Real Estate Closings

We Will Answer All Your Questions and Make Your Purchase or Refinance an Enjoyable Process

We have handled for 30 years residential and commercial real estate closings, title searches, preparation of deeds, notes, mortgages, sales contracts, land contracts and actions to quiet title.

Loan Closings

If you are getting a loan on your new home or refinancing your existing loan, please call our office for an appointment at no charge. We will answer your questions and if you choose to use our office for the loan closing, we will obtain the necessary information to ensure a smooth loan closing and troubleshoot any problems at an early stage. We provide special services not available by many offices, such as out of office closings, state-wide closings, fast scheduling, and e-mail accessibility for loan packages.

Residential Real Estate Closing - Schedule of Fees and Costs

Purchase	$400.00 attorney fee
Refinance	$300.00 attorney fee
Title abstract/title search	$175 if within 50 miles of Columbia $225 if beyond 50 miles of Columbia
Title update ( if search over 30 days old )	$75
Courier fee (& copies / faxes)	$30
Wire fee	$25
Title insurance	varies, based on loan amount or sales price (call for quote)

Commercial Real Estate Closing - Schedule of Fees and Costs

Purchase	$750.00 and up for attorney fee (varies as to value and complexity)
Costs	same as residential

Real Estate Matters

Is there a cloud on your title?

If there is a defect on your title to property then you may not be able to sell it or borrow with it. These defects are often called clouds on your property. Clouds refer to the uncertainty that you really own the property or that there may be possible liens against the property. Defects can occur when prior deeds in the chain of title were bad, due to improper execution, missing signatures or downright forgery or when mortgages were paid but the proper satisfactions were not recorded. Sometimes properties bought at legal auctions or tax sales require legal action to remove debts and other claims. These matters can be resolved by execution of corrective documents or by litigation to quiet title.

Our office handles a full range of litigation matters such as foreclosures on mortgages, quieting title of property after tax sales, and correcting defects such as lack of legal access. We perform numerous other functions such as title searches, preparation of deeds, leases, notes, mortgages, sales contracts, and land contracts. A common requests: a half interest deed to a spouse, or converting joint deeds to deeds with right of survivorship to avoid probate and protection of assets.

Miscellaneous Work

Deed Preparation	$150.00
Mortgage Preparation	$100.00
Note Preparation	$100.00
Actions to Quiet Title	$1,500 and up (varies as to complexity)
Actions to Foreclose Residential	$1,500 and up (varies as to complexity)
Actions to Foreclose Commercial	$2,500 and up (varies as to complexity)

Probate Law

Do you need a will?

The answer is probably yes if you are married, have children or own titled property. You cannot assume that your property will automatically pass on to your spouse, children or parents in the event of your death. Also, if you do not provide in a will otherwise, the court will choose the person to administer your estate and will require payment of a bond. In order to avoid legal problems, delays and court costs upon your death, you should have a will properly prepared by an attorney. Self-written wills can be voided if they contain any legal defect or are not properly witnessed. This office provides a full range of legal services for any estate planning needs such as:

Estate Planning

Even a small estate requires thought and planning. Many issues are never even contemplated as problems and it is too late to fix after your death. Meeting with our attorney will help narrow what documents you may need and determine any special problems. We will help protect your assets from possible claimants and make sure the assets get to the people you designate.

Wills

We draft simple and complex wills. Help you name a personal representative or executor to properly handle your estate without undue court intervention. We can set up testamentary trusts to provide for minor's educational needs or delaying receipt of estate funds by children until further maturity. Allow you to name a guardian for your minor children in the event both parents are killed. (Simple wills begin at $150.00)

Living Wills

We draft living wills which allow death with dignity. This prevents unreasonable and extreme advanced medical procedures which only delay death thereby causing unnecessary family suffering and medical costs. This allows individual to determine the extent of his or her medical care rather than leaving the ultimate decision to family members or even strangers. (Cost of living wills $50.00)

Durable Power of Attorney

A durable power of attorney authorizes another person, such as your spouse, to act as your agent, even in the event of your mental disability by accident or disease. A will only authorizes someone to act at your death, but has no effect before death. A durable power of attorney allows your agent to continue to handle your business and personal matters without interruption. It allows you to name your agent rather than the court appointing someone. It avoids lengthy delays, interference of court administration, unnecessary costs and paperwork, and it permits more privacy. (Cost of DPOA begin at $150.00)

The Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care

A durable power of attorney for health care specifically authorizes your agent to manage your health care, select your medical providers, consent for your treatment, and sue, if necessary, to enforce your living will provisions or to ensure proper treatment. (Cost of DPOAHC $75.00)

Probate Estates

Upon death your estate will need to be probated in most cases to properly ensure the transfer of land, vehicle titles, and other property. Due to the complexity of the probate forms and procedures, an attorney is essential. Also, in the event of debts, claims, and other disputes, this office can handle resolution or litigation. (Hourly rate is $200 per hour. Probate of estates begin at $1,500.00 but varies to complexity of case, value of property and claims, and disputes.)

Family Law

A Time When You Need Understanding as Well as Legal Knowledge

Our office has handled divorce and separation matters for 30 years. Legal fees and costs are generally determined on a case by case basis. Most cases are charged on an hourly rate of $200.00 per hour. All issues can be resolved by agreement of the parties or by court intervention including divorce, custody, child support, visitations, alimony, division of property, division of debts, and many other issues.

Separation Agreements

The parties may not to choose not to proceed to divorce or have no current grounds for divorce, but desire to legally resolve their property rights and custody issues. This can be done by agreement and approved by the Court so that the parties are protected until the divorce.

Name Change

Often a wife fails to get her maiden name restored at the time of the divorce and now seeks to get it legally changed. Sometimes, adults simply want to change their name for aesthetic reasons. Minors seeking name change usually require the consent of both parents.

Custody or Guardianship

A relative may need to get legal custody or guardianship of a child living with him to get said child into a school district or for medical purposes.

Adoptions (Private)

While this office does not handle adoption through adoption agencies, it does handle private adoptions by relatives, by blood or marriage. Typically these relatives are new spouses, grandparents, or siblings. This requires termination of the rights of one or both birth parents.

Business Matters

Many people wish to organize as a general corporation or a LLC, Limited Liability Corporation, for liability reasons or asset protection. We can set up your company and give advice as to which business vehicle is best for you. We can also assist in selection a company name or checking the availability of a name. Schedule your appointment today

Set up Corporation or LLC	$300.00 and up
Buy / Sell Agreements	$500.00 and up (varies as to complexity)

Personal Injury Cases

We Are Here To Protect You

Our office handles most types of personal injury cases on a percentage fee basis so that you pay no attorney fees until you recover. Automobile and motorcycle accidents, work related injuries, and other accident cases. Clients are still responsible for costs such as copy fees and medical records. Depending on the nature of the litigation, our office will directly handle the case or will associate another attorney as needed. Some cases require experienced attorneys who concentrate in a particular field and our office will find the proper person to improve your chances of success. In those cases, it is done for no additional fees beyond your initial contract fee percentage.

Criminal Law Referals

Nothing Is Better Than Experience

While our office does not directly handle criminal cases, we have an associate attorney that we refer these cases. Tommy Thomas has extensively handled trial and appellant cases, work release, and post-conviction matters for almost 30 years. He can be contacted directly at:

Tommy A. Thomas, Attorney at Law
Woodrow Street
P.O. Box 88
Irmo, SC 29063
(803) 732-5507
paroleme.com