A property transaction can produce several invoices with similar-sounding descriptions. Legal advice, lender charges, title services and other closing items are not automatically the same service or paid to the same provider. Start by identifying who the lawyer represents and the exact transaction task. This worksheet does not evaluate a contract, title condition or property purchase.
Identify the legal client and assignment
Ask whether the firm is advising you, acting for another participant or providing a defined closing-related service. Request a written scope for contract review, negotiation, title-related advice, document preparation or attendance. If the matter includes a dispute or a property outside Florida, ask whether that is within the engagement. Do not assume that another party’s lawyer is providing independent advice to you.
Reconcile the quotation with the transaction documents
Compare the legal-fee proposal with the available lender and closing documents. Ask the responsible provider to explain each entry and whether it is already included elsewhere. Keep appraisal, survey, recording, title, escrow and financing charges separate for comparison; not every transaction has the same items. The Bar’s home-buying resource provides background for asking questions, not a substitute for reviewing your actual paperwork.
Price changes and unfinished tasks explicitly
Ask whether the quote includes revised contracts, additional negotiations, unexpected title work, a delayed closing or later corrective documents. Record which services require another estimate and who must authorize them. Confirm secure payment instructions directly through a known, independently verified contact before sending funds; do not rely on a changed instruction in an unexpected message. A quoted legal fee does not establish that the transaction is ready to close.
Your written-proposal checklist
| Item | Question or evidence to record |
|---|---|
| Representation | Named client and purpose of the lawyer’s engagement |
| Scope | Contract, title, negotiation or closing tasks actually included |
| Transaction costs | Reconciliation with lender/title documents to avoid double counting |
| Change control | Additional work, delay charges and secure payment confirmation |
Record the firm, document version, quotation date, assignment and unresolved questions in your own private notes. Do not upload confidential legal documents to this website.
Next step for this decision
Use the closing-cost planner for the complete transaction cash picture, then compare only matching legal-service scopes in the quote tool. Ask your lawyer or closing professional to resolve any unexplained overlap. Do not classify a disputed charge or legal obligation from this general checklist alone.