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31 Mar, 2020 by Sara beth allen
Howard Gould is a wonderful guy and a sharp lawyer.
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27 Sep, 2019 by Freshmemes
15 Sep, 2021 by Eliot
I hired Jon Leary as my real estate lawyer for the purchase of my home in CT in 2021. He came at the recommendation of my realtor, and I regret following their advice. He and his office were beyond terrible. He misquoted his attorney fees, he/his assistant wrote up the closing costs wrong despite multiple attempts from me to clarify (so I needed to shell out extra money right at the last minute without warning), it was very difficult to get in touch with him and his office before closing via email, text, or phone, and immediately after closing he pretty much ghosted me, leaving me with several unresolved issues regarding the home purchase costing me several thousand more. As soon as he had my money he disappeared. I cannot stress enough to stay away if you are considering using his office for the purchase of a home, I wish I had seen the warning signs and backed out. To be fair, as part of closing I did ask he refund me the difference of his misquoted fee, which he did provide during signing at closing. However, the something like $50 difference was nothing compared to the hassle, headaches, and other financial burden incurred by using his services. Do yourself a favor and ask a friend you trust for a recommendation.
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24 Jun, 2020 by Hassan
This is one of the best attorneys I have ever had worked with. He was very tentative to our situation he worked with us throughout the thought entire process we are very pleased with his knowledge he took his time and explain to us in great detail the case from beginning to end I will be more than pleased to recommend him to anyone he’s a superb attorney
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11 May, 2017 by Mary
We had a will prepared as part of estate planning. Our needs were not complex, but the process here was very detailed for the end product of a straightforward estate planning documents. Therefore, the total cost of our documents ended up being more that double what other lawyers charge for the same set of paperwork.
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08 Jul, 2024 by Jibril gueye
My divorce case started in 08/18. At the time, I was self representing as I thought I would get a more agreeable settlement with my ex. It turns out that she & her lawyer took that to their advantage to rip me off of hundreds of dollars per week in support. To try to adjust this unfortunate settlement & get the divorce finalized ASAP, I began searching for a lawyer. Enter James Hardy! That lawyer basically took me for a ride for almost 4 months before I fire him, filed a complain against him then hire Kevin Black during the last week of 12/2018!
Kevin & Amanda REALLY took care my case & defend valiantly from the start to the end. They were very diligent & provide me with the proper & excellent advice through out the process. They were prompt in responding to my questions & worries. Kevin perfectly understood my case and rectified to the best of his ability most of the bad decision that were made earlier in my case. His cautiously optimistic approach to resolving the matter to the best of ability brought a truly satisfying ending to my case (all support were cut by 50% at least from where they were in 08/18) on 08/19.
Kevin & Amanda, again thank you, thank you, for all the great things you accomplished for me!
I HIGHLY recommend the team of Kevin Black & Amanda Ell and without an ounce of doubt.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T!!!!
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08 Jul, 2024 by Mac rand
I was 100% pleased with the service we received from Kevin Black in a recent family matter. He was very professional; responded to us immediately whenever we had any questions; gave clear instructions; and took care of every detail from the start of the case through to its conclusion. I could not have asked for more.
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08 Jul, 2024 by K. c.
Bayer & Black P.C. is a firm comprised of exceptional attorneys and office staff, all of whom we’ve had the pleasure of working with. We’ve often approached them completely in the blind, unsure of how to navigate the (usually complex) situation at hand.
To date, we’ve used their services to navigate settling three estates, the sale of a home, and a complex and very serious criminal case. Their patience with us cannot be understated. Their entire office is comprised of exceptional individuals all of whom are accessible, compassionate, and responsive.
Their criminal attorney, Kevin, and his son (also Kevin) are experienced, transparent litigators. We were never sold or promised an unreasonable outcome, though the outcome of our case was more than what we could have ever imagined, asked for, or expected.
We would (and have) recommend them for anything from the simplest to the most complex legal matters.
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26 Mar, 2024 by Tom surace
The most knowledgeable and friendly attorney.
