Vessel closings
Buying or selling a yacht is a significant transaction. The documentation, title work, and closing need to be handled by someone who knows the process.
Business & real estate
Aircraft Transactions and Escrow
Buying an aircraft is one of the most complex purchases you’ll make. The title work, FAA registration, and escrow need to be right before you take delivery.
What’s at stake
Aircraft purchases can be demanding transactions. Titles are registered with the FAA Aircraft Registry in Oklahoma City, not with any state authority. The purchase agreement, inspection contingency, escrow arrangement, and closing documentation all have to be handled correctly and in the right sequence.
We represent buyers in aircraft transactions from the initial letter of intent through purchase agreement negotiation, title search, escrow, FAA registration, and closing. Our focus is on protecting the buyer’s interests at every stage. We search the title and coordinate lien clearance, use escrow to protect the funds until delivery conditions are met, and file the documentation with the FAA before you take ownership.
Situations we handle
Private Aircraft Acquisitions
Buyer representation in piston, turboprop, and jet aircraft purchases from the initial offer through pre-buy inspection, title search, escrow, and FAA registration at closing. We focus on protecting the buyer’s interest at every stage of the transaction.
Aircraft Escrow
Escrow is standard in aircraft transactions and essential for protecting the buyer. We coordinate with the seller’s counsel and any lienholders, and release funds only when all closing conditions are satisfied and the title documentation is confirmed.
FAA Title Search and Lien Clearance
Searching the FAA Aircraft Registry for outstanding liens, security agreements, and encumbrances before purchase. We identify title problems before the buyer commits funds. Lien clearance coordination is handled as part of the closing process when outstanding encumbrances need to be released.
Purchase Agreement Review and Negotiation
Aircraft purchase agreements, whether drafted by the seller’s counsel or prepared by a broker, are reviewed from the buyer’s perspective. We identify provisions that favor the seller, contingencies that need strengthening, and terms that are missing.
Our approach
The LOI establishes the price, deposit, pre-buy inspection rights, and exclusivity. We review it from the buyer’s perspective before it’s signed, and negotiate the purchase agreement terms that protect the buyer if the inspection reveals problems or the seller can’t deliver a clean title.
We search the FAA Aircraft Registry for the aircraft’s ownership history, recorded liens, security agreements, and any encumbrances that would affect title. A clean title search is a prerequisite to closing; we don’t recommend proceeding without one.
The buyer’s deposit and purchase funds are held in escrow until the title is confirmed clean, the pre-buy inspection is complete, and both parties are ready to close. Escrow protects the buyer’s funds throughout the process and ensures delivery doesn’t happen before the title documentation is in order.
The pre-buy inspection is the buyer’s primary tool for understanding what they’re actually acquiring. We negotiate for purchase agreement terms that give the buyer the inspection rights they need, coordinate the inspection contingency with the closing timeline, and address what happens if the inspection reveals airworthiness issues or undisclosed problems.
At closing, we handle the bill of sale, FAA registration filing, and any security agreement recordings to ensure the buyer’s ownership is properly recorded with the FAA Aircraft Registry before funds are released from escrow and the aircraft changes hands.
Bill of sale preparation, FAA registration filing, and post-closing documentation ensure the buyer’s ownership is properly recorded with the FAA Aircraft Registry. For financed purchases, we coordinate the recording of any security agreement with the FAA as part of the closing.
What happens next
From the first call to the work itself.
We answer
When you contact us, you are not entering a queue.
What we do. Call 401-621-9700 or request a consultation online. We take your details and check for conflicts of interest before we discuss your matter.
What to prepare. Your contact details, and the names of anyone else involved, such as the other driver, business, or insurer.
We listen
We will give you honest answers about where you stand and what your options are.
What we do. An attorney reviews what happened, the documents you have, and any deadlines that may apply, then talks you through your options.
What to prepare. Drafts, entity documents, and the deal terms you have so far.
We fight
We prepare every case as though it’s going to trial.
What we do. If you decide to hire the firm, we confirm the engagement and get to work, and you know who is handling your matter.
What to prepare. Keep any new notices, letters, or court papers and send them to us as they arrive.
Every matter is different, so the steps and how long each one takes vary.
