St. Johns Law Group · St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine Residential Real Estate Closing & Contract Attorneys
Contracts. Critical Dates. Title. Escrow. Closing.
This page focuses on the legal and closing mechanics of a Florida residential real estate transaction. St. Johns Law Group assists buyers, sellers, lenders and other transaction participants with purchase and sale contracts, title, escrow, deeds, closing documents and the closing itself.
Our attorneys work directly with title and closing professionals within the same firm, allowing legal issues to be identified and addressed without separating the legal work from the closing process.
Residential Transaction Legal Services
Legal guidance and closing support from contract through recording.
✓Purchase and sale contract review
✓Critical-date and contingency review
✓Title, survey and curative work
✓Escrow, deeds, closing and recording
Real Estate Closings at Title Company Prices®
Residential Contracts, Title & Closings
Focused Legal Support for the Transaction Itself
The broader Residential Real Estate page explains the firm's full residential practice. This page goes deeper into contract terms, deadlines, title, escrow, closing documents and completion of the sale.
Whether St. Johns Law Group becomes involved before a contract is signed or after a transaction is already underway, the goal is to identify legal issues early and keep the closing moving when possible.
- Contract drafting, review and amendments
- Inspection, financing and title deadlines
- Title examination and curative work
- Survey, easement and restriction review
- Escrow, deeds and closing documents
- Signing, funding, recording and post-closing matters
Residential Transaction Services
Contracts, Title & Closing Services
Each card below focuses on a distinct part of the residential transaction process.
01
Buyer Contract Review
Review purchase terms, contingencies, deposits, inspection rights, financing provisions, title obligations and closing requirements from the buyer's perspective.
Buyer Representation →02Seller Contract Review
Evaluate offers, counteroffers, disclosure obligations, title issues, default provisions, closing responsibilities and seller-side risk.
Seller Representation →03Critical Dates & Contingencies
Identify inspection, financing, appraisal, title, cure and closing deadlines and confirm them against the signed contract and amendments.
Critical Date Calculator →04Title Examination
Review ownership, liens, judgments, easements, restrictions, legal descriptions and other recorded matters affecting title.
Closings & Title →05Survey & Easement Review
Evaluate survey exceptions, encroachments, access, easements, boundary discrepancies and related property-right concerns.
Boundary & Easement Matters →06Escrow & Earnest Money
Coordinate deposits and escrow administration and identify issues when contractual rights to earnest money become disputed.
Deposit Disputes →07Deeds & Closing Documents
Prepare or review deeds, affidavits, closing statements, title documents and other instruments required to complete the transaction.
Closing Services →08Signing, Funding & Recording
Coordinate final signing, lender requirements, funding, payoff, disbursement, recording and final title documents.
Residential Closings →09Contract Problems Before Closing
Address cancellation, default, failure to close, contract interpretation and other disputes before the transaction is completed.
Contract Disputes →Residential Closing Process
From Signed Contract to Recorded Deed
A residential closing involves several legal and administrative stages that need to align before ownership can transfer.
1Contract & Escrow
2Due Diligence
3Title & Survey
4Closing Documents
5Funding & Recording
Deadlines should be calculated from the actual signed contract.
Contract forms, addenda, extensions and negotiated amendments can change critical dates. The SJLG calculator is an educational tool and should not replace review of the operative transaction documents.
Real Estate Team
Residential Closing & Transaction Team
St. Johns Law Group combines real estate attorneys with title and closing professionals under one roof so contract, title and closing issues can be addressed within the same transaction team.
Real Estate Attorney
Douglas N. Burnett
Real estate development, land use, transactions and complex real estate matters.
Douglas Burnett Profile →
Real Estate Attorney
Megan Burnett Drysdale
Real estate, contracts, leasing and land-use matters.
Megan Burnett Drysdale Profile →
Real Estate Attorney
John L. Whiteman
Real estate, banking and probate experience.
John Whiteman Profile →
Title Agent & Closing Officer
Christina Guyette
Title, escrow and closing coordination for residential, commercial and investment transactions.
Email Christina →
Closing Officer
Katie Lemelin
Closing coordination and transaction support for Florida real estate buyers and sellers.
Email Katie →
Integrated Closing Services
Attorney-Supported Residential Closings
Real Estate Closings at Title Company Prices®Buyer representation is most effective when legal review and closing coordination work together. SJLG's attorneys and closing professionals can help move a transaction from contract through title, escrow, signing, funding and recording.
That continuity also means legal issues can be identified and escalated quickly when a title defect, survey concern, contract amendment or closing problem needs attorney attention.
Contract
Title & Survey
Escrow
Closing
Recording
Title & Closing Trouble Spots
Issues That Can Delay or Derail a Residential Closing
Some problems can be cured before closing; others require negotiation, additional documentation or litigation.
Clouds on Title
Competing interests, deed defects and unresolved ownership claims may require curative work or a quiet-title action.
Quiet Title →Survey & Boundary Problems
Encroachments, boundary discrepancies and property-line concerns may need evaluation before closing.
