Eminent Domain Attorneys Serving Chicago and Surrounding Areas
The Eminent Domain Attorneys at Ryan & Ryan have concentrated their practice on representing property owners in eminent domain cases since 1975. Eminent domain is the power to take any property for public use without the owner’s consent in exchange for the payment of just compensation. In Illinois, the two limits on the power of eminent domain are that the taking must be for public purpose and the owner must be paid just compensation. Typically the most highly contested aspect of an eminent domain proceeding is the determination of just compensation for the property owner. The power of the State of Illinois to take or condemn property by eminent domain has been delegated to municipalities, forest preserves, park districts, school districts, railroads, and public utilities. The Eminent Domain Act lists those entities that have been granted the power of eminent domain and provides the procedures that must be followed to acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain.
Contact us today; even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re available to meet safely in person or over the phone or video conferencing. For more information on eminent domain and property rights in Illinois, check out our FAQs.
Illinois Eminent Domain Act
In June of 2005, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Kelo v. City of New London, 125 S. Ct. 2655 (2005). The U.S. Supreme Court held that the “public use”...
Is Your Property Subject to Condemnation?
Federal, state, and local government agencies have the power to take private property for public use. The power is conditioned upon the constitutional requirement that the government...
Pre-Condemnation Activity
While many owners are capable of negotiating real property purchase agreements, eminent domain cases are different. In typical purchase agreements the buyer does not have the right...
Protecting Your Property
Ryan and Ryan will help you answer the following questions when the government is interested in taking your property through the use of eminent domain:
How do I protect my...
Relocation Payments and Moving Costs
Ryan and Ryan lawyers have helped many of our clients obtain relocation payments and moving costs. Before January 1, 2007, such payments were required only for projects...
Tax Increment Financing Districts
Governmental bodies can not only take your property for public uses such as roads, parks, forest preserves, municipal buildings, public buildings, schools, airports, public stadiums...
Illinois Road Projects and Partial Takings
Approximately 50% of the eminent domain cases handled by Ryan and Ryan on behalf of private property owners in Illinois involve land acquisitions by the government, including...
METRA/CTA PROJECTS
Ryan and Ryan represents property owners in eminent domain cases involving METRA and Chicago Transit Authority (“CTA”) Projects.
Ryan and Ryan represented four parcels...