Q: Do I have to use an attorney for my closing?

No. Under current North Carolina law, the settlement and closing of a real estate loan are not considered to be the practice of law. However, only attorneys are supervised by a licensing agency and have a fiduciary duty to you to see that the documents are executed properly and that the funds are properly disbursed. Many settlement companies do not carry insurance and have no duty to you. Additionally, only attorneys can give you a legal opinion about the documents you are executing and answer questions that may arise during the closing.