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17 Dec, 2022 by Millie phillips
Phononimal Attorney
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09 Dec, 2022 by Anonymous
Absolutely disappointing! I called for legal advice regarding a property investment instead I was flooded with personal opinions. Initially when I met Mr. Shapiro, I thought he was a nice guy however after my second verbal encounter with him, he revealed his true character. I am a young black female entrepreneur and Mr. Shapiro referred to people who use my strategy to invest in real estate as "bottom feeders." Absolutely horrifying, disheartening and unprofessional! He also made Trump references during our discussion after admitting that he did not know much about my method of investing. What makes this even worse is that he partners with the Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust which mostly serves families of color in the community. Bottom line, we as black entrepreneurs especially in the Bridgeport area have to stick together to invest in our city and push it forward towards its full potential in real estate because they really don't want us to win out here! Let us network with one another and form groups/partnerships to achieve financial success together as a community. There is plenty of untapped wealth in the Bridgeport area to go around. Let's build the future of Bridgeport together!
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01 Jul, 2024 by Kyle oneil
On time and good communication! Helped me from day one even. Very knowledgable and explained everything.
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01 Jan, 2024 by Anonymous
I hired Tim to represent me on a "gun possession" charge which was a BB Gun. My brother gave him the legal precedent to have the case thrown out and he never once scheduled a meeting with us. Did not return my calls or texts. Just went to court, got continuances, and told me see ya later. No strategy, No compassion, just out for the money.
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22 Dec, 2023 by Anonymous
We hired Tim to defend my case. His communication skills are awful. He barely returned any phone calls or texts. He left me in court alone with no representation. We asked multiple times for a sit down with Tim and got nothing. He never explained our case to us or sat down to investigate anything. Hire this man if you want to waste your money and end up hiring another lawyer anyway. We asked for some of our money back and he told us to get lost.
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10 Dec, 2021 by Linda
If you want to pay money to have your calls and emails go unanswered, watch your attorney defend the actions of someone they should be holding in contempt and go months without seeing your kid only to be told to “keep waiting until court” and “find solutions”, hire him.
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21 Mar, 2017 by Brian
Frank is an excellent attorney who cares about his clients. I was happy that I hired him. He helped me more than once and went the distance to get things thrown out in court. He knows his stuff. I recommend using Frank if you have a problem.
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23 Feb, 2015 by Anonymous
I had a messy case where another attorney took sides with my ex - then left me out to dry. Frank took the case, cleaned up the mess - and turned what looked like a hopeless situation into something favorable for me.
Frank did an outstanding job.
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18 Jul, 2023 by A
Spoke to me with complete disrespect. Asking if I can even afford her fees. Absolutely rude.
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29 Aug, 2022 by Tom short
03 Aug, 2022 by Joel leyden
14 Jul, 2022 by Anonymous
An issue that should have been resolved easily became much more involved (and costly) with his poor handling. I should have listen to my gut instinct and tried to resolve my disagreement with the other party on my own. I'l be hiring an attorney to look in his behavior
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30 May, 2018 by Anonymous
Eric was well-versed in the legal matters as well as super helpful through the process of writing my will.
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17 May, 2016 by Anonymous
An issue that should have been resolved easily became much more involved (and costly) with his poor handling of basic real estate issues. I should have listen to my gut instinct and tried to resolve my disagreement with the other party on my own. Hiring representation only made the matter more confusing and adversarial.
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27 Jul, 2024 by Anonymous
Tom was great to me and my family in a custody battle! He supported us and did what was best for our family. Thank you Tom!
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03 Apr, 2020 by Anonymous
It has been a few years since the dissolution of my marriage (divorce). As time seems, as the expression goes, to have healed most wounds. I still reflect on the poor, unmotivated legal representation that Attorney Fiorentino provided me. As I've never been divorced before, this experience was quite foreign to me. I listened to Attorney Fiorentino intently and inspite of some in trepidation and my little voice telling me this attorney with whom I'm paying thousands of dollars to advocate and find a just and equitable resolution was an awful disappointment. I would highly encourage anyone looking for someone to stand in your corner to protect you and some of your assets, look elsewhere. This attorney didn't seem to care about this ordinary, everyday, run of the mill divorce and the client he was paid to represent.
