Unlike some states, Florida does not require you to hire an attorney to buy or sell real estate. Closings are often handled by title companies. So the honest question isn’t whether you’re required to have an attorney — it’s whether having one protects you enough to be worth it.
What a title company does — and doesn’t do
A title company can search title, issue title insurance, and process the closing paperwork. What it generally does not do is give you legal advice or advocate for your specific interests. It’s a neutral processor of the transaction, not your representative.
When an attorney is clearly worth it
Some transactions carry enough risk or complexity that legal review pays for itself:
- For-sale-by-owner deals — no agent means no one drafting or checking the contract for you.
- Title problems — liens, judgments, boundary issues, or unclear ownership.
- Commercial or investment property — higher stakes and more complex terms.
- Family or trust transfers — where the wrong deed can cause tax or probate problems.
- Anything contested — a deal that’s already showing signs of a dispute.
What you gain
An attorney reviews the contract before you’re locked in, examines title for problems that could threaten your ownership, explains what each document means, and makes sure the closing reflects the deal you actually made. On the largest purchase most people ever make, that review is a small cost for real protection.
The point of an attorney isn’t to complicate the deal — it’s to make sure the deal doesn’t complicate your life later.
A simple rule of thumb
If the transaction is straightforward and everyone is cooperative, a title company may be enough. If there’s any complexity, money at stake beyond your comfort level, or a hint of a dispute, having your own attorney review the deal is the safer choice. When in doubt, a free consultation costs you nothing but tells you what you’re dealing with.