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21 Aug, 2024 by Michael true
Todd was very personable and explained everything in detail. He listened to all our concerns and advised accordingly.
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28 May, 2024 by Kimberly mena
Sarah is absolutely phenomenal. I want to say, thank you for being so patient, encouraging, an ear to listen too and your professionalism in all aspects. I recommend Sarah to anyone in need of not just a lawyer, but of a great, determined, skilled, strong-minded, extremely intelligent and fight-till-there’s-no-more-fight lawyer! I can’t thank her enough for the outstanding counsel she was for me during a scary time in my life. 10/10 recommend
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26 Apr, 2024 by Sandy bettleheim
Avoid
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04 Oct, 2021 by Anonymous
Made math errors while having all the detail that cost me thousands of dollars. Promised to meet me for the closing and never called. Then shared that the Judge made his decision and the closing wasn't important. I watched the other side press an outstanding closing and not leaving a stone unturned. He told me the Judge doesn't like you. Several attorneys later explained it had to do with the delivery and the closing is as important, LAZY!
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30 May, 2021 by Ken chin
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07 Dec, 2019 by Robert schwarz
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29 Jun, 2022 by Olvia galvan
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06 Jun, 2022 by Robert barba
John is great. Super helpful.
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06 Jan, 2020 by Jorge luis rodriguez jr
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24 Sep, 2024 by Unique westbrook
I will recommend Blair Zwillman every time for your legal needs he is very knowledgeable professional and an exceptional attorney he has been heaven sent he has been there for my son and I on countless times if you ever find yourself needing an attorney this is your guy he is well respected among other attorneys and have a great relationship with prosecutors I can’t thank him enough and I’m forever thankful
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24 Sep, 2024 by Marian raab
I cannot recommend The Law Office of Blair Zwillman highly enough. When my then 19-year old son got his only traffic ticket a few years ago, Mr. Zwillman pulled off a miracle. My husband and I are both non-practicing attorneys and almost lost our minds when we sat this ticket. It was over two feet long and contained 6 or 7 separate violations adding up to a more than $700 fine and so many points that my son almost lost his newly minted driver’s license. The NJ cop who pulled him over was clearly on a mission to more than exceed his quota that mouth as many of the violations he was cited for were clearly discretionary and over the top. Long story short, we contested the ticket and Mr. Zwillman represented my son in traffic court. He vastly exceeded our expectations and got the ticket down to about $100 fine and just a few points. As a former traffic court judge myself, I can attest to Mr. Zwillman’s incredible skills in working with prosecutors and judges to achieve the best possible results for his clients. He is one of the best attorneys I have ever had the pleasure to work with.
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24 Sep, 2024 by Laura kowalski
Blair is very knowledgeable and helped me out with a case. I recommend using his services.
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20 Apr, 2024 by Cydem ojack
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13 Mar, 2024 by Galip türkkan
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07 Mar, 2024 by Andrea noyes
I forewarn future and current clients to thoroughly check their billing from Becker Lawyers. They reviewed a standard rental lease for myself, and charged 2 hours for the review. This is an exorbitant amount of time to charge to a landlord/client to review a renter’s lease.
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20 Apr, 2024 by Cydem ojack
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13 Mar, 2024 by Galip türkkan
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07 Mar, 2024 by Andrea noyes
I forewarn future and current clients to thoroughly check their billing from Becker Lawyers. They reviewed a standard rental lease for myself, and charged 2 hours for the review. This is an exorbitant amount of time to charge to a landlord/client to review a renter’s lease.
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14 May, 2024 by Rich
I hired Christine to represent me in a contentious divorce. She is a fabulous family law attorney who explained how the process worked in great detail. This was a well organized firm that was prompt with responses. From our first meeting, I was impressed with how she listened and treated me. I would highly recommend her and her team.
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05 May, 2024 by Anonymous
I would highly recommend finding a different attorney. Ms. Dalena was completely incompetent with my divorce and cost me thousands of dollars in legal fees. She sat on paperwork and never filed for several weeks. She was completely incompetent while handling what should have been a very easy divorce. The only thing she was timely with was billing..... and there were plenty of bills for work that really accomplished nothing. She has a very high opinion of herself which I certainly do not share. There are plenty of very good attorneys in the area to choose from----my advice it to stay away from Christine Dalena.
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04 Apr, 2024 by Christina h.
Christine Dalena came highly recommended to me by a friend and she did not disappoint. She addressed my issues with the skill, advocacy and urgency that they required. She was responsive and went above and beyond in assisting me. She was clear and right on point with her advice. I would have no hesitancy in recommending her to anyone looking for an extraordinary legal advocate.
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24 Sep, 2024 by Unique westbrook
I will recommend Blair Zwillman every time for your legal needs he is very knowledgeable professional and an exceptional attorney he has been heaven sent he has been there for my son and I on countless times if you ever find yourself needing an attorney this is your guy he is well respected among other attorneys and have a great relationship with prosecutors I can’t thank him enough and I’m forever thankful
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24 Sep, 2024 by Marian raab
I cannot recommend The Law Office of Blair Zwillman highly enough. When my then 19-year old son got his only traffic ticket a few years ago, Mr. Zwillman pulled off a miracle. My husband and I are both non-practicing attorneys and almost lost our minds when we sat this ticket. It was over two feet long and contained 6 or 7 separate violations adding up to a more than $700 fine and so many points that my son almost lost his newly minted driver’s license. The NJ cop who pulled him over was clearly on a mission to more than exceed his quota that mouth as many of the violations he was cited for were clearly discretionary and over the top. Long story short, we contested the ticket and Mr. Zwillman represented my son in traffic court. He vastly exceeded our expectations and got the ticket down to about $100 fine and just a few points. As a former traffic court judge myself, I can attest to Mr. Zwillman’s incredible skills in working with prosecutors and judges to achieve the best possible results for his clients. He is one of the best attorneys I have ever had the pleasure to work with.
