What kinds of real estate matters does Leonard Law Group handle?
The firm handles a broad mix of real estate legal services, including purchases, sales, closing issues, title problems, seller disclosure and hidden-defect claims, property tax assessment appeals, boundary and easement disputes, leasing issues, oil and gas or landowner matters, and property litigation.
Do I still need a lawyer if a title company is involved in the closing?
Often yes. A title company and a lawyer are not doing the same job. Title work can be important, but legal counsel helps with contract language, inspection disputes, risk allocation, seller-disclosure concerns, closing leverage, and what happens if the deal starts moving in the wrong direction.
What should I do if I found serious defects after buying a house?
Start by preserving the evidence immediately. That usually means photographs, inspection materials, seller disclosures, repair estimates, contractor opinions, remediation reports, emails, text messages, and anything showing what was represented before closing. The real questions are usually what was known, what was said, and how cleanly the timeline can be proven.
When does a property tax appeal make sense?
An appeal is usually worth exploring when the assessment appears disconnected from supportable market value and the likely tax savings justify the work. Timing matters, especially with local filing windows, so owners should review the deadline before assuming they can wait.
Should I sign an oil and gas lease without a lawyer reviewing it?
That is usually a bad idea. Lease language on royalties, deductions, surface use, pooling, extensions, and transfer rights can affect the property for years. Once the agreement is signed and recorded, fixing weak terms becomes much harder.
What should I send before the first property review?
The key documents usually matter more than a long summary. Agreements of sale, disclosure forms, inspection reports, title commitments, surveys, deeds, tax notices, municipal letters, lease documents, and the main email chain usually let the first review focus on what the firm handles and what should happen next.