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14 Dec, 2017 by A
Words can’t express how deceitful Tom Fiorentino was in my case. Tom cost me my family. If you want a good result, do not hire Tom Fiorentino. He failed to follow up, he only sought money, was not interested in the best interest of his client.
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16 Jul, 2010 by Anonymous
Mr. Cheerman represented me on a real estate matter. I do not feel that he had my best interests at heart, and should have been able to resolve my problem in a more satisfactory manner. I feel did not not pay close enough attention to my verifiable facts, and was too accepting of the other parties claims, to my detriment.
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07 Dec, 2023 by Anonymous
He makes himself available but charges even if he takes extra time to correct his own mistakes and speaks down to you. He is a bit condescending and acts like he can't be bothered even though you are paying him by the hour.
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10 Jan, 2014 by Anonymous
He allowed the defense to enter in a written phone message, that was fake, in order to taint my character.
The message was fabricated, and he said, "there is nothing we can do about it".
The article that led to this trial, was not admissable, while a workers compensation injury, was allowed, that was irrelevant. Had he gone through my medical records, he would have noticed, that this "trumped up" message, was non-existent. I paid for my records, and the "message" is not there.
There is no follow-up appointment or police report over this "message". If it was real, there would be.
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01 Aug, 2017 by G pickett
I retained her services for a family matter. She was never prepared for hearings often opting to postpone them. Deceitful and unprofessional are the best ways to describe this attorney.
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24 May, 2017 by Anonymous
Wish we never used her services or trusted her guidance and recommendations! A parent’s worst nightmare. She left our child in danger and did not take action unless absolutely forced to. Interesting that she touts being a member of the grievance community, being that parents have to submit her wrong doings to the grievance committee. Wish we second guessed the attorney that recommended her.
She was deceptive, misleading, lazy, dishonest, unreliable, had horrible communication skills if any and lied often. The judge had to redirect her on her lack of ethics and safety concerns. A parent’s worst nightmare.
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06 Dec, 2023 by Stephen masi
Hostile work environment.
Discriminatory Hiring Practices.
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22 Feb, 2023 by Helen girouard
Horrible
Very clique and favoritism
Unrealistic expectations
No guidance
Always negative feedback
Very stressful place to work
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27 May, 2022 by Anonymous
Complete waste of money
Call and you’ll never get an answer
Her secretary will genially tell you she will give the attorney your message but you will wait and wait and wait and still not get a call back
The few times we did have a conversation assured me she was working hard on my case
I waited over a year! for a “complete accounting “ regarding how she’d spent my retainer-after she’d told me I’d have it in a week’s time
and, she never got me my divorce. I had to hire another attorney
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27 Aug, 2015 by Thomas
My wife hired attorney Rebimbas for a post nuptial agreement. The only time I ever spoke to her on the phone was the first day I called the office asking to arrange for an attorney. She picked up the phone that day right away, and agreed a deal for an extremely reasonable fee.
However, you get what you pay for. My attorney has made countless attempts to contact attorney Rebimbas and she has not made herself available at ALL. It's laughable. The terms of the postnuptial were agreed in February, and it is now nearly SEPTEMBER. Here is how it goes- it takes about 9 weeks for the attorney to respond to your inquiries. In our case, we would arrange to meet on a Saturday for a signing. On Friday afternoon at 4:45 pm she would email us, asking for a copy of the postnuptial, one that my attorney sent her weeks ago. Then, she would read through it and find problems the morning of our appointment, cancelling our signing. Then, she would email all the corrections to my attorney to make, he'd make them, but guess what! Another 9 weeks waiting. 9 weeks of calling the office every other day and the secretary just repeats the same. "I'll be sure to leave the message for the attorney."
