No, not in California.  If we have an attorney involved in a real estate action ... it usually means trouble (LOL). 

I always do, and I have the best one in the area on speed dial. Having a competent attorney who forsee's any hiccups and fixes them before they are a problem is priceless. 

Not in California.  We did use attorneys to review lease documents for office buildings and retail establishments, but not for sales.  In So Cal, we have title companies and escrow companies.  In Northern Cal they do it all with the the Title company.  A

In Illinois, both parties are represented by attorneys.  The attorneys do contract review, and do title searches as agents of the title company which holds the cloisng and provides payout.  As long as the clients use Real Estate Attorneys, and not Uncle Bob the retired litigation attorney, everything works out well. 

Sellers don't have to attend closings (they can give Power of Attorney to their attorney for the closing), but both attorneys, and the buyers attend the closings, which are almost always at the title company the sellers' attorney uses.

I'm in California and the use of attorneys for our transactions is not typical.  

In South Carolina all closings are done by attorneys at their office. We rarely have both parties at closing. 

I recently closed a transaction in New York, and the homeowner asked if an Attorney was required.  I checked and Attorney's are optional, but most folks in New York use them for their Real Estate transactions.  I explained that to my Clients, and they said they've always used an Attorney with their Real Estate transactions, and opted to pay the Attorney's additional fee, so he could review all their paperwork, and attend the Closing.

In California, no, unless the buyer or seller hires them. We use title companies. 

In Florida, we have negotiated rates with several law firms and we offer those law firms to our clients, but the final decision it their s to make.

In the state of MA all closings are held by attorneys. In NH mostly it is a Title Company that holds the closings, otherwise it is an attorney.  At most closings, but not all, both parties are present. 

Who handles the closings in Missouri?

Shanna Hall When I first got into the business, attorney's did the closing here in Northern Virginia. Now there are both attorney's and title companies who do the closings. It is also legal for a Broker to do closings, if they register with the Virginia State Bar and meet other regulatory conditions.

In Louisiana all closing are attended by an attorney. 

In North and South Carolina attorneys close the transaction, do title search, payoffs, etc., but are not involed in any contract review process.

It is not mandatory for each transaction but highly recommended.

we use attorneys in our state.... every client of ours has an attorney by his/her side through the process....we insist upon it...the only attorney that's required is the bank's attorney, but we make sure our clients have legal representation.... always.

In Michigan it is really rare to have a hired lawyer come ot a closing.   Mostly when a lawyer is in the room they are there as a buyer or seller.  Or there is a huge problem.

It's very rare in our area (Flagler County)  for attorneys get involved. Although they do get involved during short sales, bankruptcy’s and divorce cases.

In Texas the majority of the transactions are closed at title companies.  Mainly because of the contracts our state commission requires us to use.

Shanna Hall- it's other way round for us in MA - we have attorneys for closings/real estate transactions.

I'm in Georgia.  Very rarely do we have an attorney involved in the "contract" phase, but we don't have title companies in Georgia and by law all closings are conducted by an attorney so yes, it is standard, but not like in NY where attorneys "review".  The attorney here represents the bank in a transaction with a loan and the buyer in a cash transaction or the seller if the seller happens to be doing owner financing.

NO...The few times I did have one there it took an extra hour or so.

Attorneys always do our closings and recording of the Deed.

In our area in CT both sellers and buyers use separate attorneys. If there are mortgage documents, the buyers' attorney also handles the bank documents, sort of representing the bank. In NY state, attorneys generally refuse to represent the bank, citing conflict of interest, so there might be a bank rep in the room as well, plus title people (who, by the way, expect to be tipped, generously). 

I am in Dallas, TX and we rarely use attorneys if at all.  

Moe MacLelland

Rarely if ever in Oklahoma.

Rarely in CA.  Only for Probate, some Trust Sales.  

We're an escrow state, meaning we use escrow services to hold fund, disperse funds, record deeds, etc.  We have title to perform title seaches, prepare pre-liminary title reports, provide title insurance, etc.  We don't need a lawyer's review.  Don't need a lawyer to hold funds, distribute funds or anything else connected to a purchase.  I went to a new construction and the builder said to my clients "Oh, I see you have your lawyer with you," and then laughed.  Exactly!!  My clients are fully represented.

Not an agent, but a Lender here ... in Illinois.  And yes, most transactions I'm involved in have an attorney involved.  Typically on both sides of the transaction ... at least for documentation.   Closings are typically held at the title companies ( and providing Closer), although other locations are possible too.  Both seller and buyer attorneys are usually in attendance.  

Gene

It's not a state but rather a county.  We are in Collier County, Naples, Florida.  We prefer title companies.

In IL it is pretty much every transaction, OH & NV almost never. I am licensed on those 3 states so I'll leave it at those.

Shanna, our state is one of the lowest in closing costs for the nation, so I will let you guess if it is an attorney state or not.

New York..attorneys very involved.  I'm not an agent.

I believe they write the contracts and take care of title and closing.

In Hawaii attorneys are rarely involved.