Real Estate Document Preparation and Contract Review
Real estate documents can affect who owns your property, how it is transferred, and who has authority to act on your behalf. Whether you are buying or selling a home, transferring property to a family member, planning for the future, or authorizing someone to handle a real estate transaction, carefully prepared and reviewed documents help protect your interests.
At Garcia Legal Group, P.C., we help individuals and families prepare and review real estate documents. Our attorneys give personalized guidance, explain your options, and help you understand how each document may affect your property rights.
OUR REAL ESTATE SERVICES
Real estate is often one of a person's most valuable assets. We take time to understand your goals and prepare or review the right documents for your situation under Texas law.
Residential Contract Review
Important: Contract review must happen before both parties sign. We cannot review a contract or addendum that both parties have already signed. If you are considering an offer or counteroffer, contact us as early as possible, before the contract is fully signed.
Buying or selling a home is a major financial decision. A residential earnest money contract sets out the terms of the deal, including the price, deadlines, contingencies, and each party's obligations. Once both parties sign, those terms are binding and can be hard to change.
Our attorneys review residential earnest money contracts and addenda before they are signed, so you understand what you are agreeing to. Our review may cover:
- Purchase price and financing terms: Making sure the price, earnest money, and financing provisions match your understanding of the deal.
- Option periods and deadlines: Identifying key dates for inspections, financing approval, title review, and closing, and explaining what happens if a deadline is missed.
- Contingencies: Reviewing financing, appraisal, inspection, and sale-of-other-property contingencies, and how they protect you or limit your options.
- Title and survey provisions: Explaining how title commitments, survey requirements, and objection deadlines work.
- Seller disclosures and property condition: Reviewing disclosure obligations, repair terms, and "as is" provisions.
- Addenda and special provisions: Reviewing addenda such as HOA, lender-related, and seller-financing addenda, along with any added special provisions.
- Default and remedies: Explaining what happens if either party fails to perform, including how earnest money is handled.
Where it makes sense, we can also suggest changes or additional provisions that better protect your interests.
Contract Review Requirements
Review and comment are available for residential earnest money contracts and addenda that meet both of these conditions:
- The contract has not yet been signed by both parties. Review must happen before the contract is fully signed.
- The contract is fully completed on a standard form issued by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) or Texas REALTORS® (TXR).
We do not review commercial real estate contracts.
In some complicated situations, a paid consultation may be required first so we can gather the facts needed for a meaningful review.
Warranty Deeds
A warranty deed transfers ownership of real property and provides certain assurances about the property's title. The scope of those assurances depends on the type of deed.
We prepare deeds for:
- Family property transfers: Transferring ownership of real estate between family members.
- Property sales and other transfers: Preparing deeds to convey property to another person.
- Special warranty deeds: Preparing deeds that generally limit the grantor's title warranties to the period the grantor owned the property.
We help you understand the differences between deed types and choose the right one for your transfer.
Transfer on Death Deeds
A Transfer on Death Deed lets a property owner name one or more beneficiaries to receive the property after the owner's death, generally without probate being needed to transfer that property.
During your lifetime, you keep ownership and control of the property and can revoke the deed.
We help clients prepare Transfer on Death Deeds as part of their plans for passing real estate to loved ones.
Lady Bird Deeds (Enhanced Life Estate Deeds)
A Lady Bird Deed, also called an Enhanced Life Estate Deed, lets a property owner choose who will receive the property after the owner's death while keeping broad control during the owner's lifetime.
Unlike a traditional life estate deed, a properly prepared Lady Bird Deed generally lets the owner sell, mortgage, or otherwise transfer the property without the beneficiaries' permission.
Our attorneys help clients decide whether a Lady Bird Deed fits their property and estate planning goals.
Real Estate Powers of Attorney
A Real Estate Power of Attorney authorizes another person to handle specified real estate matters on the owner's behalf. It can be useful when an owner cannot attend a closing or handle a property matter in person.
We prepare powers of attorney for matters such as:
- Property transactions: Authorizing an agent to sign documents for the sale or transfer of real estate.
- Property management: Giving an agent authority to handle specified matters involving real property.
We work with you to define the scope of authority and prepare documents that fit your needs.
Our Approach
Tailored to Your Goals
Every property owner's situation is different. Before recommending documents or reviewing a contract, we take time to understand your property, your transaction, and any family or planning concerns.
Clear, Practical Guidance
Contracts and property documents can be confusing. We explain the purpose of each document, point out key terms and potential risks, and help you understand how they may affect your rights.
Attention to Texas Legal Requirements
Our attorneys prepare and review real estate documents with careful attention to Texas law and the details of your transaction, so your documents reflect your intentions and meet legal requirements.
Contact Garcia Legal Group, P.C.
Whether you need a residential contract reviewed, a warranty deed, a Transfer on Death Deed, a Lady Bird Deed, or a Real Estate Power of Attorney, Garcia Legal Group, P.C. can help you understand your options and protect your property interests.
Need a residential contract reviewed? Contact us before both parties sign.
We proudly serve clients throughout Dallas and the DFW area.
Schedule a Consultation
Garcia Legal Group, P.C.
8035 E. R. L. Thornton Fwy., Suite 100
Dallas, TX 75228
Phone: (972) 996-2329involve important family and financial decisions. Our attorneys work with clients to determine which documents best fit their needs.
Clear Guidance: Legal documents can be confusing, especially when they involve transferring ownership or planning for the future. We explain the purpose of each document and help clients understand how it may affect their property rights.
CONTACT OUR FIRM
Whether you need to transfer ownership of property, prepare a Transfer on Death Deed, or establish a Lady Bird Deed, Garcia Legal Group, P.C. is here to help.
Our attorneys can assist you with preparing real estate documents that reflect your intentions and comply with applicable Texas law. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation or learn more about our real estate document preparation services.
We proudly serve clients throughout Dallas and the DFW area.
Schedule a Consultation
Garcia Legal Group, P.C.
8035 E. R. L. Thornton Fwy., Suite 100
Dallas, TX 75228
(972) 996-2329
