Is my attorney messing with me?

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Author Message   NJguy99 Citizen Username: Njguy99 Post Number: 16 Registered: 3-2006 Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 11:27 am:        Hope this is the right thread for this question... So, I'm in the process of buying a house. Picked an attorney that was recommended to me, and everything seemed to be going along great until a few weeks ago. He was "stuck in court" all week, and almost missed the deadline to get our home repair requests out to the other party. I was disturbed by this - but we made the deadline, no harm done. Now, we're waiting for the other party to reply. It's been 14 calendar days or 10 business days, depending on how you count. Either way, the contract clearly states the other party has 7 days to reply, or else you have to interpret that as meaning they aren't going to do anything. As the buyer, you then have 7 days to either go ahead or cancel the deal. I talked to the attorney today, who told me not to worry, that the dates in the contract "don't count" and that we're just going to have to wait longer. I asked him if the other party gave him a date when they would reply, and he said no. I told him I was not comfortable with that, and wanted to set a concrete date so we can move this thing along. He again told me not to worry and that, as far as concrete dates go, "things don't work that way." The attorney who handled my last closing was very by-the-book, and took the dates very seriously. (Unfortunately, that attorney wasn't an option this time). Needless to say, I've never been through anything like this. I'm really concerned now. I realize my little home closing is small potatoes to him, but I think we kinda have to follow what's written in the contract. What do you all think? Ever been through something like this before?   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 7436 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 11:42 am:        I wouldn't accept that. "Not the way things are done" is not a legal concept and won't hold up in court should you have future problems. And dates in a contract "not counting" is too ludicrous to even entertain. Tell your attorney that you expect an answer and a date from the other party by close of business today. Bet you anything that your attorney was late. Ask the other attorney to send you copies of all the correspondance. If your guy lied to you, get another attorney and don't pay him. You don't need to worry about whether all your paper work is in order and you will have title or other issues down the road.   upondaroof Citizen Username: Upondaroof Post Number: 657 Registered: 4-2003 Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 11:44 am:        Considering that most of the paper work is handled by office staff and the attorney just signs off, there's really no excuse for not being on schedule. Read him the riot act, getthrough your deal and file a complaint with the state.   Soparents Citizen Username: Soparents Post Number: 257 Registered: 5-2005 Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 11:53 am:        Can your agent shed any light on this? I know that when we had a problem (which actually was due to the attorneys locking horns..) our agent managed to get them both to see sense. I hope things work out for you, it's horrible being in a position like this.   Jennifer Citizen Username: Jkohan Post Number: 85 Registered: 8-2005 Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 1:25 pm:        No reason for that kind of delay--unless they have been having conversations behind the scenes (and not in writing). Dates ARE flexible--but not to the extent to which you describe. Find out if ANY conversations are being had between the two attornies. If not, send a clear message to your agent (to pass along to the buyer's agent) and to your attorney that you are NOT happy and expect the home inspection issues to be resolved by the end of business tomorrow or you will be looking at Open Houses on Sunday. That might get the ball moving in the right direction. Good Luck.   NJguy99 Citizen Username: Njguy99 Post Number: 17 Registered: 3-2006 Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 1:37 pm:        Thanks guys. I did call my agent, and she called the other agent, said exactly what Jennifer suggested (we're gonna start looking at other houses this weekend). The other agent said she was so, so sorry, that this is not how she does business, etc and promised to call the attorney for the other side and get a letter out to us. My big issue isn't with the process - it's with my attorney refusing to answer my questions or give me any sort of insight. I don't like being difficult, but I also don't want to get screwed in this transaction. If I do want to dump him, what's the best course of action? He's also handling the sale of my current place (which so far has been uneventful).   