To be fair, it is clear she is extremely busy working at the state courthouse. But that is no excuse to ignore her paying clients. She never should have accepted our case if she is overloaded. It has been a nightmare and we have been fighting over this trivial issue that could have been wrapped up with another attorney so easily. Now we will have to pay another attorney to finish our case if she doesn't answer in a few weeks. Just an absolute nightmare. She's clearly a competent attorney, but never available, so what's the use.
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06 Dec, 2023 by Stephen masi
Hostile work environment.
Discriminatory Hiring Practices.
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22 Feb, 2023 by Helen girouard
Horrible
Very clique and favoritism
Unrealistic expectations
No guidance
Always negative feedback
Very stressful place to work
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06 Dec, 2023 by Stephen masi
Hostile work environment.
Discriminatory Hiring Practices.
Read more
22 Feb, 2023 by Helen girouard
Horrible
Very clique and favoritism
Unrealistic expectations
No guidance
Always negative feedback
Very stressful place to work
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12 Sep, 2019 by S
My family has been "trying" to work with Ms Wakeman for almost a year, it takes her weeks to get anything done and at least a half dozen calls and emails to get a simple response. The treatment we have received has been unprofessional and shockingly disappointing. I would not recommend hiring this attorney.
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28 Apr, 2017 by Jon
If you want a honest, thorough opinion of my experiences with Attorney Matthew Reale you can email me with your questions to
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04 Mar, 2009 by Anonymous
HORRIBLE
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25 Nov, 2022 by Anonymous
Do not use this firm. Lauren McCann completely failed my children. She was grossly incompetent. She failed to understand basic facts relevant to the case, and recommended an extreme ruling in favor of the father based on a complete lack of substantiation, in spite of the judge's acknowledgement that I was "highly competent" as a parent and my ex-husband's acknowledgement that I had done a phenomenal job raising our children for 14 years. She basically broke down on the witness stand during cross-examination. She is insecure and unintelligent.
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22 Dec, 2022 by Anonymous
This collection agency took complete advantage of me and my family. After losing my mother and my business due to the pandemic, these people had no room for anything but their money. For an $1,800 debt they agreed to a payment plan of $100 a month. The catch was a $50 per month "legal monitoring fee" and a $250 "plan setup fee" So they actually wanted their legal fees to be the same as the debt payments, plus the additional standard legal fees that happened to be half the cost of the entire debt. So I ended up paying almost $4,000, which is more than 100% profit. Nice for them.
If I could give 100 negative stars I would.
So go ahead and use this collection agency (oh, excuse me... Lexington Green's premier attorney firm... blah blah) but realize that they are heartless, and not willing to consider any circumstance beyond filling up their Mercedes' gas tanks.
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06 Jun, 2017 by Anonymous
MS SCHMIDT WAS OUR REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY FOR A HOME PURCHASE. DURING OUR DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS SHE INSERTED HERSELF INTO OUR DOMESTIC SCENARIO, COMMUNICATING WITH MY HUSBAND IN AN INFLAMMATORY MANNER USING THE TERM "HEAD CASE" TO DESCRIBE ME , REFERRED TO OUR MARRIAGE AS "AN ORDEAL." AS WE BOTH WERE HER CLIENTS I FELT HER BEHAVIOR TO BE INAPPROPRIATE AND UNPROFESSIONAL. I WOULD ESPECIALLY RED FLAG THIS ATTORNEY TO WOMEN GOING THROUGH DIVORCE.
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23 Mar, 2015 by Anonymous
Hired for an estate matter and learned that she isnNot knowledgeable in estate matters. Unresponsive: does not return phone calls. Appears to be more concerned with not offending other lawyers than with advocating for her clients. Terrible experience!