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24 Sep, 2024 by Laura kowalski
Blair is very knowledgeable and helped me out with a case. I recommend using his services.
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05 Nov, 2021 by Donna
Antonietta Milelli is an accomplished, experienced, competent, personable lawyer, that always has your best interest at hand. I have retained her services multiple times for such things as Real Estate contracts, Will and Testament paperwork, and she is always available to provide guidance, as she advocats for you while attending to your legal matters. I highly recommend Mrs. Milelli for all of your legal needs. She is well versed in NJ law and I would not use anyone else.
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30 Aug, 2021 by Anonymous
Did well in helping to execute my father's will. Neglected to mention that New Jersey has inheritance taxes that needed to be paid, so it cost me a 10% penalty for late filing. This counts as a fail in the basic service that I paid her to perform.
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16 Apr, 2016 by Maria
She came to me highly recommended and I understand why. Toni helped me with a complex real estate matter and was able to negotiate with difficult personalities to make sure I got the best outcome. I would definitely recommend her in the future.
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13 Aug, 2024 by Juan amador
Law office of James Maynard- I am writing this letter to you to express my most sincere thanks for the most professional representation. You have stuck by me through the years in dealing with this very stressful case. I admire your composure, work ethic and most of all excellent representation. 5 Stars isn’t even enough. Over a year ago you told me what is one thing you want to do when we win this case and I was mind blown because I didn’t know it was possible, but you took my case to the supreme court and you Won , me and my family can’t thank you enough as you brought hope back into my life. I wake up every day with a smile. Life is good . God bless you and your law firm.
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14 Mar, 2023 by Charles williams
Attorney Maynard and his staff have been professional so far. It seems this attorney takes care of his clients.
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09 Nov, 2022 by Jeffrey munson
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04 Aug, 2020 by Anonymous
Hired John and received nothing but solid and effective counsel and will be using his service again in the future. More attorney's should have John's ethical and moral character. Does not gouge his clients and is more than fair!
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12 Jun, 2019 by Anonymous
John has excellent knowledge and high integrity. He did not charge for a quick discussion that I ended up not even needing extra services. I was recommended to him from someone who had a perfect experience with a real estate matter. His correspondence is highly effective.
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06 Dec, 2012 by Anonymous
Please don't make the same mistake I did. I rarely write online reviews, but I hope this helps someone out. He charged me double what he quoted me, was very lost when his one and only office personnel was out, showed absolutely no sense of urgency on time-sensitive matters, and definitely did not take into account what was in my best interest. Please find someone else!
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10 Apr, 2019 by Anonymous
This attorney handled all landlord-tenant affairs for my building in Jersey City, Nj. He eventually assisted me in the sale of the property with great competency and dedication. He is well versed and knowledgeable in this area.
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22 Mar, 2019 by Anonymous
Mr. Jimenez won my custody trial in court which took three years. He worked very hard and got me the result I wanted. He still represents me to this day in my family matters. I highly recommend him.
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02 Mar, 2015 by Anonymous
I can only speak for the outcome of our child custody case. In the early stages of our case, prior to hiring him, he told us there was the Tender Years Doctrine that he could use an an argument in our case. Having never heard of that, and going online to Google it, found out that has not been used in many years, because it was deemed to violate the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. When we questioned him on that, he backed away from it. It seemed as though he was attentive, and he spent time with us going over all our notes. But in the end, on the most important day in court, it was like he just wasn't 'there'. He didn't much object to anything from the other side, didn't challenge the important evidence, and overall left us to flounder. We cannot speak for other cases he handles, for which he may be perfectly fit. But in our personal experience with him on an important child custody case, we felt he was a poor choice for our situation.
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28 Apr, 2023 by Anonymous
We hired and paid Gilgallon to amend the zoning on a property. As the other reviewers said, he was enthusiastic at the beginning, it was an easy-peasy job that he would have no problem completing with a short turn around. After months and months of not hearing back from him, he finally came back to us NOT with what we hired him to procure, but something entirely different that wouldn't help us at all. When confronted with this, his language completely changed and he became nasty and threatening. A horrible experience.
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07 Nov, 2017 by Justin kelly mcclure
Due to his negligence (and arrogance) to properly close our new home, my family stayed in a hotel for 4 days. Had he done his job properly, for which he's licensed, we could have moved into our house on the proper closing date; instead of being dealt the inconvenience of staying in a hotel (paying for ourselves). Luckily, my wife did not go into labor in the hotel! One thing is true, I can never recommend his services. HORRIBLE. It's necessary to have understanding and sympathy towards people that make mistakes because they do not know better, however that maxim does not apply to this situation- he did know better.
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10 May, 2013 by Anonymous
This guy promised me a document on a two or three day turnaround for a meeting I was to have with my bank regarding a mortgage modification. After repeated assurances that it would be done, he left me hanging and thereafter did not return phone calls or emails. Extremely unethical and flaky, particularly given the nature of the work that was needed. He put my deal in serious jeopardy.
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25 Apr, 2016 by Anonymous
I can not recommend Tom Lenney or the Lenney Law Firm after working with him on our first-time home buying process. He barely spoke with us after our initial contact. Our emails were neglected. He left for vacation during our home inspection negotiation and didn't even let us know he would be out of town. Our realtor ended up having to negotiate the entire deal on his behalf. Looking back, Tom didn't add any value to the process, only frustration.
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FAQs
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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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.

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