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 7439 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 1:55 pm:        How far along are you in the process of selling your current place? How much work has he done? I'd think that you'd want the same attorney handling both and would want to extricate yourself from this guy. I know that there will be different opinions on this, but if you like your agent, you may want to ask her if there is a lawyer she can recommend around here. Most people who rely on realtor/agents recommendations don't like to upset that source. I wouldn't use a home inspector recommended by my agent, but I think that the attorney would be OK.   peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 1914 Registered: 8-2002 Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 2:20 pm:        Get rid of this attorney now! And I've heard lots of other stories like this too. A co-worker closed on Tuesday -- and a similar lawyer issue. My first closing was with an attorney like this -- a nightmare. Last 3 closings -- everything wihtout a hitch, smooth. Its not just the lawyer, its the staff that makes a difference, too. Find a lawyer who specializes in real estate -- Good luck -- Pete}}   NJguy99 Citizen Username: Njguy99 Post Number: 18 Registered: 3-2006 Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 2:40 pm:        Other than the home inspection/repairs issue with the place we're buying, everything else is very far along. We already have a mortgage commitment, and the attorney says he's already ordered title and a survey on the place we're buying. The place we're selling is just waiting on a mortgage commitment from the other party (not due for another week). Otherwise, it's all done, except for anything the other side has to do for title, etc. I asked my agent about this, and she said there are pros and cons. We're so far along, it will take a few days to get any new attorney up to speed. Also, this guy is guaranteed to try and charge us something for the "work" he's already done. And there's the bigger question of finding a good attorney who can step in and make sure everything's going smoothly the rest of the way. I'm honestly torn. I don't want to deal with this guy anymore, but at the same time, I don't want to cast out into the darkness and see who I can get to take us the rest of the way. (The devil you know is better than the one you don't.) I'm definitely never going to use him again, but I don't know if I should just tough this one out or cut the cord now. Closing is not until June 2. A lot can go wrong, or right, between now and then. Has anyone ever actually fired their attorney mid-process? How did it go?   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 7444 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 2:51 pm:        Have you spoken to him again today to tell him that you expect things by tomorrow (as Jennifer suggested)? The other point people raised about office staff is a good one; have you tried speaking with the office manager? You probably want to see what the other attorney is able to give you in terms of documentation of what's been done so far before you make the final decision. Then again, you can show up in the office and demand an immediate copy of your file with all work done to-date.   NJguy99 Citizen Username: Njguy99 Post Number: 20 Registered: 3-2006 Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 2:57 pm:        He's a one-man practice. I've left messages with his secretary that are never returned, and she's become more and more nasty towards me as the weeks have gone by. When I've asked if certain documents have come in, her response has been to set down the phone and go off - somewhere - to "look for the file." I don't think she's going to help me. I told him this morning when we spoke originally that we needed to set a concrete date. I did send him a fax as well demanding he request a date of noon tomorrow for a response. For his reaction, see the original posting. ("That's not how things work"..."we're just going to have to wait a little longer"...) I was debating going to the office and demanding to look at my file, but I don't think that will accomplish much either.   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 7447 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 3:01 pm:        I'd go get the file. Don't leave without it. Be pleasant but firm. If his secretary is being nasty, then you have no idea what your status really is. Usually, you at least get the perpetual "oh, I'm really sorry, I'll tell him again....". If he doesn't give you any concrete movement by tomorrow, I'd bite the bullet and get someone else. You say that it will delay a few days, but you are delayed now. Right?   NJguy99 Citizen Username: Njguy99 Post Number: 21 Registered: 3-2006 Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 3:12 pm:        Thanks again for all your help guys. I think I'm going to follow Greenetree's advice. He has 21 hours. In the meantime, I'm going to start making some calls to other attorneys whose names I have. Can anyone recommend anyone else who's good and would be able to salvage things?   1-2many Supporter Username: Wbg69 Post Number: 944 Registered: 6-2002 Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 3:21 pm:        I am an attorney and one of my friends (in Maplewood) specializes in real estate. PL me if you want her name.   Soparents Citizen Username: Soparents Post Number: 260 Registered: 5-2005 Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 3:26 pm:        I explained (sort of!!) to a friend of mine who is a realtor. She has given me the following name and says she recommends him highly. I trust her judgement and just hope it isn't your current lawyer..... Ray Villarosa 973 571 9300 - Explain the situation - Good luck   John Caffrey Citizen Username: Jerseyjack Post Number: 208 Registered: 11-2005 Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 10:15 pm:        Refer your questions to New Jersey Law Network (google) Several lawyers will read your posted quesion and you usually get a response within a day. No Charge.   