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A full-service law firm involved in estate planning, residential and commercial real estate, probate and probate administration, corporate and business law, employment discrimination matters, as well as trade secrets and general litigation.
Estate Planning Law
Real Estate Law
Use the form below to contact us regarding your legal question or issue. Please be as detailed as possible. Include your industry or occupation along with all relevant information. To help us best address your inquiry, we recommend that you first describe the issue about which you are concerned before telling us what you want to achieve. You may also email or call us to make an appointment.
Ralph J. Schumann, a graduate with honors from Chicago-Kent College of Law, has been named a “Top 10” LEADING LAWYER in the area of Real Estate Law: Residential, and is a Director and Past President of the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association (IRELA). Schumann is also Past Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) Real Estate Law Section Council and has extensive estate planning experience.
Schumann continues to serve on the Multi-Board Residential Real Estate Contract Drafting Committee, and has recently been asked to participate as an attorney in the drafting of the upcoming Version 8.0 of the Contract.
We utilize the benefits of current technology to make our practice and the delivery of our legal services more efficient and more economical. You can reach us by telephone or e-mail us at info@SchumannLaw.com.
“Ralph J. Schumann has been named a “Top 10” Leading Lawyer in Real Estate: Residential.”
Updated Residential Real Property Disclosure Form
An amendment to the Illinois Residential Real Property Disclosure Act sponsored by the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association recently was signed into law. It clarifies what persons or entities are deemed “Sellers” required to disclose. It adds beneficiaries of Illinois land trusts, beneficiaries pursuant to a testate disposition or intestate succession, and others.
The updated version requires a “Seller” to disclose whether or not there is flood insurance on the property. It also details what recourse a purchaser has if the disclosure is not timely made.
The new form is available here: Updated RRPRD Form.
NOTICE:
Many Americans may be feeling vulnerable in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Millions of people are out of work, and it can be stressful not knowing when life will return to normal.
Unfortunately, scammers thrive during times of distress. These fraudsters use their victims' fear to their advantage, swindling them out of cash or tricking them in to providing personal information. The Federal Trade Commission has received more than 18,000 coronavirus-related scam reports this year, and those scams have collectively cost Americans over $13 million. Scammers are getting sneakier, too, and it can be tough to detect these types of fraud. Here are some of the most common types of scams to look out for.
1. Treatment scams
One of the most insidious types of scams involves fraudsters calling you and impersonating a doctor or other healthcare professional. They may tell you your friend or loved one is being treated for COVID-19, saying you need to submit a payment to cover the hospital bill. Other scammers are trying to sell fake cures or treatments, often targeting those who are more vulnerable to the virus. One scam, in particular, is offering free coronavirus testing kits to those with diabetes in order to collect personal information, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
2. Social Security scams
Social Security recipients are always at risk of being targeting by scammers, but it's especially important to be careful to avoid coronavirus-related scams. According to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Social Security beneficiaries are reporting receiving official-looking letters saying their benefits are being suspended due to COVID-19 unless they call the phone number provided in the letter. When they call, they are instructed to provide payment or verify personal information in order for their benefits to be reinstated. Social Security benefits are not affected by the coronavirus, so if you receive a call, email, or letter telling you your monthly checks are suspended, hang up or ignore it and report it to the OIG. Keep in mind that the Social Security Administration will never ask for your Social Security number, bank account information, or any other personally identifiable information over the phone or in an email. They'll also never ask for payment in the form of a wire transfer, gift card, or prepaid debit card. If you're ever unsure about whether the call, email, or letter you received is legitimate, contact the Social Security Administration for more information.
For more information, contact us.
Ralph Schumann was quoted in a recent article in the CHICAGO LAWYER magazine discussing developing tensions between condominium association rules enforcement and the First Amendment rights of unit owners.
