OUR AREAS OF PRACTICE:

Residential Real Estate Transactions: 
Today the process of buying or selling a residence whether a single family, multiple family, condominium or townhouse is a fairly complex process. We assist  clients from the beginning of the process until the deal is closed by reviewing and negotiating contracts, troubleshooting the loan process, monitoring contract contingencies, ordering title searches, clearing exceptions to title and preparing deeds and all closing documentation. 

We do everything possible to keep our clients informed about the process and to protect their best interest during the transaction, while furnishing those services at a reasonable fixed rate. 

Tax Appeals
Our practice in Tax Appeals at the Assessor's and Board of Review level in Cook County offers many clients an opportunity to challenge their tax assessments on a contingent basis with fees charged only on the favorable result. We also offer advice, and implementation, if desired, on securing all tax exemptions available to the property. 

Estate Planning:
Estate Planning is a process to define and implement a person’s objectives for the management and disposition of his/her property. It addresses the compiling of asset information, selection of guardians for children, choice of executors/trustees, care for individuals with special needs and formulation of a plan to reduce or eliminate the costs of probate court administration of estates and minimize the effect of estate taxes and inheritance tax. 

To achieve your personal plan, we prepare everything from simple wills to more sophisticated estate plans which may include: Revocable Living Living Trusts, Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts, various Generation-Skipping Trusts, Charitable Remainder Trusts, Qualified Personal Residence Trust and more.  Our main goal is creating the greatest comfort level possible for our clients and their families at reasonable cost. 

Corporate/Business/ Commercial:
Our office currently represents many business entities which vary in size from sole proprietorship, partnerships, to mid size corporations and limited liability companies. Our services include all aspects of corporate law, including but not limited to: acting as our clients registered agents, preparing annual minutes, acquisitions and divestures. 

Business Entity Formation:
The selection of the most cost effective business form to serve needs and objectives of the business owner(s) in a prime objective of our staff that assists persons in start-up business. This includes choosing a business form such as sole proprietorship, partnership, C-corporation, subchapter S-corporation, professional corporation, not for profit corporation and limited liability company. 

We then draft and file, as needed, the appropriate start-up documents. We also provide registered agent services and timely filing of annual reports.

Business and Commercial Laws:
We provide business owners with advice and documents preparation on various aspects of on-going business operations. Those include leases, business contracts or all types, business records, employment matters, particularly defensible termination programs, employee policy, employment and practice audits. 

Commercial Real Estate Transactions: 
We also represent buyers, sellers, investors, developers and owners of commercial real estate parcels, including leases, acquisitions, sales, condominiums conversions, options, installment sales and 1031 tax exchanges. 

Intellectual Property:
As a registered patent attorney, Ms. Zaraza can furnish advice on patent, trademark, tradename, copyright and trade secret matters. Services for registering copyrights and trademarks are also provided. The firm offers advice, review and drafting of non disclosure and license agreements for intellectual property matters. 





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Law Offices of Mari-Kathleen S. Zaraza P.C, 5634 N Kerbs Ave., Chicago, IL 60646 
Ph: 847/328-5758, Fax:  708/320-2675,  Email: zarazalaw@gmail.com