Best Lawyers Names 9 High Swartz Attorneys

Best Lawyers® has included 9 High Swartz attorneys in its 2020 edition.

High Swartz LLP, a full-service law firm with offices in Norristown and Doylestown, Pennsylvania, is pleased to announce that 9 of its attorneys have been named U.S. News and World Report 2019 'Best Lawyers in America.' Among the highlights and on top of her inclusions as Best Lawyer in Family Law and Family Law Arbitration, Melissa M. Boyd was named Best Lawyers® 2020 Family Law "Lawyer of the Year” in Philadelphia.

High Swartz Best Lawyers® in 2020:

Workers' Compensation Law – Claimants in Doylestown, PA
Thomas E. Panzer

Family Law "Lawyer of the Year - Philadelphia
Melissa M. Boyd

Family Law in Norristown, PA
Melissa M. Boyd & Mary Cushing Doherty

Family Law Arbitration in Norristown, PA
Melissa M. Boyd & Mary Cushing Doherty

Family Law Mediation in Norristown, PA
Mary Cushing Doherty

Land Use and Zoning Law in Norristown, PA
David J. Brooman & Gilbert P. High Jr.

Labor and Employment Litigation in Norristown, PA
Thomas D. Rees

Land Use and Zoning Litigation in Norristown, PA
David J. Brooman

Municipal Litigation in Norristown, PA
Gilbert P. High Jr.

Real Estate Litigation in Norristown, PA
Gilbert P. High Jr.

Municipal Law in Norristown, PA
Gilbert P. High Jr. & William F. Kerr, Jr.

Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs in Norristown, PA
Richard C. Sokorai

Real Estate Law in Norristown, PA
Arnold Heller

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation. Almost 87,000 industry leading lawyers are eligible to vote (from around the world), and we have received almost 10 million evaluations on the legal abilities of other lawyers based on their specific practice areas around the world. For the 2019 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©, 7.8 million votes were analyzed, which resulted in almost 60,000 leading lawyers being included in the new edition. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers "the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice."

Real Estate Transfer Tax in Philadelphia

Do you have to pay real estate transfer tax in Philadelphia? If you’re dealing with commercial real estate, residential real estate or real estate development in Philadelphia the price could get steep. Here’s what you need to know.

In Pennsylvania, there is a real estate transfer tax imposed by the state as well as the county in which the property is located. Pennsylvania imposes a 1% transfer tax on the value of the real estate being transferred, while Philadelphia imposes a 3.278% tax on the value of the real estate being transferred. Philadelphia’s transfer tax is one of the highest rates within Pennsylvania.  For comparison, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania's transfer tax is only 1%. It's a lot to take in so you might want to talk with a good real estate lawyer to make sure you're covered.

Sale of Property isn't the only transfer tax. When it comes to real estate transfer tax aka realty transfer tax, most people only think of the sale of property in exchange for money. However, that is only one type of transfer on which the tax is imposed. In fact, real estate transfer tax can apply to other transactions that involve the change in ownership of real estate by deed or other document, including long term leases.

While Pennsylvania and Philadelphia provide exemptions from transfer taxes depending on the purpose/type of transaction and the parties involved, the law may vary between Pennsylvania and the county. There may be transactions that are excluded from Pennsylvania realty transfer tax that are not excluded from Philadelphia's tax and other counties.

real estate transfer tax in Philadlephia and Pennsylvania
Transfer taxes in Philadelphia can get pretty steep.

Although the government is excluded from transfer taxes, you may not be. Both Pennsylvania and Philadelphia transfer tax law excludes the federal, state or local government or its agencies from tax for all transactions. However, if the party to whom the property is being transferred is not an excluded party, that party may in fact be responsible for the transfer tax if the transaction itself is not excluded. These may include properties purchased at a judicial/sheriff’s sale or from a state or local government agency.

In addition to transfers to/from the federal, state or local government or its agencies, both Pennsylvania and Philadelphia tax law excludes certain transactions from transfer tax. These may include deeds of correction or confirmation, transactions between certain family members, non-profits, corporations, and trusts.

For now, it is important to understand that transfer taxes exist in residential and commercial property transactions and that you may need to consult with a real estate lawyer to protect your interests.

For more information regarding the real estate transfer tax, please contact our law offices via our contact form or call 1.800.LAW-1914. We'll have a real estate lawyer review your situation. High Swartz offers a variety of legal services to help clients with almost any legal issue.

The information above is general: we recommend that you consult an attorney regarding your specific circumstances.  The content of this information is not meant to be considered as legal advice or a substitute for legal representation.