Residential real estate transactions in Arlington Heights, Illinois, have many complex laws. Whether you’re buying, selling, or renting a property, it’s crucial to be aware of common legal issues that arise in real estate transactions law and how to avoid them. Contract Law in Residential Real Estate Transactions One of the most common issues that people face is with the contract, whether it’s a purchase contract or another type of real estate contract. It’s important to ensure that your contract is valid and complies with all relevant real estate transaction laws. What Is Considered a Valid C ..read more

When buying a home for the first time in Illinois, there are certain items to consider and steps to take to ensure you’re prepared. Learn more about what to expect and how to approach the buying process, with some helpful tips for first-time homebuyers. Steps in the Illinois Homebuying Process Before you begin buying a home, there are some critical steps to take to prepare you for your next purchase. These steps in the Illinois homebuying checklist include: Knowing Your Credit Score — The first item to think about is your credit score. This will help you determine what kind of difficulty you ..read more

Buying a house as an unmarried couple in Arlington Heights, IL, comes with a few extra nuances. The members of an unmarried couple are typically legally separate and should take steps to protect their interests in case of a breakup or death. For example, there are several ways to own the house together. If you decide on joint tenancy, you own the property 50/50 (what they call an undivided one-half interest), and if one partner dies, the surviving partner takes over the deceased’s half. Legal Protections for Unmarried Couples Illinois does not recognize common-law marriage, but there are ways ..read more

Financial planning steps, such as opening your own bank and credit card accounts and making an inventory of all marital and non-marital property, can streamline a divorce in Arlington Heights, IL. Common considerations on how to make a divorce easy with financial planning include whether your divorce is contested or uncontested and your financial goals after the divorce. The Divorce Process in Illinois Each state has different divorce laws, and it is important to understand the regulations in Illinois. Divorce Laws and Requirements in Illinois Illinois is an equitable distribution state for ma ..read more

A homebuying checklist can help you get your dream home in the Arlington Heights, Illinois, area. The checklist should include performing an assessment of your finances, determining your homebuying criteria, finding a real estate professional, and doing a home inspection. It can also be important to understand homeowners association rules and fees. If you need help with purchasing your property, Illinois-specific programs could be helpful, too. Illinois Homebuying Checklist: Your Step-by-Step Guide Here is a step-by-step guide to help you buy real estate in Illinois. Assess Your Financial Read ..read more

The answer to the question, “What is a default judgment in divorce?” is that it is an option to move marriage dissolution cases forward through the system, even if respondents fail to appear or otherwise participate. A default judgment of divorce can be granted if not all parties appear in court or respond to the petition for divorce. For varying reasons, people may not respond at all or within the allowed timeframes to divorce petitions, delaying the ability of filers to achieve resolutions and move forward. To avoid losing any property or having to pay a large amount of child suppo ..read more

When issues arise after a parenting plan is in place, clients frequently ask, “Can you deny visitation to the noncustodial parent?” While you cannot independently deny visitation between your child and the noncustodial parent except in an emergency situation that endangers the child, you may be able to file a motion to modify the court order under some circumstances. If the court determines that visitation would seriously endanger your child’s physical, mental, or emotional health, the noncustodial parent’s parenting time rights may be restricted. Even in extreme cases, however, Illinois court ..read more

Who gets the house in a divorce depends on factors such as who wants it, the spouse’s capacity to pay the mortgage, the terms of the divorce, and each spouse’s investment in the house. The spouses can agree on the house issue between themselves, or a judge can make a ruling. Since Illinois is an equitable distribution state, the court’s goal is to divide property fairly, but not necessarily equally. For example, a judge in Arlington Heights, IL, may give one spouse the house but a lesser share of the savings accounts. Who Has Rights to the House in a Divorce? Before a divorce, individuals shou ..read more

Knowing what to expect at an uncontested divorce hearing may help you determine if that filing is the right path for your situation. An uncontested divorce hearing is a brief court appearance held in front of a judge to finalize the divorce.  During the uncontested divorce hearing, the lawyer(s) or the judge will ask the parties a series of questions. The questions are designed to help the judge establish that the court has jurisdiction, that there is a cause of action, and that there is a voluntary agreement between the parties. If everything is answered to the judge’s satisfaction ..read more

The termination of parental rights in Arlington Heights, Illinois, can occur on grounds such as voluntary consent to adoption, voluntary surrender of parental rights, a court finding that the parent is unfit, or a court determining that the assumed or named father is not the biological or adoptive father. Another scenario may occur when a judge finds that the child’s conception occurred as a result of sexual abuse or assault. Other grounds for termination are possible, too, but the ones mentioned above are among the most common. What Are Parental Rights? Parents typically have legal rights and ..read more