A good deal of landlords have no need to keep an attorney on retainer, and many only rent out a few different properties. Yet there are many situations that can crop up when a landlord will need the expertise of a real estate attorney, anything from having to go through with their first eviction to being sued by tenants. Read on to a get a sample of the scenarios where a real estate lawyer can be invaluable to a landlord.

First, there is when a landlord has to file an eviction lawsuit. The laws of this process are extremely complex, and there are is a high standard of evidence required of landlords. Not every eviction lawsuit will require the assistance of an attorney, but, if this is the first time you're faced with this situation, if your tenant has hired an attorney, or if the tenant is also an employee that you have fired, then an attorney may be necessary for your case. Working with a legal professional could also be beneficial if your tenant has filed for bankruptcy protection, or if the property is affected by rent control rules.

Then if you are sued by a tenant, whether it is for alleged discrimination, an injury, or property damage, an attorney may be required. If you are being sued for a great deal of money, hiring an attorney is usually a no-brainer. If you are only headed to small claims court, you can probably represent yourself, but a consultation with a lawyer certainly would not hurt. In fact, in many cases, your insurer may have to provide with legal representation.

If you are audited by the IRS or your state, then a lawyer cannot hurt here either, not if there is a substantial amount of money involved. And if you catch a big error in your taxes before an audit comes your way, you may want to hire a lawyer to help you ward off an audit by fixing the matter as soon as possible. When you need to purchase or sell property, you'll be faced with more difficulties than the average homeowner. An attorney can assist with everything, starting with negotiations, helping you through to closing. One big issue they can help you with is making sure you have a clean title, for instance.

Of course, a landlord will need a real estate attorney for plenty of other matters, especially those that involve the courts. While there are also times when hiring a lawyer may be an unwarranted expense, they are also times where a consultation or two can help you avoid costly errors and help you on your way to running a successful business. To start getting the legal answers and help you need, contact a real estate attorney today!