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What a real estate attorney actually does
The work happens at 6 discrete points across the 4-6 week life of a typical Illinois residential closing. Each point matters; each can save or cost real money.
What does a real-estate attorney actually do for the $650 flat fee? The work happens at six discrete points across the four-to-six-week life of a typical Illinois residential closing.
1. Contract review during attorney review window
Reads the signed contract line by line. Identifies provisions that require modification, clarification, or push-back. Drafts the modification document that goes to the other side's attorney. Negotiates revisions. This is the most concentrated 24-48 hour stretch of work in the engagement.
2. Inspection-response negotiation
Reviews the inspection report when it arrives. Identifies which findings warrant a request for repair, credit, or termination. Drafts the inspection-response demand. Negotiates the seller-side counter-proposals. The economic outcome of the deal often shifts in this phase.
3. Title commitment review
Reads the title commitment when it arrives from the title company. Lists every exception, easement, lien, and restrictive covenant. Identifies which are standard, which require written objection, which may be deal-killers. Drafts written objections to the title company. Confirms clearance before closing.
4. Tax-proration calculation (sellers)
Pulls the most recent property tax bill. Identifies the township's reassessment cycle. Calculates the proration based on the proration date in the contract. Drafts the proration proposal that goes to the buyer's attorney. Reviews any counter-proposal. This is small-dollar but high-ratio work — a small math error can cost hundreds of dollars.
5. Closing-statement audit
Reviews the closing statement (or, for federally-related residential transactions, the Closing Disclosure) when it arrives from the title company. Verifies every line item. Catches errors in credits, prorations, recording fees, attorney fees, and brokerage commissions. Confirms credits and prorations match the contract.
6. Closing-table representation
Attends the closing in person. Conducts a final review of all documents. Answers client questions in real time. Signs as needed. Coordinates with the title company on funds disbursement. Confirms the deed is delivered. Adam personally attends every closing.
Items that are not the attorney's work (and are not in the $650)
Title insurance premium (paid to the title company), transfer-tax stamps (paid to the state, county, and city), recording fees (paid to the County Recorder), survey costs (paid to the surveyor), inspection fees (paid to the inspector), mortgage origination fees (paid to the lender). These are listed transparently on the closing statement and paid to the third parties — not to the attorney.
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