Real estate closing attorneys in Lexington & Chapin, SC.

Why South Carolina requires an attorney

South Carolina is an attorney-closing state: the courts have held that a residential real estate closing is the practice of law, so a licensed South Carolina attorney must supervise the key steps — the title examination, the preparation of closing documents, the closing itself, the recording of the deed and mortgage, and the disbursement of funds.

That rule exists to protect you. A closing moves your largest asset and, usually, your largest debt in a single afternoon. Having an attorney responsible for every step means someone with a duty to you — not to the lender, and not to the deal — is checking the title, the numbers, and the documents before you sign.

We handle residential and commercial closings across the Midlands from our Lexington and Chapin offices, and we're at the Lexington County Register of Deeds nearly every week.

The closing, step by step

Every file follows the same five steps, in the same order — and we send an update at each one, so you never have to call and ask where things stand.

1. We open the fileThe day your contract arrives, we order the title search, make introductions with your agent and lender, and confirm the timeline with everyone.
2. Title comes backMost titles are clear. When one isn't — an old lien, a boundary question, an unprobated estate — we call you with the problem and the plan to cure it.
3. Clear to closeWe set the closing date with all parties and review the lender's final figures line by line before you see them.
4. Closing dayAbout forty-five minutes at the table. We walk you through every document you sign, in plain English, and confirm funding the same day.
5. RecordingThe deed and mortgage record with the county, and your post-closing packet — with your owner's title policy — follows by mail.

Title work & title insurance

The title examination is the heart of the closing. We search the county records to confirm the seller actually owns what they're selling, and that no liens, judgments, unpaid taxes, or easements will follow the property home with you.

Lender's title insurance is required on nearly every financed purchase — it protects the bank. Owner's title insurance is optional, protects you, and costs a one-time premium at closing. For most buyers it's inexpensive peace of mind against the defects no search can catch, like a forged deed or an unknown heir. We'll explain both plainly and let you decide.

What it costs

Our closing fee is a flat fee, quoted up front — before you commit to anything. The quote covers the title examination, document preparation, the closing itself, and recording. Third-party costs like title insurance premiums, recording fees, and taxes appear on your settlement statement at their actual cost, with no markup.

If the file turns out to need extra work — curing a title defect, preparing a power of attorney for an out-of-town signer — we tell you what it is and what it costs before we do it.

For buyers & sellers

Buyers choose the closing attorney in South Carolina — it's your right, even if the lender or the listing agent suggests someone else. Choose one who answers the phone.

Sellers need the deed prepared, payoff figures ordered, and their side of the settlement statement checked. If you're selling without an agent — for sale by owner — we can also prepare or review the contract itself so the deal starts on solid footing.

Robin R. McLean leads the firm's closing practice, with James McCutchen handling commercial transactions and the tax questions that come with them.