ess Citizen Username: Ess Post Number: 1844 Registered: 11-2001 Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2006 - 10:27 pm:        NJGuy - just remember, you are paying HIM. HE works for YOU. If you are not getting satisfactory service -- and it sounds as though you are not -- you are well within your rights to terminate the relationship and find someone who will work with you (and not be nasty!). Best to you!   Former Cowgirl Citizen Username: Formercowgirl Post Number: 47 Registered: 3-2006 Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 8:36 am:        We're just about to close on a house and there's A LOT more the attorney will have to handle between now and then, especially around closing. So, follow everyone else's advice and get yourself a new one. But not before you have the file in your hands. I have many lawyers in my family whom I love and generally do not make lawyer generalizations. However...this guy seems like he may be the type to screw you over just to be a jerk!   Casey McDougall Citizen Username: Caseymcdougall Post Number: 2 Registered: 4-2006 Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 8:54 am:        What atty are you currently using ?   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 7459 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 9:03 am:        The suggested format for identifying unsatisfactory business experiences is not to name the person/business or go on a rant until issues are settled. And even then, it is prudent to wait until someone asks for recommendations and wants to know if anyone has any experience with XYZ. At that point, one might say "We used XYZ but would not recommend them for these reasons" Naming an attorney in the middle of an unresolved issue on a public internet board is something that one might do had one neglected to take one's Risperdal.   peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 1916 Registered: 8-2002 Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 9:25 am:        Former Cowgirl has a point -- also keep in mind that after the closing there are often items to follow up on -- you want that to go well. Moreover, at some point in time you may well refinance or of course sell -- and you'll need the paperwork. Would you want to use him a 2nd time? Its all a stressful situation, of course, you may be at a good point to jump ship -- OTOH you may just want to grin a bear it, since you have so much going on. Pete   fiche Citizen Username: Fiche Post Number: 128 Registered: 3-2002 Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 9:26 am:        The inspection contingency provision often provides that if the Seller does not respond to the repair requests within X amount of days, their silence should be taken as a refusal to perform any repairs. Your attorney is correct that that time limit is rarely enforced, however that does not mean that you are not contractually bound by the terms of the contract. The sellers can, and most likely will, force you to adhere to the terms of the contract in the event you choose to cancel. Does your attorney send you copies of his correspondence and that of the Seller's attorney? He should. If he has not, ask for all copies of all correspondence now. He also should have followed up with the attorney by mail, fax or phone or a combination of all three to demand a response. That protects you to some extent, but the contract still is clear that no answer from the seller is an answer in itself. The realtor is now your best tactic and you indicated that your contacted him/her and they are going to get on it. Bear in mind, however that just because your attorney almost missed the deadline (which is not what you wanted, but is not an uncommon practice), in fact, he did not. If the Seller's attorney has failed to answer him despite numerous request to do so (we do not know whether this has happened or not, you cannot hold your attorney responsible to the Seller's attorney's inaction. Changing attorneys in midstream in not extraordinarily difficult, but like you said, it might be the devil you know vs. the devil you don't. Greentree, NJguy99 cannot ask the seller's attorney for copies of the correspondence. They are not allowed to speak with him while he is represented by an attorney, unless they have the attorney's permission. To do so is an ethical violation. If he wants his file or copies from his file, his attorney must provide them in a timely fashion. That is also an ethics rule.   NJguy99 Citizen Username: Njguy99 Post Number: 22 Registered: 3-2006 Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 9:29 am:        Thanks Greenetree. As you indicated, I'm not going to indicate this attorney's name on a public message board, unless someone later asks whether or not to use him. Even then, I'll probably just PL the person. Especially when dealing with an attorney, you don't want them coming after you for what they perceive to be slander. And this guy did come recommended, so he might treat someone else in a different situation differently - I really don't know. Either way - I just wanted to follow up with everyone. 