{"id":5080,"date":"2026-05-29T04:19:26","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T11:19:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=5080"},"modified":"2026-06-01T08:34:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T15:34:17","slug":"real-estate-attorney","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/real-estate-attorney\/","title":{"rendered":"Do You Need a Real Estate Attorney to Sell Your Home?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Selling a home involves contracts, disclosures, negotiations, paperwork, and legal footwork. You want every step to go right, but it feels like so much could go wrong. How do you protect yourself? Do you need to hire a real estate attorney?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In most states, you can complete a home sale without hiring an attorney.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, some states require their involvement at closing. And even if not required, getting legal guidance can be helpful, especially if your sale involves tricky title issues, an inherited property, a divorce, or other circumstances that might present complications.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this post, we tap the experience of three industry experts to help explain:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you might need a real estate attorney<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What attorneys do during a home sale<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which states commonly require attorney involvement<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How attorneys differ from real estate agents<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What real estate attorneys typically cost<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"geo-cta widget-cta widget-cta--content     widget-cta--dark widget-cta--dark-blue-gradient\">\n    <div class=\"widget-element--content\">\n        <div class=\"widget-element--content-header\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"homelight logo\" class=\"widget-element--logo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/ccprototypev5\/images\/logo-small-cta.png\" width=\"106\" height=\"25\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n        \n                <h3 class=\"cta-headline widget--bold\">Find a Top Agent to Help You Navigate Disclosures<\/h3>\n                        <p>HomeLight\u2019s free Agent Match platform can connect you with a top-performing agent in your market who can help you navigate your entire home-selling journey \u2014 from disclosures to closing.<\/p>\n        \n                <div class=\"widget-element--buttons\">\n            <a data-type=\"In Content CTA\" href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/find-agent\/quiz\/seller?#\/qaas=0\/\" class=\"cta-click-track widget-element--button\">Find Agent<\/a>\n        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"section--1\" data-toc-header=\"Do you need a real estate attorney?\" data-toc-type=\"head\"><\/div>\n<h2>Quick answer: Do sellers need a real estate attorney?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Usually, no, but it depends on your state and your situation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The vast majority of traditional home sales are handled primarily by:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A real estate agent<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A title company or escrow company<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A closing agent<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But there are a handful of states that require a real estate attorney to oversee certain parts of the closing process. In states where attorneys aren\u2019t legally required, you might still want to hire one for additional legal protection or help with complicated transactions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Required or not, a real estate attorney may be helpful if:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The property has <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/deed-vs-title\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">title<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> issues or boundary disputes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019re selling without an agent (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/pros-and-cons-of-for-sale-by-owner-weigh-your-options\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FSBO<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/i-inherited-a-house-and-want-to-sell-it\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">inherited<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the home<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The sale is tied to a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/sell-house-before-or-after-divorce\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">divorce<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or an estate<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019re dealing with tenants<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019re attempting a short sale or facing foreclosure\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"section--2\" data-toc-header=\"What does a real estate attorney do?\" data-toc-type=\"head\"><\/div>\n<h2>What does a real estate attorney do during a home sale?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If hired or required, a real estate attorney can draft or review contracts, help resolve title issues (such as liens or boundary disputes), review <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/mandated-disclosures-real-estate\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">disclosure<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> documents, and oversee the final closing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They can also address disagreements between parties and provide legal advice to help protect you if problems arise during the transaction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt\u2019s basically like hiring a bodyguard for your assets,\u201d says <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marcbronstein.com\/about-us\/brett-j-wasserman-partner\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brett J. Wasserman<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a partner at the law firm of Bronstein &amp; Wasserman in Southern California. \u201cWe represent you. We make sure you\u2019re not taken advantage of in any way, and we make sure that you\u2019re happy at the end of the day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An attorney\u2019s specific duties can vary depending on state laws and the specifics of the transaction. To learn more, see the National Association of Realtors\u2019 consumer guide: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nar.realtor\/the-facts\/consumer-guide-working-with-a-real-estate-attorney\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Working With a Real Estate Attorney<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"section--3\" data-toc-header=\"When hiring an attorney makes sense\" data-toc-type=\"head\"><\/div>\n<h2>When hiring a real estate attorney may make sense<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beyond any state-mandated closing involvement, let\u2019s take a closer look at some situations that can increase the value of having legal guidance in a home sale:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Title or boundary disputes<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If questions come up about ownership, easements, liens, or property boundaries, legal guidance can be important before closing. If not addressed early and properly, these issues can quickly derail your home sale.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Learn more:<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/title-company\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What do title companies do for your home sale?<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Selling your home without an agent<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re selling your home <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/fsbo-vs-realtor\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For Sale By Owner<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (FSBO), you may not have a real estate agent guiding you through contracts, disclosures, negotiations, and deadlines.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this case, a real estate attorney can help review paperwork and reduce the risk of costly legal mistakes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Learn more:<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/pros-and-cons-of-for-sale-by-owner-weigh-your-options\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pros and cons of a FSBO home sale<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Selling an inherited property<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inherited homes can involve probate proceedings, multiple heirs, or questions about ownership rights. A real estate attorney can help clarify legal responsibilities before you move forward with the sale. They can also mediate family disputes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Learn more:<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/i-inherited-a-house-and-want-to-sell-it\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to sell an inherited house<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Divorce or estate-related sales<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Home sales connected to divorce or estate settlements often involve additional legal coordination and documentation. Attorneys may help resolve disputes, review settlement agreements, or confirm that all parties have authority to sell the property.