In a typical residential closing in Georgia, an attorney representing the lender will conduct the settlement. The attorney will have prepared all the necessary documents and will explain each document to the buyer and seller as it comes their turn to sign it. This attorney does not represent the seller or the buyer. He or she represents the lender. While the attorney may explain the contents of documents, he or she cannot give the seller or the buyer legal advice. The parties are free to bring their own attorneys to the closing if they choose, but most do not. A knowledgeable attorney knows that for most people, buying a home is the single most significant financial step of a lifetime; consequently, the attorney will usually carefully explain each step of the process so that the parties will understand what they are signing.
Source: GREC Chapter 47