1-2many was kind enough to point me towards a great local attorney, who I spoke with this morning. This attorney said the basic point of what my attorney was saying was not off-base - but he could have said it a heck of a lot better. She walked me through what she would have done in this situation, and explained why, which makes what my attorney is doing somewhat sensible. In the end, it's the lack of communication that has really made things difficult here. Of course, if he had properly explained things, this would not have become an issue. For now, I'm going to sick with him and see where this goes. Thank you all for all of your help and advice!   NJguy99 Citizen Username: Njguy99 Post Number: 23 Registered: 3-2006 Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 9:39 am:        Pete - in response to your question, don't most attorneys give you copies of all that paperwork at the closing? My last attorney gave me a big folder with a copy of the mortgage, title insurance, survey, deed, etc. Of course, she kept a copy for her own files as well, but I had no need to contact anyone for my last refi. I will ask him for copies of all that at the closing too, though, just in case - so I never have to contact him again.   Former Cowgirl Citizen Username: Formercowgirl Post Number: 48 Registered: 3-2006 Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 8:45 pm:        You know...back where I come from, we didn't even USE attorneys in the home buying or selling process. Everything was done by the title agency and everyone trusted everyone else. Closing was a BREEZE. Sigh...   NJguy99 Citizen Username: Njguy99 Post Number: 27 Registered: 3-2006 Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 9:31 pm:        Of course, down there you probably also can't cancel a contract just because your attorney doesn't like it. (The whole "attorney review" period has always struck me as a little fishy. Not that I'm not glad to have it as another way to get out of a deal, but you really should neogtiate the terms before signing the deal, not afterwards...)   Jersey Boy Citizen Username: Jersey_boy Post Number: 601 Registered: 1-2006 Posted on Friday, April 28, 2006 - 10:26 pm:        Okay, I just decided I'm NEVER going to sell my house. I remember all of this crap and I hate it. So I'm here to stay. Guess you'd all better get used to me. NJguy99, I suggest you do the same. Stay put, I mean, but also get used to me. Welcome. J.B.   NJguy99 Citizen Username: Njguy99 Post Number: 32 Registered: 3-2006 Posted on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 - 10:43 pm:        The latest development: The seller is now being obnoxious with regard to an inspection issue. The roof was just replaced last fall, but there was obvious damage. So, I hired a contractor to take a look at it, and it winds up the roof has some significant problems. It basically was not installed correctly. As several of you suggested, I've moved to communicating with my attorney in writing. So, I wrote up a quick letter outlining the situation, faxed it to my attorney, and asked him to contact me so he could prepare a letter to the other attorney. Today, he sends the letter to the other attorney. Page 2 is a copy of the contractor's report. Page 3 was a copy of my letter, addressed to my attorney, detailing the items I wanted him to request from the other party and my concerns. Maybe I'm overthinking things, but he didn't ask my permission before sending my letter to the other party. Isn't that a violation of attorney-client privilege? This was, after all, a private communication between me and my attorney. I'm getting really, really fed up with this guy.   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 7521 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 10:52 am:        I don't know that it's out of line, but I would be annoyed, too. Was page one a letter from him to the other attorney addressing the issue, with the report and your letter as back up documentation? Or was it just a "see my client's issues on the following pages" thing? If the latter, he is really lazy. I know that you've invested a lot of money in this process so far, but might it be time to walk away? There are so many houses on the market right now. Unless you love this one, it might be worth it. If you have a lazy attorney, hard-to-deal-with sellers and hints of expensive problems, what might happen once you own the place? We had put about $2000 into inspections, etc. when we came to a stand-off with the sellers over the structural integrity of the garage. We pulled our offer. Within 15 minutes, they called our attorney back and gave in on fixing it. But, we would have walked. And we did not pull the offer via our attorney; we did it via our agent. Oh, not that you asked, but we learned the hard way that we would have been better off getting money or some sort of credit to fix the issues ourselves. The sellers, of course, did it the cheapest way possible and we ended up redoing work within the next few years anyway.   dave23 Citizen Username: Dave23 Post Number: 1719 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 11:00 am:        You may want to think twice about getting a house with "significant" roof problems. It could be a lifelong problem, even if you get your own contractor to fix them.   