Residential Real Estate Law

We pride ourselves on our absolute commitment to provide the very best legal advice and customer service to our real estate clients and our view that the realtor is a partner in the transaction. At Hawbecker & Garver, every correspondence that is received or sent by this office is emailed via a pdf attachment to both the client and the realtor, usually within only an hour after being sent or received.  This process showcases our strong desire to keep both the realtor and client up-to-date and informed on all the happenings of the real estate transaction.

Experience and Support

Hawbecker & Garver, LLC, has the experience and focus to handle the real estate needs of our clients.  While many offices have staff and attorneys whose attention is split between several areas of law, we have taken great care to make sure that we are appropriately staffed to handle a large volume of difficult real estate transaction.  We have a team of highly qualified attorneys and paralegals working solely on real estate files and dedicated to making sure that everything goes as smoothly as possible.  In this increasingly difficult market it is more important than ever that clients are represented by attorneys that actively practice in real estate and have the support staff to assist when the going gets tough. 

Since 2003 we have completed thousands of real estate closings and have grown at a rapid pace, even in difficult markets, our pace has continued to grow.  We believe this is a reflection on the level of quality we provide to our realtors, clients, and anyone else that may be part of a real estate transaction.

Estate Planning Law

Estate Planning is the process by which an individual or family arranges the transfer of assets in anticipation of death. An estate plan aims to preserve the maximum amount of wealth possible for the intended beneficiaries and flexibility for the individual prior to death.

Hawbecker & Garver, LLC has the experience and support necessary to properly advise in estate planning. Whether it is a simple will and powers of attorney or a complex trust and estate tax planning protection strategy, our attorneys will provide the advice and guidance necessary to accomplish any estate planning goals.

Personalized Process

Each and every estate plan is a personalized process. Some clients find that a basic will is appropriate for their circumstances, while others are concerned with avoiding probate, a lengthy and costly legal process that oversees the transfer of assets, while yet others are concerned with avoiding estate tax. No matter the goals, Hawbecker & Garver, LLC will work to insure that these goals are met.

For those that prefer a remote process, we can conduct the entire process fully remotely (including the option to sign all documents electronically with an electronic notary and witnesses). 

Estate Planning Binder

All of our estate planning clients receive an Estate Planning Binder this binder includes the following:

  • Copies of all estate planning documents;

  • Instructions to trustees, executors, and loved ones on the administration of the estate plan;

  • The client’s memorial wishes;

  • Schedule of Assets section to assist loved ones in locating assets after a client’s death;

  • Instructions on maintaining the estate plan;

  • Guidelines for loved ones to follow after the client’s death; and

  • Instructions to loved ones regarding the disposition of tangible personal property
For more information about estate planning, check out our Estate Planning Blogs!

Probate and Estate Administration

When an individual dies (a “decedent”), certain assets automatically transfer upon the decedent’s death, such as joint survivorship property, payable on death accounts, transfer on death property, most life insurance and retirement benefits, and trust assets (these are all non-probate assets). Assets that don’t pass by one of these methods must go through the Probate Process to be distributed. Many people die owning both probate and non-probate assets, all of which generally require some type of documentation to complete the transfer. Hawbecker & Garver, LLC is experienced at counseling individuals on their options regarding probate and non-probate proceedings and assisting with the process.

The purpose of the Probate Process is to ensure the probate assets are collected, maintained, and distributed among the decedent’s heirs, beneficiaries, and/or creditors according to the direction of the decedent as expressed through a will and the laws of Illinois. This process is known as the administration of a decedent’s estate. If the person had a trust, the administration process generally happens without any court involvement as expressed through a trust and the laws of Illinois. Hawbecker & Garver, LLC, can help guide families through the probate or trust administration process.