Best Lawyers in New Jersey, United States for Real Estate Law

Practice Area Overview

Trying to decide if you need a real estate attorney in New Jersey can be a tough decision; not only is trying to find the right attorney hard, but the dilemma is coupled with New Jerseys unique real estate laws.

Not using a lawyer may put you at risk of completing paperwork inaccurately or incorrectly writing your title, especially when it comes to commercial property. To save yourself from the headache, the best course of action would be to make sure you’re taking proper precautions and hire a trusted lawyer.

You may be thinking to yourself “How do I find a New Jersey real estate lawyer?”. The answer is simple, the Best Lawyers® New Jersey Real Estate directory. This directory allows you to filter by city. From Woodbridge to Florham Park, there is bound to be a trusted lawyer for you.

What Does a Real Estate Lawyer Do in New Jersey?

A New Jersey Real Estate Attorney does a multitude of things. For instance, they:

  • Draft and review contracts
  • Oversee searching and insurance for titles
  • Ensure legal compliance with state laws and zoning regulations
  • Negotiate on behalf of the buyer/seller
  • Manage the closing (deeds, oversight and preparation of closing documents)
  • Handle difficult situations such as foreclosure or short sale if applicable
  • Navigate New Jersey real estate laws in compliance with the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)

Moreover, New Jersey has strict real estate laws in place to protect both the buyer and the seller. These include:

Attorney Review Period

The state of New Jersey requires a mandatory review period of three days for residential properties. In this time contracts written up by the real estate agents are given to a licensed attorney to be looked over. Both the buyer and seller can request any changes or cancel transactions during this period.

This is different than most states real estate laws, as in other states once you sign the contract, it is binding, there is no review period time. Having a trusted NJ real estate lawyer with your best interest is crucial to ensure you get the bang for your buck and have someone handling the review period and everything in between.

Mansion Tax

New Jersey requires the seller to pay a realty fee transfer, also known as the mansion tax, if the property costs over one million dollars. This tax is based on the sale price of the home. One percent is added for each million of the house's costs, and it goes to the tax. This tax is only applicable in New Jersey and applies to both residential and commercial properties.

Having an attorney to handle the paperwork and cover the payment is necessary. You don’t want to file your tax paperwork incorrectly or forget to send it.

Bulk Sale Law

Under New Jersey regulations (N.J.S.A. 54:50-38) if a company or a seller owning commercial property plans to sell their space, they must inform the New Jersey Division of Taxation, at least ten days before they sell. This allows the division to collect any remaining taxes from the seller.

It is imperative that an attorney aids in selling commercial property, or a business. The last thing a business owner wants is to be liable for tax fraud, so having a New Jersey Real Estate Lawyer who understands the complexity of the law is a weight to take off your shoulders.

Real Estate Tax Laws

New Jersey has strict real estate tax laws that take time to understand. They also can be discouraging for buyers, leading someone who thought they had their dream home astray, instead they end up receiving mountains of taxation and paperwork. Hiring a trusted New Jersey attorney will allow you to relax and be in accordance with the law.

Is New Jersey an Attorney State for Real Estate?

The short answer: yes. This stems from New Jerseys unique mandatory attorney review period. No matter if you hire a lawyer or not, an attorney will be involved in buying property. While the state does not require you to have a lawyer, not having one makes the process time-consuming and confusing.

If you’re buying a home, commercial property, or business, you should expect to hire an attorney. You will need to find one for the mandatory review period, or risk being underrepresented. That being the case; they might as well help you with the rest.

Can you Sell a House in New Jersey without a Lawyer?

It is not advised or recommended to sell a house in New Jersey without a lawyer. This is due to New Jersey’s complicated laws and ordinances such as the:

  • Mansion Tax
  • Attorney Review Period
  • Bulk Sale Law
  • Property Disclosure Rules
  • Local Ordinances and HOA

When it comes to a New Jersey real estate attorney and your home, the benefits outweigh the costs.

How to Find a Real Estate Attorney in New Jersey

It’s back to square one. When looking for an attorney to handle the buying and/or selling of your property, you’ll want the best. Best Lawyers has a dedicated directory to help in your plight to find the right lawyer.

You could spend hours upon hours of precious time, reading reviews, checking by word of mouth, all the while Best Lawyers has already simplified this process for you. All attorneys listed in the directory have been recognized for their ability in their field, character, legal talent and have garnered respect amongst their peers.

Being recognized by Best Lawyer is perceived as an honor amongst the legal profession. The Best Lawyers directory recognizes real estate attorneys in fourteen New Jersey Cities. These include:

It’s never too late to seek legal help, get connected with a lawyer near you today.

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Our Methodology


Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.

The Process

Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.