NJguy99 Citizen Username: Njguy99 Post Number: 33 Registered: 3-2006 Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 11:03 am:        That's our fear too, Greenetree: that this is indicitive of bigger problems with the house. After all, the roof protects everything else. If it's bad, who knows what else is wrong with the place. Page 1, my attorney's letter, was a paragraph outlining the issue, and telling the seller's attorney exactly what we wanted and refering to the contractor's report on page 2. Those two seem to stand alone, so why did he send my letter along too? Oh, and I found out this morning that my attorney never sent our mortgage commitment to the other party. We received that nearly two weeks ago! I've already asked my realtor to start looking for other houses, and if this one falls through I'm finding a new attorney. This is just too much.   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 7524 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 11:09 am:        I'm sorry. It's a real pain. What kind of house are you looking for in what price range? Like I said, there are a lot on the market now. We went to an open house on Sunday (nosey neighbors) and the realtor outright told us that she's dropped the price after 2-3 weeks on the market and that there is more inventory now. Good news for you, I guess. Do you have time during the week? You might want to take a drive around the neighborhoods you think you want and make a list of houses that appeal to you for your agent to show you. There is one on Burroughs way that has been on the market quite awhile. I don't know anything about it or what the issues are (price, condition, both?) but there are regular MOLers who live on that block and love it. I also noticed a house on Midland near the corner of Highland the other day that's up. Nice neighborhood.   NJguy99 Citizen Username: Njguy99 Post Number: 34 Registered: 3-2006 Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 11:35 am:        My realtor just shot over a list of available properties in the area: there are more than 150 still on the market, and most of them have been on for at least 3 weeks. It's definitely becoming a buyer's market, so I'm not worried about finding another place. I'm more worried about breaking free of my do-nothing attorney and not blowing another $1000 on inspections and various other things before closing.   Handygirl Citizen Username: Handygirl Post Number: 681 Registered: 2-2004 Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 11:35 am:        I'll bet your attorney attached your letter by mistake. Generally, when letters (or any exhibits) are sent to an opposing party, the attachments are outlined, or discussed in the cover letter, especially something as important as a letter directly from the client. Also, I can't believe that the attorney would send your letter to him to the opposing counsel without your permission and without a d@#$ good reason. You are correct, it is arguably a waiver of attorney client privilege, especially if you discussed your concerns in the letter. Again, I bet the attachment was inadvertent. Big mistake if it was.   twig Citizen Username: Twig Post Number: 179 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 12:46 pm:        Have used 2 different attorneys in Maplewood for real estate transactions. With the second transaction, there was a problem with home inspection issues and the attorneys didn't seem to be able to resolve the issue. My attorney also used the "don't worry, be happy...these things never follow the actual dates" approach with me. But as time went by with no word from the sellers about anything, I became concerned. And my attorney seem very reluctant to "push" the other attorney. However, being an impatient sort, when the attorney review period had come and gone with no word from the other party and/or their attorney, I prepared a letter in which the non-response of the seller by the attorney review date was noted, reiterated the concerns identified by the home inspector and articulated my related expectations, set a date by which I required a final response either confirming that the seller did not intend to make the requested repairs (in which case the deal was off) or that the seller agreed to make the repairs, and stated that if I did not receive a response by a designated date it would be taken to mean the seller had no intention of making the repairs and thus the sale would be off. My attorney counseled me against taking this approach saying that these things are best done informally but I was insistent and he sent it...albeit hesitantly. We received a response in a day or two, all of our requests were met, and the deal went through. At the closing, I started chatting with the sellers and they told me that their attorney had never contacted them about anything until my letter came. In fact, they were wondering what was going on and thought that we were dragging our feet on the deal. They had absolutely no problem making the repairs I requested and said that they would have done so earlier had their attorney told them. They actually thanked me for sending the letter that caused their attorney to have to act.   