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24 May, 2013 by Joe
Absolutely the worst experience I have ever experienced ! Doesn't represent his clients interest, just his own. He actually raised his voice and screamed at my girlfriend over the phone , repeatedly spoke down to her as if she wasn't an intelligent person ( she has a masters degree) she called after the closing about a month ago and has called and sent emails and he still hasn't attempted to show any type of professionalism by returning her calls!! Really?? (It's been about a month) and for this terrible service that she paid $895 fee and the going rate in the area is $495 he still has not responded ! DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND STAY CLEAR OF THE ARROGANT ATTOURNEY !!
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17 Nov, 2020 by Olivia gabehart
I’m not sure if it’s Attorney Aleman or her incompetent Paralegal Kathryn Ruff-Hill but the communication with this lawyer was completely impossible. They’re unprofessional, unhelpful, and only looking to earn themselves more money and take advantage of people seeking their help.
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13 Apr, 2021 by Anonymous
Overcharged by at least $1000! Most of contact through emails. Referred by another professional we use. The original email from Atty. Reynolds included his rate and paralegal rate. Spoke briefly and then some personal issues came up so did not connect until a year later. Our wills were already available from late 90’s and were given to him. Wanted updates and revisions. Basic will and living will. Fee was absolutely ridiculous and that was after a professional courtesy discount. He claimed that he spent 11 hours of his time in it and did not bother to tell me that he no longer had a paralegal who would have just done the draft. No, paralegals do more than drafts. He said that if I had gone to a big Hartford law firm, I would hav3 paid $5,000. Was defensive and rude when I called him about bill but I just wanted a basic conversation. Was so disappointed and felt so taken advantage of. Would never recommend him and have shared my experience with many.
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14 Oct, 2022 by Luis
I. Just Wanted a consultation paid him $ 250.00 for hr work.. make a few calls ect.and later send me $ 50.plus . just typical of a lawyer.
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27 Mar, 2024 by Donna
dont use this attorney very nasty and rude. Talks over you when you are trying to say something, just is plain rude.
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What a Real Estate Lawyer Can Do for You
A real estate lawyer provides legal assistance in transactions and disputes involving property, including residential and commercial real estate. Whether you're buying, selling, leasing, or developing property, a real estate attorney can help ensure that your transactions are legally sound and your rights are protected. They review contracts, perform due diligence, resolve disputes, and provide legal representation in negotiations and litigation involving property matters.
Real estate lawyers are crucial in safeguarding your investment by ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal real estate laws, as well as protecting you from potential legal pitfalls related to property ownership and transactions.
When Should I Hire a Real Estate Lawyer?
Hiring a real estate lawyer is beneficial in various scenarios, including:
- Buying or selling property: When navigating complex real estate contracts, it’s advisable to have a lawyer review and ensure that the terms are favorable and legal.
- Commercial property transactions: For leasing, purchasing, or selling commercial properties, a lawyer can help manage the intricate legal aspects of such transactions.
- Zoning or land use issues: If you're planning to develop property or change its use, a real estate lawyer can guide you through zoning laws and land use regulations.
- Resolving property disputes: For boundary disputes, title issues, or disagreements over property rights, a lawyer can help mediate or litigate the matter.
- Foreclosures or evictions: If you're dealing with foreclosure or managing a tenant eviction, legal representation ensures that the process adheres to local laws and protects your interests.
- Title and deed issues: Lawyers can help clear title disputes, ensure the legitimacy of property deeds, and handle transfers of ownership.
What Does a Real Estate Lawyer Do?
A real estate lawyer provides a range of services to help with property transactions and disputes, including:
- Contract drafting and review: Ensuring that purchase agreements, leases, and other contracts are legally binding, fair, and protect your interests.
- Title search and clearance: Conducting a thorough title search to ensure that the property has no legal claims or liens that could affect ownership.
- Facilitate closing: Managing the closing process in real estate transactions, including reviewing final documents and ensuring that everything is in order before the transfer of ownership.
- Resolve disputes: Handling legal disputes related to property ownership, boundaries, zoning, or tenants.
- Assist in financing: Reviewing loan agreements and mortgage documents to ensure the terms are fair and legally sound.
- Zoning and land use advice: Guiding clients through the complexities of zoning laws and building regulations for property development or renovation projects.
