Pennsylvania Real Estate Law

ZwickLaw represents property owners, buyers, sellers and businesses in Pennsylvania real-estate transactions and disputes. Real-property matters can involve title, deeds, contracts, easements, boundaries, rights-of-way, ownership interests, financing, land use and related issues that affect the value and use of property.

Real Estate Transactions and Agreements

Legal review can help identify obligations and risks before a transaction closes or a long-term property agreement is signed. ZwickLaw assists with matters including:

• agreements of sale and purchase documents;
• deeds and conveyancing;
• commercial and residential real-estate issues;
• easements and rights-of-way;
• leases and property-use agreements;
• ownership and co-ownership arrangements;
• seller and buyer contract issues; and
• business and estate transactions involving real property.

Deed, Title and Ownership Problems

A deed appearing in the public record does not necessarily resolve every ownership issue. Problems can arise from ambiguous legal descriptions, missing interests, competing deeds, old reservations, unreleased claims, boundary discrepancies, estate transfers, adverse possession allegations or other defects affecting title.

Depending on the circumstances, a title problem may be addressed through documentation, a corrective instrument, agreement among the interested parties, or litigation such as a quiet-title action.

Easements, Rights-of-Way and Boundary Disputes

Property disputes often involve the right to cross or use another person’s land. The analysis may depend on recorded easements, deed language, historic use, surveys, maintenance obligations, permission, prescriptive-use principles and the location of the claimed right.

ZwickLaw handles matters involving express easements, prescriptive easements, access rights, road and driveway disputes, boundary questions and related real-property litigation.

Real Estate and Oil & Gas Rights

Real-estate ownership in Pennsylvania can also intersect with oil, gas and mineral rights, pipeline rights-of-way, surface-use agreements and title questions involving severed interests. ZwickLaw’s Pennsylvania oil and gas practice addresses those related issues.

What Should I Bring to a Real Estate Consultation?

• the current deed and any prior deeds you have;
• the agreement of sale, lease, easement or other governing document;
• surveys, plats and subdivision plans;
• title reports or title-insurance materials;
• photographs showing roads, boundaries, fences or disputed areas;
• letters, emails or notices from other owners, neighbors, lenders or title companies; and
• a short timeline explaining the transaction or dispute.

When Should I Contact a Real Estate Attorney?

Legal review is especially useful before signing a significant property agreement, when a deed or survey does not match expectations, when access or boundary rights are disputed, when title prevents a sale or financing, or when another person claims an ownership interest or long-term right to use the property.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pennsylvania Real Estate Law

Can a deed mistake be corrected without litigation?

Sometimes. A drafting or recording problem may be resolved through a corrective deed or other instrument if the necessary parties agree and the underlying ownership issue is clear. Competing ownership claims or disputed facts may require court involvement.

What is a quiet-title action?

A quiet-title action is a court proceeding used in appropriate circumstances to resolve competing claims or other clouds affecting ownership or title. The necessary parties and requested relief depend on the particular title problem.

Can long-term use create an easement?

Potentially. Pennsylvania recognizes prescriptive easements when the required elements are established. Permission, the nature of the use and the length and continuity of use are important to the analysis.

Related Pennsylvania Real Estate Resources

• Pennsylvania Quiet Title Actions: Resolving Deed, Ownership and Boundary Problems
• Prescriptive Easements in Pennsylvania: Can Long-Term Use Create a Right of Way?
• Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Law
• Civil and Commercial Litigation

Talk with a Pennsylvania Real Estate Attorney

ZwickLaw represents clients in DuBois and throughout Western and Central Pennsylvania in real-estate and property matters. Learn more about C.J. Zwick or contact ZwickLaw to discuss a transaction or dispute.

This page provides general information and is not legal advice. Real-estate rights depend on the governing documents, title history, facts and applicable Pennsylvania law.