Real Estate Closing Attorney in Shelton, CT
★ 4.8 on Google · 17 reviews · Admitted in Connecticut · Flat-fee closings
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Buying or selling a home is the largest transaction most people ever make, and in Connecticut it has to be handled by a lawyer. LaFollette Law is a Shelton, CT law office serving Fairfield County. We close residential purchases, sales, and refinances across Shelton, Trumbull, Monroe, Stratford, Milford, Fairfield, and the surrounding towns, on a flat fee quoted before you hire us. We also handle commercial and investment property closings.
The attorney you choose matters more than most people expect. One who is responsive and catches problems early keeps your deal on schedule; one who is not can cost you a rate lock, a moving date, or a deposit. At LaFollette Law, the attorney who quotes your closing is the one at the table on closing day, and he knows the file inside and out by then. Our paralegal helps prepare it; the attorney reads every page, reviews the title, and runs the closing figures himself.
Why Connecticut Requires a Closing Attorney
Connecticut is an attorney-closing state. Under General Statutes § 51-88a, a real estate closing, meaning any transfer of Connecticut real property for consideration and any mortgage loan closing with a lender’s title insurance policy, must be conducted by an attorney admitted in Connecticut. If you are moving here from a state where a title company or escrow agent handles the closing, this is the first thing to know: your closing attorney is not an optional extra. The attorney searches title, clears liens, prepares and reviews the closing documents, handles the funds, and records the deed and mortgage on the land records.
Buying a Home
When you are the buyer, we represent you and only you. Before you sign, we review the purchase and sale agreement and negotiate the inspection, mortgage, and appraisal contingencies so you have a way out if something goes wrong. Once you are under contract, we search the title and resolve anything that turns up, whether that is an old mortgage that was never released, a lien, or a boundary problem. Then we coordinate with your lender, your realtor, and the seller’s attorney so the closing disclosure, payoff figures, and adjustments are right before closing day, not on it.
Connecticut sellers must give you a Residential Property Condition Disclosure Report before you sign a contract. We review it with you alongside the inspection report, so you know what you are buying before the contingency period runs.
If you have not chosen an attorney yet and just want the contract looked at before you sign, call us. That is a short engagement and it is often where a bad deal gets caught.
Selling a Home
For sellers, the job is to get you to the closing table with clean title and no surprises on the settlement statement. That means preparing the deed and your closing documents, ordering mortgage payoff statements, clearing any title issues the buyer’s attorney raises, calculating the conveyance tax and property tax adjustments, and attending the closing on your behalf so you do not have to.
The conveyance tax is usually the largest closing cost a seller pays. Connecticut charges a state conveyance tax on a sliding scale, plus a municipal conveyance tax set by the town. By custom the seller pays it, though the contract can allocate it differently. We calculate it and confirm it is right on the settlement statement before you see it.
Refinancing
A refinance closing has the same legal requirements as a purchase, and your lender will require a Connecticut attorney to conduct it. That covers the title search and update, the lender’s title policy, payoff of the existing mortgage, review of the new note and mortgage, and recording. Most refinances close at our Shelton office or, where the lender permits, at your home or workplace.
For Realtors and Lenders
Agents and loan officers refer clients to us because we answer the phone, send the title commitment and closing figures early, and do not let a file go quiet. We work with all major lenders and mortgage brokers, accommodate closings on short notice when the file is ready, and keep the agent copied on every milestone. If you want a closing attorney your clients will thank you for, call us.
How Our Fees Work
We close residential purchases, sales, and refinances on a flat fee, quoted before you engage us, so there is no hourly meter running. The fee covers the attorney work described above. Title insurance premiums, recording fees, and conveyance tax are separate and are set by the state, the town, and the title insurer, not by us. Call for a quote; it takes about five minutes.
Want a flat-fee closing quote? Call (203) 254-1387 or use the form at the bottom of this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need my own attorney if the seller already has one?
Yes. The seller’s attorney represents the seller. In Connecticut the buyer and seller each have their own attorney, and the buyer’s attorney is typically also the one who searches title and issues title insurance.
How long does a closing take in Connecticut?
Most purchases close 30 to 60 days after the contract is signed, driven mainly by the mortgage timeline. Cash purchases can close in two to three weeks. Refinances usually run three to five weeks.
Can I close if I cannot be there in person?
Usually. With advance notice we can arrange a power of attorney or a pre-signing so you do not have to appear on closing day. Lenders have their own rules on this, so tell us early.
What is title insurance and do I need it?
A lender’s policy is required by every mortgage lender. An owner’s policy is optional but strongly recommended; it is a one-time premium that protects you against title defects that were not found in the search, for as long as you own the property.
Can you transfer my house into my trust, or to a family member?
Yes. Transfers into a revocable trust, between spouses, or to children are closings without a sale, and they still need to be done correctly and recorded. We handle them regularly, usually as part of a client’s estate plan. See our Estate Planning & Elder Law page.
Do you handle commercial closings?
Yes. We close commercial and investment properties as well as residential, including purchases, sales, and refinances of small commercial buildings, multi-family properties, and mixed-use buildings. Commercial closings are quoted individually, since the title and lender requirements vary more than they do on a house.
Do you close outside Shelton?
Yes. We close throughout Fairfield County and New Haven County, including Trumbull, Monroe, Stratford, Milford, Derby, Ansonia, Seymour, Oxford, Bridgeport, and Fairfield.
Call (203) 254-1387 or use the form below for a flat-fee closing quote. Free consultation.