How Are Real Estate Lawyers Paid?
Real estate lawyers typically charge for their services in the following ways:
- Flat fee: Many real estate transactions, such as reviewing a sales contract or assisting with a closing, are charged on a flat-fee basis.
- Hourly rates: If a lawyer is handling complex disputes or litigation, they may charge by the hour. Hourly rates can vary significantly based on the lawyer’s experience and location.
- Contingency fees: In rare cases, such as property disputes or claims for damages, a lawyer may work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if you win or settle the case.
- Retainer: For ongoing legal support, some clients may pay a retainer, which is an upfront fee used as a deposit for future legal services.
It's important to clarify the fee structure with your attorney before hiring them to avoid any surprises.
How Much Does a Real Estate Lawyer Cost?
The cost of a real estate lawyer varies based on the complexity of the matter, the location of the property, and the lawyer’s experience. Key factors that affect pricing include:
- Type of transaction or issue: Simple tasks, like contract reviews, typically cost less than handling a complex property dispute or litigation.
- Experience and location: More experienced lawyers or those in high-demand areas, like urban centers, often charge higher rates.
- Billing structure: Lawyers may charge a flat fee for basic services like document review or hourly for more time-intensive work such as disputes or litigation.
Flat fees for straightforward services like closing assistance may range from $500 to $1,500.
Hourly rates can range from $150 to $400 or more, depending on the attorney’s experience and location.
Always discuss fees upfront to understand the overall cost of the legal service you're receiving.
Top Questions to Ask a Real Estate Lawyer
Before hiring a real estate lawyer, ask the following questions to ensure they are the right fit for your legal needs:
-
What experience do you have with real estate law?
Ensure the lawyer has experience in the type of real estate transaction or dispute you’re facing, whether residential, commercial, or development-related. -
What is your fee structure?
Ask how the lawyer charges for services - whether it's a flat fee, hourly rate, or retainer - so there are no surprises later on. -
How long will the process take?
Especially important for real estate transactions or disputes with deadlines, ask for a general estimate of how long the process will last. -
Have you handled cases similar to mine?
Experience with similar transactions or disputes can give you confidence that the lawyer knows how to handle your case. -
Will you handle my case personally, or will it be passed to another attorney?
Confirm who will be handling the bulk of your case work, especially in larger firms where junior lawyers may take on some responsibilities. -
Can you provide references?
Speaking with past clients can give you insight into the lawyer's experience and how they handle cases.
How to Check the Credibility of a Real Estate Lawyer
To ensure you’re hiring a reputable real estate lawyer, take these steps:
- Check with the state bar association: Verify that the lawyer is licensed and in good standing with no disciplinary actions on their record.
- Read online reviews and testimonials: Look for reviews on legal directories and platforms like Avvo or Martindale-Hubbell to see what past clients have said.
- Ask for references: A credible lawyer should have past clients willing to share their experiences.
- Review their track record and expertise: Look at the lawyer’s website or LinkedIn profile for information about their experience in real estate law and any relevant cases they’ve handled.
- Membership in professional organizations: Lawyers who are members of respected legal or real estate organizations, like the American Bar Association’s Real Property Division, often signal credibility and expertise.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make your first meeting with a real estate lawyer productive, you should prepare the following materials:
- Relevant property documents: Bring purchase agreements, lease contracts, mortgage documents, zoning permits, or any other paperwork related to your case.
- A summary of the issue or transaction: Be ready to explain the situation, whether it's a property dispute, contract negotiation, or development issue.
- Questions about the legal process: Prepare a list of questions about how the lawyer will handle your case and what steps are involved.
- Financial documents or loan agreements: If the case involves financing or a mortgage, bring any related documents for the lawyer to review.
- Your goals and timeline: Be clear about what outcome you're hoping for, and if there are any deadlines that need to be considered, such as closing dates or legal filings.
By coming prepared, you can ensure that your consultation is efficient and informative, allowing you to assess whether the lawyer is the right fit for your real estate needs.
