sellers, and property owners in Chicago and throughout Illinois since 1984. We provide legal guidance for residential real estate matters throughout DuPage County, including:

Naperville
Wheaton
Elmhurst
Glen Ellyn
Lisle
Downers Grove
Oak Brook

Buying or Selling?

Talk With Our Real Estate Team

+1 855-316-8045

Frequently Asked Question

Why should I hire a residential real estate lawyer in DuPage County?

A residential real estate lawyer can review contracts, address title issues, protect your legal rights, and help prevent costly delays or disputes before closing.

What residential real estate services do you provide in DuPage County?

We assist with residential closings, contract reviews, title issue resolution, probate real estate matters, inherited property transfers, and TODI planning.

How does your firm handle a property sale when the owner has passed away?

We establish who holds true legal authority to sign the deed, utilize expedited probate alternatives when possible, and ensure the entire residential transfer fully complies with Illinois estate administration law.

Do I need a lawyer to sell my home in DuPage County?

While not always legally required, having an attorney can help protect your interests, review contracts, and address legal issues before closing.

Reviews

What Our Clients Say

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 139 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Eric Perez 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Highly recommend if you're looking for a reliable real-estate attorney. Kelsey was very thorough in her processes, extremely responsive, and walked my fiancee and I through all the paperwork ensuring every question, thought and concern was addressed for a smooth closing.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Daniel Lee 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. As first time homebuyers, we were given a lot of advice from which law firm to use or how to address Illinois’s requirement for a lawyer in the real estate process. Regardless, we landed on quite possibly the best lawyer in Chicago to work with. Kelsey was phenomenal from start to finish. There was not a moment in the process where we felt unsure about where we stood or what was next. She was beyond fantastic, and out of all of the services we needed during the process, this was the best choice we could’ve made. There is no doubt we will be using her and The Bolger Office again in the future.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Guadalupe Ruiz 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Muy profesionales en todo super recomendada.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   ຕຸ້ຍໆ,Cham ຍູ່ໄກໆ 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. One of the best team I had worked with. Very responsive throughout the process of getting my dream home. Truly recommended. Thank you
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jasmine Cortez 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Kelsey and the rest of the Shawn Bolger team was a pleasure to work with throughout the process of buying my first condo. She was extremely responsive, answered all of my questions promptly, and helped guide me every step of the way. As a first-time homebuyer, I really appreciated her patience, professionalism, and support. She made the entire experience much less stressful, and I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and reliable real estate attorney.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mel 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I can’t say enough great things about Kelsey Stangebye and the Team at Shawn Bolger’s office. I’ve worked with Kelsey on 3 real estate transactions, and every single one has gone smoothly thanks to her knowledge, professionalism, and attention to detail. Kelsey and her team are very responsive and proactive. I always knew I could count on Kelsey to look out for my best interests and guide me in the right direction. I’m so grateful for all of her help over the years. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for an attorney who is very skilled and genuinely cares about her clients.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Geneva Matthews 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I was in the process of purchasing a home with no realtor. Shawn and her team were my saving grace. They were my realtors, attorneys, advisers and much more. They were prompt and thorough. Yesenia kept me in the loop every step of the way. We even had a last minute surprise at closing that could have cost me the deal but Kelsey was quick with her thinking, we closed and I got the keys! I could keep writing, but words could never express my gratitude. They’re awesome!!!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jennifer Brown 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. If you are looking for a real estate attorney who is sharp, communicative, responsive, and truly committed to protecting her clients, I highly recommend Shawn Bolger. Throughout my entire selling process, she handled everything with professionalism, intelligence, and care.

Shawn protected my legal interests beautifully and made sure I understood every step along the way. Near closing, a situation arose that required patience, poise, and strong legal articulation — especially when a last-minute “hail mary” was thrown into the mix. Shawn handled it flawlessly. She was calm, strategic, firm when necessary, and absolutely advocated for me as the seller.

She was always accessible, incredibly thorough, and surrounded by a fantastic team. Special shoutout to Nicole Jordan, Legal Assistant, who was an absolute rockstar throughout the process.

Having Shawn in my corner gave me tremendous peace of mind. I highly recommend her to anyone needing an exceptional real estate attorney.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Hugo Thurmond 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had an excellent experience working with Kelsey, Shawn, and their team during both the sale and purchase of our home. They did a fantastic job explaining every step of the process and made sure we understood exactly what needed to be done to keep everything moving forward.
They were always available when we had questions and consistently responded in a timely manner, which gave us a lot of peace of mind. While our sale and purchase came with some challenges due to factors outside of our control, Kelsey, Shawn, and their team handled everything with true professionalism and kept things on track from start to finish.
What stood out most was how they treated us—like we were family or close friends. Their level of care, dedication, and commitment really made a difference.
We highly recommend Kelsey, Shawn, and their entire team to anyone looking for knowledgeable, reliable, and genuinely supportive real estate professionals.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Carmen Alvarez 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We have had an excellent experience working with Kelsey and her team. From start to finish, professional, responsive and knowledgeable. Very efficient and helpful explaining every step. This is our third time closing with Kelsey and will continue using her in the future.
  
 
  
  
 
 
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