By David Chapman · September 16, 2026 · 5 min read
Buyers and sellers often assume the title company or the lender's closer is protecting them at closing. They are not. The title company insures the title; the closer processes the lender's documents. Neither represents you. Here is what an attorney does that nobody else at the table will.
Before closing
Contract review. The purchase agreement sets every deadline and remedy. An attorney reads it before you sign, or as early as possible after, to flag "as-is" language, inspection waivers, earnest money forfeiture terms, and deadlines you cannot meet. Contract review.
Title commitment review. The title commitment lists exceptions: easements, liens, restrictions, and defects the insurer will not cover. Most people never read it. An attorney reads every exception and demands the ones that should be cleared are cleared before closing. Title issues.
Survey and boundary questions. Encroachments, fence lines, and shared driveways are far cheaper to address before you own the property.
At closing
The settlement statement. Every number is checked against the contract and the loan estimate: purchase price, credits, prorations for taxes and HOA dues, payoff amounts, and fees. Errors here are common and they are always in someone else's favor.
Loan documents. For buyers, the note and deed of trust are compared to the loan terms you were quoted. Rate, term, prepayment penalties, and escrow requirements should match.
The deed. How title is held (individually, jointly, in a trust) has estate and tax consequences. The legal description must be exactly right.
Post-closing obligations. Repair escrows, seller possession after closing, and holdbacks are drafted so they actually end.
After closing
An attorney confirms the deed and mortgage were recorded, the title policy was issued, and any escrowed items were released.
Is it required in New Jersey?
No, but it is customary in northern New Jersey, and the standard realtor contract builds in a three-business-day attorney review period after signing, during which your attorney can cancel or revise the deal. Most buyers and sellers in Hudson County use an attorney through closing. Required or not, closing is the one time in the transaction when everything becomes permanent. A flat-fee closing review is inexpensive insurance. Ask about closing representation.
Attorney Advertising. This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws vary by state and change over time; talk to an attorney about your situation.