Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Illinois

3 benifactors of house in Illinois Trust

2 of the benifactors want to sell the house. 1 is not coroperating and does not want to sell it. What, if anything can the 2 that want to sell do about this?


Asked on 6/30/08, 5:09 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

John Pembroke John J. Pembroke & Associates LLC

Re: 3 benifactors of house in Illinois Trust

Unfortunately, each beneficiary of an Illinois Land Trust has a veto under applicable Illinois case law. Unlike a tenancy in common, no beneficiary can sue for partition, which is a lawsuit to have a court-supervised sale of the property.

This is why I don't use them any more. If any of you are occupying the real estate, rent has to be paid to the other beneficiaries.

However, you all have to agree in order to sell the property. And, typical Illinois land trusts are written to expire every twenty years, but most banks try to automatically renew them.

From time to time, legislation has been proposed to attempt to rectify this situation. However, the land trustees (banks) like their annual fee, and have lobbied against correcting this result.

Our comments are based on treating your question as a hypothetical. Accordingly, our comments could be substantially and materially different were we advised of all of the relevant facts and circumstances. Our comments are by necessity general in nature, and should not be relied upon in taking or forgoing action in your circumstances without retaining an attorney. In order to fully explore your legal matter, you should meet with us or another attorney and bring to any such meeting all relevant documents and correspondence, and any other relevant facts.

We are not hired to be your attorney, and no attorney-client relationship exists between us, unless and until you enter into a written retainer agreement with us, tender the agreed amount for a retainer and it is accepted by us. We reserve the right to decline representation should circumstances change.

As you are aware, in Illinois there are various deadlines for filing a complaint, filing an answer to a complaint, or taking other action in order to preserve your legal rights, and avoid a complete loss of those rights. You should retain counsel immediately in order to be fully advised of your rights, and to be fully informed of the applicable time period within which those rights must be asserted. If you were to delay in doing so, it might result in your potential cause of action being forever barred.

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Answered on 6/30/08, 5:34 pm
George Zuganelis Zuganelis & Zuganelis, Attorneys at Law, P.C.

Re: 3 benifactors of house in Illinois Trust

I will assume that the person who left the house to the 3 of you is dead. You may have to file a partition suit. Then you can either force a sale, or have him buy you out. Please call if you wish to discuss this further.

This answer does not create an attorney client relationship. It is merely a general answer to a general question. The answer should not be construed as legal advice. Please seek the advice of an attorney in your county.

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Answered on 6/30/08, 5:35 pm


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