In OneLaw’s March newsletter, I share a validating update from a former client, and Attorney Chiara LaPlume highlights the essential role an attorney plays in real estate conveyancing – otherwise known as buying or selling a home. There is also a reminder that we represent clients in a whole range of student discipline matters.
Read the full March 2025 newsletter HERE.
A text version is below.
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Spring is here!
I recently received an update from a former client who had a contentious matter with their school district regarding their daughter. We resolved that matter years ago and now she is thriving in college, which was great to hear. Though we know the immediate outcome of our work, we don’t usually get this type of long-term feedback. Quite validating.
In the newsletter this month, Attorney Chiara LaPlume highlights the essential role an attorney plays in real estate conveyancing – otherwise known as buying or selling a home. There is also a reminder that we represent clients in a whole range of student discipline matters.
As always, OneLaw is dedicated to serving the personal legal needs of families and individuals across a variety of practice areas. Let us know how we can help you. Visit our website (https://www.one-law.us) or give us a call at 617-831-4355.
Peter A. Hahn, Esq.
Principal Attorney
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CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
“Our daughter graduated from high school and is completing her second year at Wellesley College. Not bad for a student that our town said – ‘she probably won’t be able to attend or do well at college’ – and then encouraged us to think of another education path and career choice. We thank Attorney Hahn for helping to make this educational journey possible! We found him to be thoughtful, kind, an excellent listener, a tenacious advocate, and someone who cares deeply for the clients he represents and the outcomes he delivers.” – E.P. (March 2025)
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Why You Need A Real Estate Lawyer
by Chiara LaPlume, Esq.
Spring is in the air, snowdrops have sprouted, and the real estate market is buzzing. You might be wondering – how do attorneys fit into the real estate purchase and sale process.
Do I need a lawyer?
In a word, yes. The work related to the transfer of title, also known as conveyancing, is considered practicing law in Massachusetts, and must therefore be performed by a licensed attorney. This is not the case in all states. Before the title is transferred, a purchase and sale agreement is also negotiated. This, too, is considered practicing law.
More importantly, perhaps, the purchase of your home is going to be one of your largest investments. It just makes sense to hire someone to represent your interests in this process, and to anticipate roadblocks and make sure the process run smoothly and your interests are protected.
When do I hire an attorney if I am selling?
Although most of the time I hear from sellers once an offer has been signed, there are advantages to contacting a lawyer before then. These include:
* the opportunity to review the listing agreement with your real estate agent before it is signed – there are always changes;
* having the opportunity to ask questions about the process, and to assess for any possible issues – this allows a seller to have more time to correct any title issues, authority documents, etc.; and
* having time to set up the attorney-client relationship so that it does not become an emergency once the offer has been accepted, and a purchase and sales agreement needs to be generated to meet the offer’s deadlines.
When do I hire an attorney if I am buying?
On average, buyers will often look to hire an attorney once the offer is signed. Buyers who have worked with me before . . . know better.
There is some work that can be done earlier, before an offer is made. Examples include:
* reviewing the agreement to work exclusively with a buyer’s agent. The recent National Association of Realtors settlement of 2024 requires that realtors disclose what their compensation will be before they show a buyer a property. This means that (unlike in the past) you will be asked to sign an agreement for the hiring of a buyer’s real estate agent before they will take you to see listings. The format and content of these agreements is not uniform;
* a lot of clients appreciate some due diligence being done before the home inspection takes place, as learning about a property can highlight items for the home inspector to review during the inspection;
* sometimes as attorneys we can help you find a lender that will be able to close under your or the property’s specific conditions – and within your offer’s timeframes. Sometimes a seller will want the offer to contain terms that your original lender cannot work with; and
* I am sometimes asked to confirm rights or restrictions of your future home that may critical to a buyer, such as whether your puppy is allowed “as of right” in a condominium association (even if the dog weighs 100 lb), or if you can level the yard and install the pool you had planned for.
Whatever you situation, real estate transactions can feel high-pressure and fast-paced once an offer is made. OneLaw is happy to meet you where you are at, whether it’s before the offer is signed or after.
Attorney Chiara LaPlume represents OneLaw clients in a variety of residential real estate matters.
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STUDENT DISCIPLINE
Might spring fever have gotten your child in trouble at school?
We represent clients in public and private schools facing an array of disciplinary procedures, from grade reduction and detention to suspension and expulsion. There are laws about what public schools can and cannot do in disciplinary situations, and in many cases, there are due process requirements that schools must follow. We provide legal advice, preparation for, and representation at disciplinary hearings of all kinds, from elementary and secondary schools to colleges and universities.
Contact OneLaw for a consultation or representation if you or your child is facing a disciplinary matter at school.
We also answer some common questions on our website (https://www.one-law.us/discover-more-about-student-discipline/) .
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OneLaw specializes in education, estate planning, residential real estate, civil rights, family law, criminal and victim rights, discrimination, special needs, guardianship, consumer protection, juvenile and child welfare, probate administration, Title IX, HPO/RO, and related matters.