Attorney Escrow Services from a Licensed California Lawyer
When a deal is too large, too unusual or too international for a standard escrow company, a licensed attorney can hold the funds. The Law Office of Madaen receives your money into a client trust account and releases it only when the conditions in your escrow agreement are met.
How attorney escrow works
- Escrow agreement. The buyer, the seller and the attorney sign a written agreement that states the amount, the release conditions and where the money goes.
- Identity checks. Each party provides identification, company records and IRS Form W-9 or W-8BEN, as federal rules and our bank require.
- Deposit. The buyer wires the funds to the attorney's client trust account. We confirm receipt to both sides in writing.
- Conditions met. Delivery, inspection, closing documents or whatever the agreement requires is completed and documented.
- Release. We wire the funds to the seller and any other payees exactly as the agreement says, and provide an accounting.
Transactions we hold in escrow
- Oil and petroleum sales and broker commissions
- Gold, diamonds and precious metals
- Large currency payments to several beneficiaries
- Bitcoin and cryptocurrency related purchases settled by wire
- Medical supplies, PPE and equipment contracts
- Business and asset sales, holdbacks and earn outs
- Commission agreements among brokers and intermediaries
Attorney escrow vs. an escrow company
| Escrow company | Attorney escrow | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Standard home and business sales | Commodity, international and custom deals |
| Escrow terms | Standard forms | Written to match your contract |
| Several payees in different countries | Uncommon | Routine |
| Review of documents before release | Limited | Yes, by a licensed attorney |
| Oversight | State licensing regulator | State Bar of California and trust account rules |
Read the full comparison: Attorney Paymaster vs. Escrow Company.
Why clients choose the Law Office of Madaen
- You deal directly with the attorney, Bahram Madaen, from the first call to the final wire.
- Funds stay in a client trust account, never mixed with the firm's own money.
- Documents are exchanged through a secure client portal, not email.
- Experience with domestic and international parties, and with deals that pay several beneficiaries.
Questions about attorney escrow
What are attorney escrow services?
An attorney acts as a neutral escrow holder. The paying party wires funds to the attorney's client trust account, the attorney holds them while the deal is completed, and then releases them to the receiving party only when the conditions in the written escrow agreement are met.
Why use an attorney instead of an escrow company?
An attorney can tailor the escrow terms to an unusual deal, handle international parties and multiple payees, and review the documents before money moves. Attorneys are also bound by State Bar trust account rules and professional discipline.
What kinds of transactions do you hold in escrow?
Commodity trades such as oil, gold and precious metals, currency and cryptocurrency related deals, medical supply and equipment purchases, business and asset sales, and commission arrangements between brokers and intermediaries.
Where are the funds held?
In the firm's client trust account at a U.S. bank, separate from the firm's own money, with a record of every deposit and payment.
How much do attorney escrow services cost?
Fees quoted per transaction. Please contact Bahram Madaen directly for a price. The fee is confirmed in a written agreement before any funds are received.
Do you work with parties outside the United States?
Yes. Many of our escrow and paymaster engagements involve buyers, sellers or brokers in other countries. Every party must provide identification and the correct IRS form (W-9 or W-8BEN).
Fees
Fees quoted per transaction. Please contact Bahram Madaen directly by phone or email for a price. Every fee is confirmed in a written fee agreement before any funds are received.
Documents to prepare
- Contract: a copy of the contract, agreement or written instructions for how the money is to be paid out.
- Paymaster fee agreement: we send this to you after our first conversation.
- Identification: a driver's license or passport for each individual involved.
- Company records: for each business, its formation documents and the names of its owners and authorized signers.
- Tax forms: IRS Form W-9 for U.S. citizens, residents and companies; IRS Form W-8BEN (or W-8BEN-E for entities) for everyone else.
- Bank details for every beneficiary, in the beneficiary's own legal name.
We receive and send funds by bank wire only. We do not accept cash, checks or money orders.
Talk to the attorney before you sign
Call or email Bahram Madaen directly for a price quote and to confirm a paymaster arrangement fits your deal.
Call (714) 782-7275 Email attorneymadaen@gmail.com Use the contact form