Real estate attorney in Richmond
Transactions and disputes over property in Richmond, West Contra Costa County, and the East Bay, handled by an attorney who also holds a California real estate broker’s license.
Property problems are rarely only legal
A real estate matter usually involves a contract, a title report, a city file, and people with different goals. Daniel R. Butt has practiced law in California since 2012 and holds a California real estate broker’s license, so he reads a purchase agreement, disclosure packet, or escrow file with an eye to how deals actually close and where they come apart.
The office is at 111 Park Place in Point Richmond and works with owners, buyers, sellers, investors, and small businesses across Richmond, San Pablo, El Cerrito, Hercules, Pinole, and the wider East Bay.
Transactions
- Reviewing and negotiating purchase and sale agreements, counteroffers, and contingencies
- Commercial and residential leases, assignments, and amendments
- Easements, access agreements, and shared-driveway or shared-wall arrangements
- Title questions, lot-line issues, and reviewing preliminary title reports and exceptions
- Transfers among family members or into entities, coordinated with estate planning
- See also purchases and acquisitions for business and investment deals
Disputes
- Boundary and encroachment disputes between neighbors
- Easement and access fights
- Failed escrows, deposit disputes, and claims about seller disclosures
- Co-owner and partition disputes
- Disputes with contractors over work on the property (see construction law)
- Litigation and trial when a matter cannot be resolved (see litigation and trials)
Land use and the City
Many property questions in Richmond turn on planning and permitting: zoning, use permits, code enforcement, historic review, and conditions of approval. The office follows Richmond’s Planning Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, and City Council and publishes weekly notes on local and statewide developments. That local familiarity helps clients anticipate what the City will ask for and when.
How engagements usually start
Most matters begin with a short call to understand the property, the documents, and the deadline. If the matter is a fit, the office will send a written engagement letter describing the scope of work and fees before any work begins. Deadlines in real estate, such as contingency periods, notice periods, and statutes of limitation, can be short, so it helps to call early.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a lawyer and a broker for a purchase?
Not always. Many transactions close with brokers and escrow alone. A lawyer is most useful when the contract is unusual, the property has title, permit, or tenant issues, or there is a dispute. Daniel holds both licenses, but each engagement is defined in writing.
Can you help with a neighbor dispute over a fence or driveway?
Yes. Boundary, encroachment, and easement disputes are a regular part of the practice. They often start with a survey and title review and are frequently resolved by agreement.
Do you handle commercial property?
Yes. The office works on commercial leases, purchases, and disputes as well as residential matters.
What areas do you serve?
Richmond and West Contra Costa County primarily, and the East Bay generally. Matters outside California law are not handled.
Talk with the office
Call (510) 255-1094, email daniel@buttlaw.com, or use the contact form. The office at 111 Park Place, Suite 204, in Point Richmond is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please do not send confidential details until the firm has confirmed in writing that it represents you.