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 7529 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 12:54 pm:        Sigh. So, someone please explain why we have attorneys deal with this? We liked ours, but, honestly, between our agent and ourselves, it seems that everything got done. Our attorney ordered the title search and wrote letters. Our agent did the CO and we dealt directly with the mortgage broker. Like Twig, I would have no problem writing my own letter. And it seems that there would have been no need for a letter, had there been no attorneys. I'd feel a lot better about the agent commission if everything could be handled between agents, seller and buyer.   NJguy99 Citizen Username: Njguy99 Post Number: 35 Registered: 3-2006 Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 1:26 pm:        I would too. I hate to say it, but it seems a lot of the time like the attorneys get in the way. As has been noted, in a lot of other states, attorneys play no role in the process. The agent does all of the negotiating, the mortgage company arranges the closing, and one more layer of bureocracy is eliminated. Why am I paying nearly a thousand dollars for someone to send a copy of my letter to the other party? I can do that myself for 35 cents. I would expect, for the money we pay, to get some level of service over and above just sending out letters and spewing forth rhetoric on the importance of having an attorney handle the process. The worst part of it is - as I mentioned last week - everytime I call my attorney he makes me feel as though I'm bothering him. His secretary too. She actually sighs when I say who's calling! If you'd just be proactive and call me to update me on the situation, I wouldn't call every two days. It may be small potatoes to you, but this is the biggest purchase of my life. It's kinda important to me!   peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 1931 Registered: 8-2002 Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 3:46 pm:        Seems your attorney is doing the bare minimum... I DO have a top notch real estate attorney, and will use him again, no doubt. But when I refinanced -- maybe 1 1/2 years ago, used a closing agent instead. Much much cheaper. And the process was flawless. Pete   mjc Citizen Username: Mjc Post Number: 1104 Registered: 10-2004 Posted on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 - 4:40 pm:        Anybody want to name a diligent and responsive attorney for real estate transactions? We expect to be putting our house on the market in the next couple of months, and are not interested in working with the same attorney as when we bought.   Ond Citizen Username: Ond Post Number: 114 Registered: 3-2004 Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 2:50 pm:        Richard Sherman of Sherman and Sherman in Springfield. I don't have the number handy. He helped us with a variance issue, not a closing. He was great.   Joe R. Citizen Username: Ragnatela Post Number: 418 Registered: 6-2004 Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 3:31 pm:        NJGUY99: If you think you can get comfortable with committing to buy a piece of real estate for hundreds of thousands of dollars, signing a note and mortgage promising to pay back a loan of hundreds of thousands of dollars and reading a title report and commitment detailing a hundred years of transactions on the property, then go right ahead and get rid of the lawyer. But, let me ask you something. Who in that deal is representing YOUR INTEREST? The realtor? Don't make me laugh. The loan officer at the bank? No way, they probably tried to sell you a loan you can't afford. The Title Company? Forget about it...they're just another insurance company. I don't know whether you had a buy or a sell, but under $1000 is very reasonable. If you think lawyers make any money doing closings for under $1000, you have another thought coming. It sounds like you didn't have a good experience in your closing, but when you're spending a half a million dollars to buy a house, it seems foolish to me to whine over a $900 lawyer's fees when you consider the knowledge and experience the lawyer can bring to bear.   NJguy99 Citizen Username: Njguy99 Post Number: 36 Registered: 3-2006 Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 3:42 pm:        Joe - your point is well taken. But go back and read the earlier posts. I'd be happy to spend the money if the lawyer WAS representing my interests. But he's not. He's barely going through the motions. I agree - $1000 is a small amount of money to pay for peace of mind. But what kind of peace of mind do I have when the lawyer is doing little or nothing?   Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 14063 Registered: 1-2003 Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 4:19 pm:        Joe R, you make $1000 sound like a small amount of money. You're not wrong, but isn't it a shame that you don't need a lawyer at all in some other states? I'm not saying you don't need one here. And you should be ready to spend more than $1000 if you are buying or selling here.   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 7548 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 4:56 pm:        What Tom said. Considering that in NJ, many attorneys will say "yeah, I do closings" because it really is just filing a lot of paper work. They don't bring much expertise to it unless that's all they do. And NJ's attorney isn't even filing the paper work.