Attorney Review in Illinois — Plain English
What the attorney review window is for, how modifications work, when you can cancel, and timeline traps to avoid.
What it means
After acceptance, each side’s attorney gets a short window (commonly 5 business days) to approve the contract, propose changes, or disapprove. The original contract stays in effect unless the parties sign an amendment.
Deadlines & clock rules
- Day 1 is usually the first business day after acceptance.
- Extensions must be agreed in writing—an email between attorneys usually works if the contract allows email notice.
- If parties can’t agree on attorney changes by the deadline, the form often lets either party cancel.
What can be proposed
- Language clean‑ups, correcting names/legal descriptions.
- Repair/credit frameworks separate from inspection clause.
- Clarifying who pays municipal transfer taxes, association fees, stamps.
Buyer tips
- Send a clean PDF of the signed contract to your attorney immediately.
- Ask for a one‑line update each day until approval is done.
Seller tips
- Decide your redlines in advance so your attorney can move quickly.
- If you won’t agree to certain changes, say so early to avoid wasting time.