The Basics Of Closing - How long does a closing take?

The closing process may last for a few hours, or for days or weeks, depending on the amount of negotiation left for the finale and the ability of the parties to satisfy the conditions precedent to closing. The period immediately before the closing is often consumed by final negotiation of the terms and conditions of the operative documents, but this is not always the case.

Closings on transactions for which the terms have been negotiated and finalized prior to the closing involve review of documents and confirmation that the conditions precedent to closing have been met, followed by the signing and delivery of documents and, when appropriate, the actual receipt of funding.

The simplest of closings may be effected by an exchange of documents signed in counterpart without convening the parties at a single location. In such cases, digital signatures are generally acceptable.