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIn terms of a trustee selling something out of a trust, there could be specific language in the trust requiring certain terms,\u201d Wasserman says. \u201cYou\u2019re going to want an attorney to review that to make sure that you\u2019re complying with all the terms of the trust, and that you\u2019re not breaching your fiduciary duty by selling the property.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Learn more:<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/how-to-sell-a-house-during-a-divorce\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to sell a house during a divorce<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h3>Selling a tenant-occupied property<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Landlord-tenant laws vary widely by state. If you\u2019re <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/selling-a-house-with-a-tenant\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">selling a tenant-occupied property<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, an attorney may help you understand notice requirements, lease obligations, and local regulations that could affect the sale.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wasserman says the easiest option is to wait until your tenant is out of the property to sell it; otherwise, you\u2019ll have to rely on their cooperation throughout the selling process.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Learn more:<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/can-i-sell-my-rental-property-with-tenants-in-it\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can I legally sell my rental property with tenants in it?<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Selling a home through a short sale<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nar.realtor\/short-sales-foreclosures\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Short sales<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can involve lender approvals, complex negotiations, and additional legal paperwork beyond a traditional transaction. A real estate attorney may help you understand deficiency judgments, review agreements, and navigate communications with your lender.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIf [the homeowner] is not current on the mortgage, if they\u2019re underwater, or if they owe more on their house than what it\u2019s worth, then I actually get them pre-approved with an attorney that specializes in short sales,\u201d says <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/ericpakulla\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eric Pakulla<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a top listing agent in Columbia, Maryland. \u201cOnce they get pre-approved, the attorney can often help them avoid foreclosure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Learn more:<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/short-sales-realtor\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to find a trusted short sale Realtor<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Selling a home in foreclosure<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re facing <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/what-is-foreclosure\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">foreclosure<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, legal guidance can help you better understand your rights, deadlines, and possible alternatives before the sale moves forward. An attorney may also help review lender correspondence or identify other options to avoid foreclosure altogether.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wasserman says homeowners facing foreclosure may benefit from seeking legal advice as early as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIf you get a foreclosure notice, the first thing that you should do is contact an attorney,\u201d he advises. \u201cThere are ways to save the foreclosure and get an injunction, but it takes time, and the more time that you have, the better.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Learn more:<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/can-i-sell-my-home-if-it-is-in-foreclosure\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can you sell a house in foreclosure?<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"geo-cta widget-cta widget-cta--content     widget-cta--dark widget-cta--dark-blue-gradient\">\n    <div class=\"widget-element--content\">\n        <div class=\"widget-element--content-header\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"homelight logo\" class=\"widget-element--logo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/ccprototypev5\/images\/logo-small-cta.png\" width=\"106\" height=\"25\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n        \n                <h3 class=\"cta-headline widget--bold\">How Much Is Your Home Worth Now?<\/h3>\n                        <p>Home values have rapidly increased in recent years. How much is your current home worth now? Get a ballpark estimate from HomeLight&#8217;s free Home Value Estimator.<\/p>\n        \n                <div class=\"widget-element--buttons\">\n            <a data-type=\"In Content CTA\" href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/simple-home-value\/quiz?#\/qaas=0\/\" class=\"cta-click-track widget-element--button\">Get Estimate<\/a>\n        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"section--4\" data-toc-header=\"States that require attorneys at closing\" data-toc-type=\"head\"><\/div>\n<h2>Which states require a real estate attorney at closing?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In strict &#8220;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/states-that-require-real-estate-attorney-at-closing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">attorney states<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,\u201d having a lawyer for both sides may be mandatory and heavily ingrained into standard procedures. In states with more flexible requirements, closings are typically handled by an escrow or title company, and attorneys are only hired if either party wants specific legal guidance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Examples of states that are often considered \u201cattorney closing states\u201d include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Connecticut<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Delaware<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Georgia<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Massachusetts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New York<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South Carolina<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">West Virginia<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s important to check with a local real estate agent or legal professional to see if, as a seller, you need to hire an attorney.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Massachusetts, for example, buyers use a bank attorney at closing instead of a title company. Because of this, most Massachusetts home sellers also hire a real estate attorney to level the playing field.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe bank attorney is going to make changes to the contract to benefit the buyer,\u201d says <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/agents\/nancy-rogers-ma-0000034717\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nancy Rogers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a top Massachusetts agent with 45 years of experience. \u201cI\u2019m not a lawyer, so I always recommend a lawyer to look at it to make sure the seller is OK with those changes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Maryland, on the other hand, buyers and sellers aren\u2019t required to hire an attorney.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pakulla says he rarely sees his Maryland sellers hire an attorney. \u201cI\u2019ve been doing this for 22+ years. We\u2019re selling hundreds of homes per year, and people do not use real estate attorneys at all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He notes that even in states where attorneys are considered optional, some sellers still choose to hire one for added peace of mind during more complex transactions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wasserman agrees. \u201cIn terms of closings for a general person selling, it\u2019s always good to have someone there to make sure all of the T\u2019s are crossed and the I\u2019s are dotted.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Learn more:<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/what-happens-the-week-before-closing-on-a-house\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What happens the week before closing on a house<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you need a real estate attorney to sell your home? Learn when attorneys are required, what they do, and when hiring one makes sense.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":298,"featured_media":70472,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[322,341],"tags":[536],"class_list":["post-5080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-logistics","category-closing","tag-real-estate-attorney"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Do You Need a Real Estate Attorney to Sell Your Home?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Do you need a real estate attorney to sell your home? 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