Attorney Review In NJ: How It Works

Buying or selling a home in Shrewsbury comes with one quick but crucial step that can make or break your deal: attorney review. The process moves fast, and the clock starts sooner than many people expect. If you know what to do in these first few days, you protect your interests and keep your closing on track.

In this guide, you’ll learn what attorney review is, how the timeline works, what you can negotiate, and the smart moves to make in Shrewsbury and nearby Monmouth County towns. You’ll also get simple checklists for buyers and sellers so you can move with confidence. Let’s dive in.

Attorney review explained

In New Jersey, attorney review is a short period after both sides sign a purchase contract. During this time, either party’s attorney can approve, change, or cancel the agreement. It is a standard part of the contract forms used across the state.

The purpose is simple. You get a brief window to have a lawyer confirm the legal terms and fix issues. If needed, your attorney can propose changes or cancel without binding you to a deal that is not in your best interest.

While both parties have signed, the contract is usually not fully binding until attorney review is removed. If no one cancels or changes the contract within the review window, the agreement becomes enforceable.

Timeline and how the clock starts

The standard attorney review period is three business days. Business days usually exclude weekends and legal holidays.

The clock typically starts when the fully signed contract is delivered to the parties or their attorneys according to the contract’s delivery rules. Today, delivery often happens by email or e‑signature, which means review can start the same day the last person signs.

Attorneys can extend the review period if both sides agree in writing. If one attorney sends material changes that act like a counteroffer, many practitioners treat that as restarting or extending review. Practice can vary, so your attorney will confirm whether the window continues or restarts.

Attorney review ends when both attorneys confirm in writing that they approve the contract. During review, either side’s attorney can cancel by written notice within the period. If the deadline passes without action, the deal is binding. That is why quick responses matter.

What you can change

Attorney review is the moment to tighten your terms and reduce risk. Common negotiable items include:

• Price and credits, including closing cost contributions and prorations
• Closing date and occupancy timing
• Inspection scope, repair responsibilities, and remedies like credits or renegotiation
• Financing contingencies and lender dates, including the loan commitment deadline
• Title exceptions and required cures for liens, easements, or municipal issues
• What stays or goes with the home and any other contingencies
• Where the deposit is held, release conditions, and certain seller disclosures

Inspections, municipal certificates, and lender underwriting remain separate steps unless the attorneys add language that ties them to the contract in a specific way.

How it fits with inspections and financing

Many buyers schedule inspections during attorney review so results can inform negotiations. This can speed the overall timeline, but it is not required. The exact timing is negotiable.

Your lender’s process runs on a separate track. Underwriting and appraisals usually take longer than attorney review. Get pre‑approved before you offer, and send your lender full documentation quickly so loan timelines do not create issues after review ends.

Your contract controls deposit handling. If an attorney cancels during review, the deposit is usually returned according to the contract. If there is a disagreement, the escrow agent follows the dispute instructions in the contract until both sides sign a release or the dispute is resolved.

Title work and municipal certificates often start after the contract becomes binding, although early checks can help attorneys spot issues. Ask your attorney when title and municipal orders will be placed.

Buyer checklist: first 3 business days

Use this list to move fast and stay protected:

• Share your pre‑approval and proof of funds with your attorney if not already provided.
• Send any questions about disclosures or inspection items you want addressed.
• Book inspections immediately. Common options include home, pest, radon, and, if relevant, septic or well.
• Confirm your target closing date with your lender and agent, then alert your attorney to any loan timing limits.
• Ask your attorney to review title exceptions, property taxes, HOA rules if applicable, and seller disclosures.
• Confirm where your deposit will be held, who the escrow agent is, and the release conditions if the contract is cancelled in review.

Seller checklist: first 3 business days

Help your sale stay on schedule with these steps:

• Deliver seller disclosures and utility and tax information to the buyer and your attorney.
• Provide recent property tax bills, any survey, and HOA rules if applicable. This speeds title and review.
• Be ready to respond quickly to repair requests or contract edits from the buyer’s attorney.
• Confirm with your listing agent and attorney where the deposit will be held and how it will be released if the deal is cancelled in review.

Documents to have ready

Both sides should have these items within easy reach:

• Fully executed contract
• Seller’s disclosure forms
• Recent property tax bills
• Any certificate of occupancy or municipal compliance documents, if required
• Existing survey and HOA documents if applicable
• Buyer’s lender pre‑approval or, later, loan commitment correspondence

Shrewsbury and Monmouth County tips

Local requirements can affect timing, so confirm early. In many New Jersey towns, closings require municipal searches or certificates. Check with the Shrewsbury Borough clerk or your attorney about any local tax, occupancy, or code compliance needs and when they must be ordered.

Parts of Monmouth County have floodplain designations that can trigger flood insurance. If the home is near rivers or in lower‑lying areas, review flood maps and ask your lender about insurance requirements early in the process.

Some homes in Monmouth County use septic systems or private wells. If your property is on septic or well, additional inspections and health approvals may be needed. Your agent and attorney can help you confirm with the county health department.

In and around Shrewsbury, many agents encourage buyers to schedule inspections during attorney review to shorten the timeline and support focused negotiations. This local practice helps both sides move with clarity.

Keep your deal moving

You and your team can reduce friction during attorney review with a few simple habits:

• Send the fully signed contract to both attorneys right away and confirm receipt.
• Line up inspectors and lenders who can act quickly, and schedule the earliest available inspection slot.
• Share seller documents up front to avoid back‑and‑forth later.
• Track the review deadline on a shared calendar and set reminders for 24 hours before it ends.
• Stay decisive on small requests so you avoid repeated counters that could extend or restart review.
• Expect your attorney to focus on material legal issues and to communicate edits promptly and in writing.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Missing the deadline. If review ends without written action, you are bound by the contract.
• Slow responses. Three business days go by quickly, so answer calls and emails fast.
• Disorganized documents. Keep disclosures, tax bills, surveys, and HOA rules ready to share.
• Overbroad edits. Focus on the deal points that truly protect you so negotiations do not drag.

The bottom line

Attorney review in New Jersey is a short safety window that protects you and sharpens your contract. In Shrewsbury and across Monmouth County, the playbook is clear. Act fast, communicate with your attorney, and coordinate inspections and lender steps so you close without surprises.

If you want a local pro who keeps the process clear and on pace, connect with Alexis Fraistat. You will get straight talk, tight timelines, and a plan that protects your goals from offer to close.

FAQs

What is attorney review in New Jersey?

• It is a short period after both sides sign a contract when either party’s attorney can approve, change, or cancel the agreement before it becomes fully binding.

How long does attorney review last in NJ?

• The standard period is three business days, usually excluding weekends and legal holidays, beginning when the fully signed contract is delivered per the contract.

Can either party cancel during attorney review?

• Yes. Either side’s attorney can cancel by delivering written notice within the review window, which voids the contract and usually triggers return of the deposit per the contract.

Does a counteroffer restart attorney review?

• Material changes often lead practitioners to treat review as reopened or extended, but practices vary, so your attorney should confirm whether the clock restarts or continues.

Are inspections part of attorney review?

• No. Inspections are separate, but many buyers schedule them during review so findings can inform negotiations or targeted contract changes.

What happens to my earnest money if we cancel in review?

• The deposit is typically returned according to the contract’s escrow terms; if there is a dispute, the escrow agent follows the contract’s dispute process until there is a mutual release or resolution.

What local steps should I take in Shrewsbury?

• Confirm any municipal certificate needs with the borough or your attorney, check potential flood insurance requirements, and verify if septic or well inspections apply early in the process.