Ralph Schumann was quoted in a recent article in the Illinois State Bar Association’s Illinois Bar Journal regarding the Illinois Supreme Court’s decision in Sienna Court Condominium Ass'n v. Champion Aluminum Corp. which severely limits a prevously available consumer protection for homeowners seeking a financial remedy against subcontractors for defective construction..
Ralph Schumann recently spoke at a Greater Illinois Title Seminar
On Challenges for Real Estate Practitioners today.
IRELA President Ralph Schumann was recently interviewed by Super Lawyer Aurora Abella Austriaco on WSBC 1240 AM regarding IRELA's mission and current activities, TRID Issues, Cybersecurity and Wire Instructions scams.
In April, 2017, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (“IDFPR”) initiated prosecutions of two Illinois attorneys for alleged violation of the Real Estate Appraisal Licensing Act of 2002 (225 ILCS 458/Art. 1) (the “Appraisal Act”). The two attorneys were engaged in representation of clients and were attempting to obtain reductions in the assessed value of certain real estate parcels.
Ralph J. Schumann, who serves as President of the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association (www.irela.org) recently participated in a TRID (TILA / RESPA Integrated Disclosure) Panel Discussion in Springfield with industry professionals. The Panel Discussion was sponsored by the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
Ralph J. Schumann, President of the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association (www.irela.org), recently testified before a Senate Committee in support of Senate Bill 2688, which provides a mechanism for the IDFPR to curb certain abuses in the title insurance industry, and specifically authorizes IDFPR to take steps to prevent kickbacks and other practices which violate Section 8 of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA).
Ralph J. Schumann, who serves as President of the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association (www.irela.org) was recently interviewed by the Illinois State Bar Assocation as part of a series of short videos. Schumann was selected to discuss issues of interest to attorneys practicing in the area of Real Estate Law, and commented on changes to Forms affecting Real Estate practitioners with the implementation of TRID (TILA / RESPA Integrated Disclosure).
The article, which provides a timely update concerning the new TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure (a/k/a "TRID" or "Know Before You Owe") rule taking effect October 3, 2015, quotes Ralph Schumann. The new system will affect most residential real estate transactions.
Ralph Schumann, President of the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association (IRELA), recently presented a check from IRELA to the Lawyers Feeding Illinois program. Pictured below are Ralph Schumann (right) and ATG Vice President and Special Counsel John O'Brien (who is also the Founder of IRELA). For more information, call 847.273.8700.
Ralph Schumann recently spoke at an NIU Law Review Symposium on The Mortgage Foreclosure Crisis
as part of a panel of national speakers on the topic of "Foreclosure Defense and Alternatives:Litigation Steps, Practice Suggestions, and Recent Developments."
Recently, former employees of Bank of America admitted in sworn statements filed in a civil lawsuit pending in federal district court in Massachusetts that they were "told to lie" to homeowners, fraudulently denied loan modifications and were given bonuses, gift cards, and other incentives to intentionally push into foreclosurepeople who would have otherwise qualified for a HAMP or other loan modification.
Ralph Schumann, President of IRELA, recently spoke recently at a Greater Illinois Title Company CLE Seminar on the Multi-Board Residential Real Estate Contract at Maggiano's Little Italy in Oak Brook, Illinois.
Ralph Schumann was recently interviewed by The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin regarding recent developments affecting real estate practitioners.
Ralph Schumann, President of the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association (www.irela.org), recently participated in the recording of a CLE program for ISBA's "Illinois Law" series on Landlord-Tenant issues. Pictured above (L to R) are former IRELA Board Member Samuel Levine, Joel Chupack, Ralph Schumann, and program moderator Marty Dolan.
Ralph Schumann was recently interviewed by veteran political reporter Dick Kay of WCPT 92.7 FM on the housing market, short sales, and mortgage foreclosure defense basics.
Ralph Schumann was recently interviewed in his capacity as President of the Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association for a story aired on National Public Radio’s on property flipping: "Flipping Houses in a Post-Bubble World." (PDF)
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