Before hiring a quiet title attorney, read this.

The last thing you need is an overpaid and ineffective quiet title attorney. You want an attorney whose practice is focused on solving your unique problem at a fair fee. This article covers the most important considerations to bear in mind as you look for a quiet title attorney.

Do “quiet title attorneys” really exist?

The term “quiet title attorney” implies that some attorneys handle quiet title actions exclusively. Property law is a broad legal category, and quiet title lawsuits are one part of it. Very few attorneys, if any, handle quiet titles exclusively. What you should look for instead is a property-focused practice that handles quiet title work regularly — Jones Property Law is one of those. Most real estate or property lawyers can technically handle a quiet title action; the real question is whether their practice is focused enough to do it well.

The best way to protect yourself is to educate yourself.

As in any industry, some attorneys conduct business with integrity and excellence, while others do not. The more you know about quiet title lawsuits, the better you can protect yourself against poor legal practices. You don’t need to become a legal expert yourself. But with a little effort, you can get a feel for the basic legal concepts at play. This will help you evaluate your attorney’s performance and determine whether the fees are fair.

For a quick education on quiet title basics, read the following articles:

1. What is a quiet title action? Explains the nature and purpose of a quiet title lawsuit, to give you an idea what’s going on behind the scenes.
2. How much does a quiet title action cost? Explains the factors that influence the cost of a quiet title action. While costs vary, make sure you have a general sense of fair attorney fees.
3. Can I recover attorney fees in a quiet title lawsuit? It’s worth a little time and effort to learn whether you can recover the entire cost of your quiet title lawsuit.

These articles do not provide an exhaustive education, but they will equip you to make an informed hiring decision.

Do you really need a quiet title lawsuit? Make sure.

You could potentially save thousands of dollars by avoiding a quiet title action altogether. The firm has been contacted by property owners who were told by a title company that a quiet title action was the only path forward — and on review, the title defect could be solved another way entirely. Sending a focused legal opinion to the title company can sometimes resolve the issue without litigation, saving the client thousands of dollars and clearing the closing in weeks rather than months. That’s why it pays to work with an attorney who looks for the most efficient path to a clear title, rather than defaulting to a lawsuit and a higher fee.