If you’re looking to purchase real estate in Belize and decided to start your journey by hiring a real estate attorney, congrats! You’re taking the early step to guard your investment. 

A real estate lawyer will most likely refer you to a local real estate agent they’ve worked with for years to help you find what you want. This means that from the start, you can rest assured that what you purchase won’t be an empty lot (unless that’s what you want). Either way, your real estate lawyer will have your best interest in mind and make sure that your purchase is legitimate.  

Unfortunately, some people make the mistake of hiring a lawyer when it’s too late, i.e. when the buyer submitted their deposit, and the seller has suddenly disappeared. 

Never give your deposit to the seller. Instead, a real estate lawyer can hold your deposit in escrow. If the law firm finds that the home or lot for sale is a fraud, they will not release the funds. 

We discussed at length ways to avoid scams in Belize (see here, here and here). And we discussed that the biggest challenge with purchasing real estate in Belize is the lack of regulation over the real estate market (read that article here). 

If we convinced you to hire legal representation, then your next step is to choose a lawyer.

Where to start  find a lawyer in Belize

The best way to start your search is by asking your friends and family for recommendations. 

• Check Facebook groups. How often was the law firm or managing partner mentioned? How many times were they recommended?
• Check Belize expat forums
• Google: Belize real estate lawyer or Belize real estate attorney
• Read their reviews on Google and Facebook

If you have the name of the managing partner, take it a step further by checking their LinkedIn profile. Their LinkedIn profile should list their educational and professional background.

What to look out for hire a law firm in Belize

Once you’ve narrowed down your search to two or three real estate law firms, here’s a checklist of things to look out for:

• Does the law firm have an office in Belize?

• When you emailed them, how long did it take them to reply? 

• Check the managing partner’s credentials. Check the lawyer’s credentials. What is their educational background? Check their experience. 

• When you called their office during regular business hours, who answered?

• Does the law firm hold your escrowed funds in the United States? 

• Are real property transactions a large part of the law firm’s practice?

• Are the firm’s attorneys available for direct consultations in order to answer your questions upfront about the closing process?
• How much of the related services (e.g. property inspections, surveys, valuation, property insurance) can the firm facilitate?

You should find the answers to most of these questions on the law firm’s website. If their website looks outdated, contact them to ask if they still offer these services. Check their social media, when was the last time they published an article or announcement? 

Once you have all the information you need to make a decision, decide if you want to schedule a call with the attorney. You’ll likely have to pay for the consultation so use this time to clarify any doubts you have. To make the best use of your investment, do your research ahead of time—iron out the details of how the attorney will support you. If you feel that the call went well and that it was worth paying for, then you’ve found your attorney! 

We hope this article was helpful. If you’re considering hiring our law firm to assist you with your real estate purchase in Belize, then contact us today. 

Ready to hire an attorney in Belize? Check us out. We’ve been in business since 2009 and we’re licensed in Belize, Jamaica, New York, and Florida, USA. Learn about our law firm here.

This information was provided as a courtesy of Wrobel & Co. Attorneys-at-law. It is intended to inform, not to advise. No one should try to interpret or apply any law without the assistance of legal counsel. Please click here for the full disclaimer.