Closing attorney
in Lowell, MA.
Real estate closings in Lowell
Local counsel, a short drive from the property and from the registry.
Joseph Clermont was raised in Lowell and has lived in the city for most of his life. David grew up there too, before the practice moved up the road to Dracut. Four decades of closings later, there are not many Lowell neighborhoods where we have not sat at somebody's kitchen table.
That matters here more than it would elsewhere, because Lowell is an old city and old cities keep complicated records. Mill conversions bring master deeds and association documents that reward careful reading. Multi-family properties bring existing tenancies, security deposits that must be accounted for correctly at closing, and occasionally a rent that was never papered. Estates that were never properly probated leave gaps in the chain of title that surface years later, when the family finally tries to sell.
We handle buyer, seller, and refinance closings throughout the city, and we are ten minutes from the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds, where every Lowell deed is recorded.
If you are buying a two- or three-family as an owner-occupant, talk to us before you sign. The questions worth asking about the tenants are much easier to raise while the agreement is still being negotiated.
What we handle for Lowell property
Buying your first place, selling the house you raised a family in, or refinancing to bring the rate down.
- 01Buyer representationIncluding P&S review before you sign
- 02Seller representationDeed, closing statement, and payoff coordination
- 03Refinance closingsLoan document review
- 04Title examinationAt the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds
- 05Condominium closingsMaster deeds, 6(d) certificates, and mill conversions
- 06Multi-family purchasesTwo- and three-deckers, with tenancy and deposit review
- 07Older chains of titleProbate gaps and undischarged mortgages
- 08Deed transfersBetween family members, or into a trust
- 09Homestead declarationsFiled at closing
Where we are
Our office is at 490 Textile Avenue in Dracut, with parking at the door. Closings are held here, and we are glad to read the purchase and sale agreement with you before you sign it — that conversation is free, and it is the one that saves people the most trouble.
Call 978-957-6997 or use the contact form and we will get back to you the same business day.
Also see
Tell us about your closing, get a number back.
Buying or selling — the property, your agent, your lender if there is one, and the closing date. It takes about two minutes, and we come back with a flat fee for the attorney work, usually within one business day.
Start the quote formQuestions we get asked
What does a closing attorney do in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts requires a licensed attorney to conduct a real estate closing. That attorney examines title at the registry of deeds, clears defects, prepares the deed and closing statement, obtains title insurance, runs the closing, disburses the funds, and records the documents. Most of the work happens in the weeks before the closing date.
Can I use my own attorney if the lender already assigned one?
Yes, and many buyers do. The lender's closing attorney represents the lender — their job is a valid, enforceable mortgage. Your own attorney reads the purchase and sale agreement in your interest, watches the contingency deadlines, and tells you when something in the title should worry you.
Where are Lowell deeds recorded?
Lowell property records at the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds in Lowell, which covers Dracut, Lowell, Chelmsford, Tyngsborough, Billerica, Westford, Carlisle, Tewksbury, and Wilmington.
Who pays the deed stamps on a Lowell sale?
By custom in Massachusetts the seller pays the deed excise, currently $4.56 per $1,000 of the sale price. Recording fees and the lender's title insurance premium are generally the buyer's, along with the lender's closing costs.
Do you handle condominium closings in the downtown mill buildings?
Yes. A condominium purchase adds the master deed, the trust or association documents, the budget and any special assessments, and the 6(d) certificate confirming the seller is current on common charges. We review all of it — special assessments have a way of arriving the month after a closing.
What should I know about buying a multi-family in Lowell?
Existing tenancies transfer with the building. You will want the leases, the rent roll, the security deposits — which carry strict statutory handling requirements in Massachusetts and real penalties for getting them wrong — and clarity on which units, if any, will be delivered vacant. These are purchase and sale terms, so they need to be settled before you sign.
Are you actually from Lowell?
Yes. Joe was raised in the city and still lives there; David grew up in Lowell before the office moved to Dracut. It is a small thing, but it means we are not learning your neighborhood from a map.
General information about Massachusetts law, current as of publication — not legal advice, and not a substitute for talking through your own circumstances with an attorney. Reading this page does not create an attorney–client relationship.
When you're ready,
we'll take it from here.
Free initial consultations. We'll listen first, then lay out a plan in plain language.