Earnest Money Question

[Vincent Botta]

I am located in IL and this is for a residential property. I was engaged in a real estate deal that recently fell through. I have attempted to send earnest money as a buyer to the title company twice and the sellers attorney gave me the incorrect address twice and the check was returned to me. We are out of the due diligence period and I had an inspection done with the intent to move forward on changes for the house during the due diligence period.

However, due to the Coronavirus, I have fear that this deal is not a valuable investment and I have decided that I want out of the deal. the sellers attorney is asking me for my earnest money. I have two questions:

1. Am I legally obligated to give the seller the Earnest Money?

2. If I am, I do not feel comfortable sending the sellers attorney a check. I’d rather it actually be disbursed through a title company at this point. What would be a good reccomendation?

Trying to get an outside perspective from my attorney who believes I’m legally obligated and if I am, I have every intention of giving them the money.