Client reviews from Google
Our go to! We have utilized DiLibero & Assoc for a few years now and highly recommend. They are easy to reach, operate in a timely manner, and in each instance- they guided us and handled our situations surpassing our expectations. So grateful to always know exactly where to turn! And to actually get resolution. On top of that being treated with dignity and respect- definitely minimizes the stress when going through difficult predicaments.
Translated from the reviewer's original English on Google.
Aimee ZwolinskiTrustworthy, professional, and knowledgeable. DiLibero & Associates took the time to explain everything clearly and always made me feel informed throughout the process. Their honesty, responsiveness, and attention to detail gave me confidence every step of the way. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for legal representation they can trust.
Translated from the reviewer's original English on Google.
Tony LevadaOne of the best experiences i’ve ever had legally was with this firm! Lisa and Dylan are extremely professional and determined to get you a desirable outcome! They kept me well informed throughout the entire process and were nothing but professional, understanding, and helpful. I will always recommend this firm due to its staff’s dedication to getting you results that matter!
Translated from the reviewer's original English on Google.
Elaina MI had a great experience working with Dylan. He helped guide me through a situation I was dealing with involving a car dealership, and from the start he was professional, knowledgeable, and very easy to work with. Dylan took the time to explain everything clearly and made sure I understood my options every step of the way. Even though the situation didn’t require anything overly complicated, it was clear that Dylan really knows his stuff and genuinely cares about helping his clients. He was responsive, straightforward, and made the entire process much less stressful. I would absolutely recommend Dylan to anyone looking for a reliable and trustworthy attorney. Thanks again for your help!
Translated from the reviewer's original English on Google.
Stephensilva SilvaI couldn’t be more impressed with Delibero and Associates. From my very first consultation, they were attentive, professional, and genuinely cared about my case. Dylan took the time to explain every step of the process and kept me informed the entire way. Their expertise and attention to detail gave me complete confidence that I was in excellent hands. What stood out most was their compassion, they treated me like a person, not just a client. The entire team worked efficiently, communicated clearly, and delivered results that exceeded my expectations. If you’re looking for a law office that combines deep legal knowledge with true dedication to their clients, I highly recommend Delibero and Associates. They turned a stressful situation into a positive outcome.
Translated from the reviewer's original English on Google.
Michael MarzilliReviews describe individual clients’ experiences. Every matter is different.
Read all reviews on Google (opens Google Maps in a new tab)
Frequently asked questions
Aircraft titles are registered at the federal level with the FAA Aircraft Registry, and the search and clearance process is different from what most buyers have encountered in real estate or other asset purchases. A broker can source the aircraft and facilitate the negotiation, but a broker cannot advise you on the legal terms of the purchase agreement. An attorney can review the agreement and coordinate the title search, escrow, and FAA registration filing.
The FAA Aircraft Registry records ownership history, security agreements, liens, and other encumbrances filed against an aircraft. A title search tells you who has legal claims to the aircraft. Finding those issues before closing is imperative.
Aircraft transactions involve significant funds changing hands before delivery. Escrow protects the buyer by holding those funds with a neutral party until the title is confirmed clean, the pre-buy inspection is complete and acceptable, and the seller is ready to deliver. The buyer doesn’t pay before they know what they’re getting, and the seller doesn’t deliver before the funds are confirmed and the paperwork is in order.
A pre-buy inspection is an airworthiness inspection conducted by a licensed A&P mechanic before the buyer commits to closing. The inspection identifies deferred maintenance, airworthiness directives that haven’t been complied with, undisclosed damage history, and any other issues the buyer needs to know before taking ownership. The purchase agreement needs to give the buyer the right to conduct the inspection and to negotiate or walk away based on the findings.
At closing, the seller executes a bill of sale conveying ownership to the buyer, and then we submit an aircraft registration application to the FAA Aircraft Registry in Oklahoma City. The FAA issues a pink temporary registration that allows the aircraft to be flown while the permanent certificate is processed. We handle the bill of sale preparation and FAA filing as part of the closing, so the buyer’s ownership is recorded with the FAA before funds are released from escrow.
Yes, a financed purchase adds a lender to the transaction, and most aviation lenders require the security agreement to be recorded with the FAA as a condition of funding. We coordinate with the lender’s counsel on the security agreement and handle the filings at closing in the right sequence so that the lender’s security interest is documented and the buyer’s registration application is filed promptly.
