Aircraft transactions
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.
Business & real estate
Vessel Closings and Maritime Documentation
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.
What’s at stake
A yacht purchase involves more moving parts than most buyers and sellers expect. Purchase agreements, sea trial and survey contingencies, title searches, lien releases, USCG documentation or state titling, and sometimes an escrow arrangement that protects both parties throughout the closing process.
We handle vessel closings and maritime documentation for buyers, sellers, and lenders from the initial purchase agreement through title transfer and post-closing documentation. We manage the process with the goal of a clean closing, a clear title, and no loose ends for the parties.
Situations we handle
Yacht and Recreational Vessel Purchases
Buyer and seller representation in yacht and recreational vessel transactions. We represent both buyers and sellers, and we walk clients who haven’t bought or sold a vessel before through each step of the process.
Yacht Escrow Services
Escrow protects both parties in a transaction where significant funds change hands before title transfers. We coordinate title clearance and lien releases for vessel transactions and manage escrow arrangements to hold buyer funds until all closing conditions have been satisfied.
Preferred Ship Mortgages
Lenders financing yacht purchases through USCG-documented vessels require a preferred ship mortgage, a mortgage recorded with the U.S. Coast Guard that gives the lender priority over most other claims against the vessel. We draft, review, and record preferred ship mortgages as part of the closing process.
Title Searches and Lien Releases
We search USCG documentation records and state databases for outstanding liens and encumbrances on a vessel before purchase. We identify title problems before closing and coordinate the lien releases needed before title transfers to the buyer.
Purchase Agreement Drafting and Review
Yacht purchase agreements vary widely in quality and completeness. We draft agreements from scratch and review broker-prepared contracts for contingencies that need strengthening, terms that favor the other side, and provisions that are missing entirely.
Our approach
The purchase agreement sets the terms for the final price, sea trial and survey contingencies, what’s included in the sale, and the closing timeline. We draft and review purchase agreements from the perspective of the party we represent.
A clean title is the foundation of a clean closing. We search USCG documentation records and applicable state title records for outstanding liens, preferred ship mortgages, and encumbrances. We coordinate record clearance before funds change hands.
Escrow protects both the buyer and the seller. Funds are held until all closing conditions are satisfied, the title is confirmed clear, and both parties are ready to close.
Vessels of at least five net tons that are owned by U.S. citizens can be documented with the U.S. Coast Guard. This process helps with financing arrangements and provides federal recognition of ownership. We handle USCG documentation filings, preferred ship mortgage recording, and state titling where applicable.
A successful closing depends on precise timeline management. We coordinate buyer funds, seller documentation, lien releases, title transfer, and post-closing filings to keep each step on schedule and to surface problems before closing day.
Vessels of at least five net tons owned by U.S. citizens are eligible for federal documentation with the U.S. Coast Guard, and documentation is generally required for vessels used in coastwise trade or fisheries and by most marine lenders as a condition of financing (46 U.S.C. § 12105). We handle USCG documentation filings, preferred ship mortgage recording (46 U.S.C. § 31322), and state titling where applicable.
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
You’re not legally required to use one, but yacht transactions involve titles, liens, escrow, and financing issues that can create real problems if they’re not addressed properly. An attorney who handles vessel closings regularly protects your interest in the transaction in ways that a broker, however experienced, simply can’t.
U.S. Coast Guard documentation provides federal recognition of title and is required for most commercial use and yacht financing. Vessels of at least five net tons owned by U.S. citizens are eligible. If you’re financing a yacht purchase, your lender almost certainly requires USCG documentation as a condition of the loan.
A preferred ship mortgage is the standard mortgage used to finance U.S. Coast Guard-documented vessels. It is recorded with the U.S. Coast Guard to protect the lender’s interest in the vessel. We prepare and record preferred ship mortgages as part of the closing process.
Without escrow, the buyer risks paying before the title is clear, and the seller risks delivering the vessel before funds are confirmed. Escrow eliminates both risks.
It is a good idea. The broker’s job is to bring the buyer and seller together and facilitate the transaction. The attorney’s job is to protect your legal interest in it. A broker cannot advise you on the legal terms of the purchase agreement. An attorney can, and can also handle the title search, escrow, and USCG documentation filing as part of a single closing process.
