St. Charles, IL Criminal Defense & Residential Real Estate

Our office is right here in St. Charles, at 2325 Dean Street, Ste 800F.

St. Charles is our home base. This page gives a plain-language overview of how criminal, traffic and residential real estate matters generally work in St. Charles. It is general information only, not legal advice, and every situation is different.

Criminal and Traffic Matters in St. Charles

Two counties. St. Charles sits mostly in Kane County, with a portion on the east side in DuPage County. Which county a case is filed in generally depends on where the alleged offense happened.

Kane County courts. Most felony and many misdemeanor and traffic cases from the Kane County side are heard at the Kane County Judicial Center, 37W777 Route 38, St. Charles, IL 60175, part of the 16th Judicial Circuit. Some matters are heard at other Kane County locations, including the branch court at 530 S. Randall Road in St. Charles. Cases arising on the DuPage side are handled in the DuPage County courts.

City ordinance violations. The City of St. Charles uses administrative adjudication for certain non-criminal ordinance violations that are punishable only by a fine, such as many parking and code-enforcement matters. A hearing officer, who is a licensed Illinois attorney, decides liability, and the hearing officer's decision can be appealed to the circuit court. Hearings are generally held monthly at the St. Charles Police Station, 1515 W. Main Street.

Common charges we see locally include:

• DUI (625 ILCS 5/11-501), which can bring both a criminal case and a separate driver's license summary suspension with its own short deadlines
• Retail theft (720 ILCS 5/16-25)
• Cannabis and alcohol issues. Adults 21 and over may possess limited amounts of cannabis in Illinois, but using it in public places or in a vehicle is not allowed (Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, 410 ILCS 705). Underage possession of alcohol is also prohibited under state law.
• Disorderly conduct and similar charges connected to the downtown nightlife district, where the City regulates liquor licenses and bar hours through its own code

If you have been charged, deadlines can matter early, so it helps to talk with a lawyer promptly.

Residential Real Estate in St. Charles

• No city transfer tax. The City of St. Charles states that it does not require a real estate transfer tax or stamp. State and county transfer taxes still apply to most sales (35 ILCS 200/31), and the buyer and seller file an Illinois Real Estate Transfer Declaration (PTAX-203) with the county.
• Before closing. Sellers typically arrange a final water meter reading with the City so the water account can be settled.
• Permits. The City's Community Development department oversees building permits and inspections. A building permit is generally required for construction, alteration, repair or demolition, and applications go to the Building Division at the Municipal Center, 2 E. Main Street. Unpermitted work can come up during a sale, so it is worth asking about early.
• Property taxes and exemptions. In Kane County, the Supervisor of Assessments office handles homestead exemptions, including the general homestead exemption and the senior exemption for owners 65 and older who live in the home as a primary residence. Many exemptions can be filed through the county's online exemption portal. Homes on the DuPage side follow DuPage County's process.

Whether you are buying or selling, we can review your contract during the attorney review period and guide the transaction through closing.

Attorney Advertising. This page is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Viewing it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Laws and local rules change; contact an attorney about your specific situation.