Real estate attorneys in Columbus
From signed contract to keys, real estate runs on deadlines. We read the contract, the title work and the closing numbers before they cost you money, and we fix what can be fixed while there is still time to fix it.
- 01Buyers and sellersContract, title, survey and closing review.
- 02LandlordsLeases, notices and evictions handled by the book.
- 03Investors and ownersCommercial purchases, financing and entities.
What happens between the signed contract and the keys?
A typical residential purchase closes in thirty to forty-five days. Each step has a deadline in the contract, and missing one can cost you the deposit or your exit.
We track every date and tell you in plain language what each one means. If a problem appears, we tell you the options and what each one costs before the deadline passes, not after.
Contract review
Contingencies, earnest money and who pays which costs.
Inspection and financing
Deadlines tracked so you keep your options open.
Title and survey
Every exception read; removals requested where they matter.
Closing
Final numbers compared with what you agreed.
Which problems are cheapest to fix before closing?
A mortgage paid off years ago but never released. Usually fixed with a payoff letter and a recorded release.
Found on the survey. Often solved with an agreement or an adjustment before closing.
Ohio sellers complete a residential property disclosure form. Gaps between it and the inspection deserve questions.
Compare the closing disclosure with the contract: credits, prorated taxes and who pays the title fees. Errors are easy to fix the day before and hard to recover afterward.
What else do property owners call us about?
Ownership brings its own disputes. These are the matters we handle after the keys change hands.
Landlord and tenantLeases, notices and eviction filings. Ohio requires a three-day notice before most evictions.Title clean-upQuiet title actions, corrective deeds and old liens.
HOA and easementsNeighbor, association and access disputes.Deeds and transfersFamily transfers, deeds into trusts and transfer on death affidavits.
Commercial propertyPurchase, financing and lease documents for investment property.
Construction disputesContractor problems on a home or building you own.Do you need a lawyer to buy a house in Ohio?
It is not required. Agents and lenders do important work, but neither one represents only you or can give legal advice. A lawyer reads the documents with one question: what could cost you money or delay the deal?
Days in a typical residential closing.
Missed contingency can cost the deposit.
Title exception read and explained.
Columbus and Dublin closings.
Evan Whitford handles purchase and title work, with the same paralegal tracking your dates from contract to closing. Send the contract the day you sign it, or before, and we will tell you within a business day which dates matter, what the title work should show and what to ask your lender.
What does real estate legal help cost?
Most real estate work is billed as a flat fee quoted in writing before we start.
Contract review
Read-through and a written list of issues before you sign
Buyer or seller representation
Contract, title, survey and closing review through the keys
Eviction filing
Notice, complaint and the first hearing
Illustrative demo figures, confirmed in a written engagement letter. Court and recording costs are billed at cost.
Real Estate questions
Short answers for buyers, sellers and landlords. Your contract may change the answer.
It is not required, but a lawyer can review the contract, title work and closing documents and answer questions a lender or agent cannot.
Anything that clouds ownership, such as an old lien, a missing signature or a boundary conflict. Many can be cleared before closing.
Yes. Ohio eviction rules are strict about notice and filing steps. We handle the process correctly from the first notice.
We assist owners of rental and commercial property with purchases, leases and entity structures.
Anything that clouds ownership, such as an old lien, a missing signature or a boundary conflict. Many can be cleared before closing if they are found early in the title commitment.
Yes. Ohio eviction rules are strict about notice and filing steps, including the three-day notice that comes before most filings. We handle the process correctly from the first notice so the case is not dismissed on a technicality.
Your contract usually decides. Many contracts let you renegotiate, cover the gap or exit with your deposit if the appraisal contingency is still open. Check the date before it passes.
Yes. Sellers need the same review of deadlines, disclosures and closing numbers.