Selling Your Home
Do I need a title company or an attorney when I sell?
By Steve Lockhart
The short answer
Every Nevada resale runs through a title and escrow company at closing, so that part of the answer is yes. The title review searches the records for a lien or judgment that would block a clean transfer, and escrow is the neutral middle where money, documents, and the loan funds close together.
Full answer
Every Nevada resale runs through a title and escrow company at closing, so that part of the answer is yes. The title review searches the records for a lien or judgment that would block a clean transfer, and escrow is the neutral middle where money, documents, and the loan funds close together. Attorneys are a separate question. Nevada does not require a lawyer for a typical, well-formed resale using the standard forms, and title and escrow handle most of the mechanics. That said, when a sale involves a divorce, an estate, multiple heirs, an unresolved judgment, a power of attorney, or unusual contract terms, legal review is cheap insurance, and a lawyer should come in early. My job is to organize the team: title, escrow, the payoff, the HOA, the lender, and a good attorney, and to tell you honestly when the situation deserves legal counsel and when it does not. Know when to ask, and we ask early.
Go a little deeper
Frequently asked
Questions sellers often follow up on
Who picks the title and escrow company?
Either side can specify one in the contract, and lenders often choose the title that protects their interest in the loan. The contract decides who pays. Since the companies and their fees differ, we review the estimates and the terms before you sign.
Can a title problem be found and fixed?
The title search turns up what is recorded, and most issues can be resolved before closing, which is why the search should open early. Finding a lien you did not know about early is far easier than learning about it at the closing table.
Do I need a lawyer to sell the family home?
When you have to ask, you probably want one. Estates, multiple heirs, divorces, and powers of attorney add real legal layers. Bring the family attorney into the planning early so the sale itself can be structured cleanly around their counsel.
The Lockhart Method
The Lockhart Method
Your Home | My Strategy | Proven Results
My strategy: build the closing file like a professional, title, escrow, payoffs, HOA approvals, lenders, together with the right legal counsel when the facts call for it. The team is chosen for your situation, never as a box to check.
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