PAR Legal Hotline
Since its inception, Pennsylvania REALTORS® have placed more than 25,000 calls to the PAR Legal Hotline, making this one of the most popular member services offered by PAR. After all, where else can you get free expert assistance provided by some of the state’s most experienced real estate attorneys?
Of course the service isn’t really free – it is paid for by PAR out of your dues payment each year. To help keep costs manageable we ask that you follow a few rules:
-- Hotline attorneys do not represent you. The role of the Hotline is to provide general answers to common problems that occur in your business, not to write contracts, provide opinion letters or negotiate with a cooperating broker who just doesn’t see things your way. If you are wrestling with a substantive issue that could affect a transaction or if you are seeking to defend a complaint or lawsuit, you should always seek advice from your own attorney or from your broker’s counsel.
-- Hotline attorneys are available weekdays from 9-11 am and from 1-3 pm. These hours have been selected in an effort to provide flexibility to agents who work differing schedules, while keeping all calls within regular office hours. If you call during these hours and the attorneys are busy with other calls you will be prompted to leave a message. Calls may be returned after Hotline hours are over, so be sure to leave a number where you can be reached at any time during the day.
-- Hotline attorneys are well educated and highly skilled professionals, but they are not mind readers. If you don’t provide complete and accurate information about the subject of your question they can’t give you a complete response. Even more importantly, if you don’t speak slowly and clearly when leaving a phone message – WITH your area code – they won’t be able to even track you down to get the question.
-- The Hotline attorneys don’t need, or want, to know who your client is or what other brokers/agents may be involved in the transaction. Please don’t mention anyone else by name.
-- The Hotline is a member service. This means it is only to be used by PAR members. Please do not give the number to your clients, and do not give the number to non-REALTORS® or to friends who are having trouble in a transaction. The only exception to this rule is that the Hotline will accept calls from your legal counsel if he or she has a relevant question. Remember that PAR is paying for the attorneys’ time out of your member dues, so calls by non-members will redirect your dues money to someone else’s benefit.
To speak to a Hotline Attorney call 1-800-727-5345 between 9-11 am and 1-3 pm, Monday – Friday.
09/29/08