Attorney Review In Illinois: A Buyer’s Guide

You just got an accepted offer in Old Town. Now the clock is ticking, and attorney review is your short window to make sure the contract protects you. It may feel like a formality, but the choices you make in this period can shape your price, your risk, and your path to closing. In this guide, you’ll learn what attorney review means in Illinois, how it works in Chicago and Cook County, and the exact steps to take as a buyer in Old Town. Let’s dive in.

What attorney review means in Illinois

In Illinois, attorney review is a clause in your purchase contract that gives your attorney a defined period after acceptance to review and either approve, request changes to, or disapprove the agreement. It is a contractual right, not a statewide statutory rule. The wording in your specific contract controls the timing, how notices must be delivered, and what happens if your attorney objects.

If your attorney disapproves in the manner the clause requires, the contract is typically voided and the earnest money is handled according to the contract or escrow instructions. If your attorney approves or does not object within the deadline, the contract generally remains binding as written. That is why you should confirm the exact review period and notice method as soon as your offer is accepted.

Attorney review is separate from inspection, financing, and title contingencies. Your attorney will check that those protections are drafted clearly and that deadlines and remedies are workable for your situation.

How the review period works

Many standard broker forms and attorney-prepared offers include an attorney approval or disapproval paragraph. Your agent may attach this clause with the offer, or your attorney may add it before submission. Once the seller accepts, the countdown starts based on the contract terms.

The contract will state how long the review period lasts, often in business days, and exactly how approvals or objections must be delivered. Some contracts require email to a specific address, others require written delivery to the other party or their attorney. Because wording varies, do not assume a default timeline. Have your attorney verify deadlines right away.

If your attorney proposes changes, both sides must agree to amend the contract. If there is no agreement, the original contract stays in place unless an attorney disapproves in the way the clause allows. Buyers can also waive attorney review, which may make an offer more competitive, but it removes a short safety net that can be valuable in Old Town’s older housing stock and condo buildings.

What to do right after acceptance

• Send the fully executed contract and earnest money receipt to your attorney and agent immediately.
• Ask your attorney to confirm the attorney review deadline and how notices must be delivered.
• Schedule inspections and request condo or HOA documents if applicable.
• Start title and survey orders, then coordinate with your lender on timelines if you are financing.

Why it matters for Old Town buyers

Old Town includes a mix of single-family homes, vintage walk-ups, townhomes, and many condominiums and co-ops. Properties may be historic or within landmark districts. Attorney review is a key moment to flag permit histories, exterior-change restrictions, and condo or co-op governance issues before you are locked in.

City of Chicago and Cook County transfer taxes, recording fees, and documentary stamps may apply, and who pays can be negotiated. Amounts and rules change, so your attorney will confirm current practices and how they affect your closing costs. In Chicago and Cook County, title companies work with the Recorder or Clerk to record documents at closing, and attorneys coordinate those details with escrow agents.

Older Old Town buildings can raise questions about prior renovations, lead-based paint in pre-1978 properties, and legacy mechanical systems. Your attorney will help align contract terms with your inspection findings and make sure required disclosures are in place.

What your attorney checks

Contract terms and deadlines

A buyer’s attorney focuses on the mechanics that protect you if something goes wrong. Typical items include:

• Purchase price, earnest money instructions, and remedies for breach
• Closing and possession dates, including delay provisions
• Inspection, financing, and other contingency language and deadlines
• What personal property stays, and how repairs or credits are handled
• The method and timing of notices under the attorney review clause

Title, survey, and ownership

Title review helps prevent closing surprises. Your attorney will:

• Review the title commitment, exceptions, and required curative items
• Confirm the legal description matches the contract
• Review any survey and identify easements, encroachments, or boundary questions
• Flag judgments, liens, mortgages, or UCC filings that must be cleared

Condominiums, co-ops, and HOAs

Old Town has many condo and co-op buildings. Your attorney will:

• Review declarations, bylaws, rules, budgets, reserve studies, meeting minutes, resale certificates, and any pending litigation disclosure
• Confirm monthly assessments, special assessments, and any parking or storage allocations
• Check whether your lender’s condo approval requirements are satisfied

Municipal, zoning, and permits

Chicago permitting and zoning affect renovations and future plans. Your attorney may:

• Confirm permitted uses and general zoning status if relevant
• Check prior permits for renovations and whether work was properly inspected
• Identify City of Chicago landmark or preservation constraints that affect exterior changes

Property condition and disclosures

Your attorney coordinates contract terms with inspection results. Typical tasks include:

• Reviewing seller disclosures, including material defects and recent repairs
• Confirming lead-based paint disclosure for pre-1978 properties
• Advising on additional inspections based on age and condition
• Requesting repairs, credits, or price changes tied to findings

Financing and closing mechanics

If you are financing, your attorney protects your timelines and dollars:

• Confirming mortgage contingency wording and commitment deadlines
• Reviewing the closing statement for accurate prorations, payoffs, and fees
• Coordinating with the title insurer, lender, and escrow agent on disbursement and recording instructions

Environmental and specialty issues

Older buildings can raise special questions. Your attorney will consider:

• Lead-based paint rules for pre-1978 properties
• Floodplain status and any flood insurance requirements
• Known environmental liens or remediation obligations

Timeline and coordination

Before you make an offer

If you can, engage a Chicago real estate attorney early. Your lawyer can help ensure the offer includes a strong attorney review clause and that your contingencies are clear. Ask about review timing so you know what to expect if the seller accepts quickly.