Boundary Disputes →Access & Easements
Access rights and easement scope can materially affect title, use and marketability.
Easement Litigation →Disclosure Issues
Seller disclosures and alleged hidden conditions can create negotiation issues before closing and claims afterward.
Hidden Defect Claims →Deposit Disputes
Cancellation, default and failed contingencies can create disagreements over entitlement to escrowed deposits.
Deposit Disputes →Failure to Close
When a party allegedly refuses or fails to perform, the contract controls potential remedies and next steps.
Contract Remedies →When the Transaction Goes Wrong
When a Closing or Contract Becomes a Dispute
When a purchase develops into a dispute, SJLG's real-estate and litigation attorneys can evaluate the contract, evidence and available remedies.
Deposit Disputes
Disagreements over escrow deposits after cancellation, alleged default, failed contingencies or a failed closing.
Deposit Disputes →Contract Disputes & Remedies
Claims involving alleged breach, failure to close, contract termination, damages, specific performance and other purchase-agreement remedies.
Contract Disputes →Title Defects & Quiet Title
Clouds on title, competing interests, unreleased claims and ownership issues that may require curative work or a quiet-title action.
Quiet Title Actions →Boundary & Property-Line Disputes
Conflicts involving surveys, encroachments, property lines, access and competing rights affecting real property.
Boundary Disputes →Easement Litigation
Disputes concerning access, use, scope, location, interpretation or enforcement of easement rights.
Easement Litigation →Hidden Defects & Disclosure Claims
Post-closing claims concerning alleged material defects, nondisclosure, concealment or misrepresentation.
Hidden Defect Claims →Partition & Co-Owner Disputes
Disputes between co-owners concerning possession, sale, division or allocation of interests in jointly owned real estate.
Partition Actions →Real Estate Litigation
Broader litigation involving contracts, title, ownership, property rights and failed or disputed real estate transactions.
Real Estate Litigation →Residential Closing Tools & Resources
Practical Florida Closing & Contract Resources
Use these resources to better understand transaction timing, closing costs, title and related legal issues.
Interactive Tool
Critical Date Calculator
Estimate key dates under common Florida real-estate contract forms and confirm them against the actual agreement.
Open Calculator → Interactive ToolClosing Cost Calculator
Explore estimated buyer and seller transaction costs for Florida real estate closings.
Open Calculator → Closing ServicesClosings & Title
Learn how SJLG handles title, escrow, document preparation and closing coordination.
Learn More →Contracts, Title & Closing FAQs
Common Questions About Florida Residential Transactions
Should I have a Florida real estate contract reviewed before I sign it?
Whenever practical, review before signing gives the parties an opportunity to address contingencies, deposits, deadlines, title obligations, default provisions and closing terms before they become binding.
Can St. Johns Law Group handle both the legal work and the closing?
Yes. St. Johns Law Group combines real estate attorneys with title, escrow and closing professionals so legal and closing issues can be coordinated within the same firm.
What does a title examination look for?
Title work can identify ownership interests, mortgages, liens, judgments, easements, restrictions, legal-description issues and other recorded matters that may affect the proposed transfer.
Why does the survey matter?
A survey can reveal boundaries, encroachments, easements, improvements and other physical conditions that may affect title or the buyer's intended use of the property.
What happens to the escrow deposit if the transaction is cancelled?
Entitlement to a deposit depends on the contract, the reason for cancellation, compliance with contingencies and the surrounding facts. Disputed deposits may require legal analysis or formal dispute resolution.
What documents are typically signed at closing?
The documents vary by transaction but may include deeds, affidavits, settlement or closing statements, title documents, lender documents and other instruments required to fund and complete the transfer.
Can a residential closing be handled remotely?
Many transactions can be coordinated remotely, subject to the documents involved, lender requirements, notarization requirements and the closing plan for the particular transaction.
Recent Legal Insights
Recent Real Estate Closing & Contract Articles
Recent guidance from St. Johns Law Group concerning contracts, closings, title, property disputes and Florida real estate transactions.
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St. Augustine & Northeast Florida
Residential Closing Counsel Across Northeast Florida
St. Johns Law Group represents homeowners, buyers and sellers across St. Augustine, St. Johns County and surrounding Northeast Florida markets.
Local transactions can involve coastal property, planned communities, condominiums, historic properties, new construction, investment properties and commercial acquisitions—each presenting different contract, title, survey and due-diligence considerations.
Our real estate team works with buyers, Realtors, lenders, surveyors and other transaction professionals throughout the region.
Residential Real Estate
Need Help With a Residential Contract, Title Issue or Closing?
From contract review through title and closing, we can help you understand the transaction and protect your interests.
Telephone(904) 495-0400
Emailinfo@sjlawgroup.com
Contact St. Johns Law Group
Tell Us About Your Residential Transaction
Provide basic information about the property, contract status and the help you need.
The information on this website is not intended to be legal advice. Submission of this form does not establish an attorney-client relationship. A person may become a client only after a conflict check and through a written engagement agreement. Do not include confidential or sensitive information in this form.