We bought our house 2 years ago. In our neighborhood, there are no fences, just nice (usually) neighbors. Our next door neighbor came over the first day to tell me that this big oak tree sits on the property line and they expect us to share the cost of trimming. Fine. We're nice folks. Now, she's decided that the tree is on her property entirely and she wants to cut it down. I can't afford a $700 survey and an attorney, which is what it's going to boil down to. My children are all very prone to sunburns, being fair complexioned, and I've already fought off cancer. If this tree comes down, we will have no shade at all in the back yard. I should mention that the tree predates ownership for either of us. Oh, and I do have a stake that marks the property on the other side...I've measured it off, according to what the county says the measurements are, and we own about 1/4 of the tree. I've looked all over the net and cannot find any information about this sort of thing in IL. It all concerns what to do about your neighbors tree putting leaves in your yard...I don't mind the leaves! And I love the tree. What should I do next? Today, she said that she intends to cut it down promptly and I said "Fine. I'll plant 15 more solely on MY property!" It's not that she's too old to rake the leaves or too poor to pay someone. She just needs her medication adjusted (in my opinion!) Help!