Immediately after acceptance

Share the signed contract with your team, then align on deadlines. Your attorney will confirm how attorney review notices must be delivered under your contract. You and your agent will schedule inspections, while your attorney requests condo or HOA documents if needed.

During attorney review

Expect a first round of comments within a short timeframe based on your contract’s deadline and complexity. Your attorney and the seller’s attorney may trade proposed amendments. If both sides agree, those changes are added to the contract. If not, the contract remains as written unless an attorney disapproves in the manner and timeframe allowed.

After review and through closing

Your attorney will track inspection resolution, loan commitment, title clearance, and municipal requirements. You will review the closing statement for taxes, transfer stamps, and prorations. The attorney, title company, lender, and escrow agent coordinate disbursement and recording with the Cook County offices at closing.

Choosing the right attorney

Ask potential attorneys if they regularly handle Chicago and Cook County residential closings. Old Town properties often involve condo documents, historic details, and permit histories, so local experience matters. Confirm whether the attorney offers a flat fee for review only or full representation through closing, and request a written estimate.

Key questions to ask:

• Do you regularly handle residential closings in Chicago and Cook County?
• Do you offer a flat fee for attorney review and a separate fee for full representation?
• How quickly can you complete comments based on typical review deadlines?
• What issues do you commonly see in Old Town condos or vintage homes?

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Missing deadlines. Attorney review periods and contingency windows are strictly enforced. Late notices usually do not count.
• Relying only on your agent for legal issues. Your agent is essential for strategy and negotiations, but they cannot provide legal advice.
• Waiving attorney review without a plan. If you waive it, make sure other contingencies and professional counsel cover your risks.
• Skipping condo or HOA documents. Budget health, reserves, and any litigation can affect financing and future costs.

Old Town condo buyers: extra focus areas

If you are buying a condo or co-op in Old Town, expect your attorney to review declarations, bylaws, rules, budgets, reserves, minutes, and any pending litigation disclosure. The goal is to catch special assessments, deferred maintenance, or building projects that may affect your costs or lender approval. Ask early for parking and storage documentation, plus any association policies that affect renovations or move-in scheduling.

Historic and permit considerations in Old Town

Parts of Old Town include landmarked properties and district overlays. If your home’s exterior is visible from the street, your attorney can flag when City of Chicago permits or preservation approvals may be required for exterior changes. For any vintage property, it is wise to verify that past renovations had proper permits and inspections, especially for structural, electrical, or building envelope work.

Who pays what in Chicago closings

Transfer taxes, documentary stamps, recording fees, and title-related costs are part of most Chicago closings. Who pays is often negotiable and practices can change. During attorney review, your attorney will confirm the current norms for the City of Chicago and Cook County and how your contract allocates those items.

The bottom line for Old Town buyers

Attorney review is a short, powerful window to align the contract with your goals, confirm protections, and plan for closing. In Old Town, where condos are common and many homes are vintage or historic, that review often uncovers practical next steps on permits, disclosures, and building documents. If you coordinate early with your attorney, agent, lender, and title company, you set yourself up for a smooth close.

Ready to move forward in Old Town or nearby neighborhoods? Connect with a local advisor who pairs process discipline with neighborhood insight. Reach out to John Lyons to map your next steps and schedule a free consultation.

FAQs

What is attorney review in Illinois real estate?

• It is a contract clause that gives your attorney a short, defined period after acceptance to approve, request changes to, or disapprove the purchase agreement.

How long does attorney review last in Chicago contracts?

• It depends on the wording in your specific contract, including the number of days and the method required for delivering approvals or objections.

Can my attorney cancel the contract during review?

• Yes, if the clause allows disapproval and your attorney delivers notice in the required way and within the deadline, the contract is typically voided per the contract terms.

What happens to my earnest money if my attorney disapproves?

• Most clauses provide that the contract is voided and earnest money is handled according to the contract or escrow instructions, subject to the exact language used.

Should I waive attorney review to strengthen my offer?

• You can, but waiving removes a short safety net; if you waive, make sure other contingencies and professional counsel address inspection, title, and financing risks.

What should my attorney review for an Old Town condo?

• Expect review of declarations, bylaws, rules, budgets, reserves, resale certificates, meeting minutes, pending litigation disclosures, assessments, and lender approval requirements.

Are there special rules for Old Town historic properties?

• Some properties fall within landmark districts where exterior changes may require City of Chicago permits or preservation approvals, so your attorney will flag those needs early.