Attorney Escrow for Domain Name Sales
Ecommerce Law Group acts as the escrow agent for domain name purchases. The buyer’s funds sit in the firm’s attorney trust account until the domain has moved and both parties sign the release.
Domain escrow means a neutral third party holds the buyer’s money during a domain sale and pays the seller only after the domain has transferred. On a small purchase, a platform escrow service is usually fine. On a five, six, or seven figure domain, the escrow agent is the single point of failure in the deal. Who holds the money, under what rules, and who picks up the phone all matter more than the fee.
ELG’s escrow agent is a licensed attorney. Funds are held in the firm’s attorney trust account under the escrow agreement and applicable state trust-account rules. Every disbursement is reviewed and released by a person, on signed instructions from both parties.
Four flat tiers for cash domain sales up to $1 million. Escrow agreement out the same day we receive the signed purchase terms. Larger or lender-financed deals are quoted before engagement.
Compare the escrow fee
Enter the purchase price. We show ELG’s flat fee next to Escrow.com’s published Standard fee for the same amount.
Escrow.com figures use the Standard tier for US dollar transactions as published at escrow.com/fee-calculator on September 2, 2026. Their Concierge tier is priced at double the Standard rate. Payment method surcharges and disbursement fees are not included. Check their site for current pricing.
How the escrow works
ELG holds the cash. The seller transfers the domain directly to the buyer. Four steps, in order.
Engage
Send us the agreed price, the transfer method, and both parties’ contact details. We circulate the escrow agreement the same day. Both parties sign it.
Fund
The buyer wires the purchase price to the firm’s trust account. We verify wire instructions directly with the receiving party before any funds move. We notify both parties when the bank has confirmed receipt.
Transfer
The seller transfers the domain by registrar push or authorization code. The buyer confirms control of the domain in writing.
Release
Both parties sign the escrow release instructions. We verify the instructions and disburse the funds to the seller by wire.
Pricing
A flat fee set by the purchase price, agreed before we accept funds. Not a percentage. Every tier includes the escrow agreement, funds confirmation, wire verification, and release on signed instructions.
| Domain purchase price | ELG flat fee |
|---|---|
| Under $25,000 | $500 |
| $25,000 to $99,999 | $750 |
| $100,000 to $499,999 | $1,500 |
| $500,000 to $1,000,000 | $2,500 |
| Over $1,000,000, or any lender financing | Quoted before engagement |
This schedule covers a domain-only escrow. If the escrow also holds trademarks, other intellectual property, business assets, or additional cash, we quote that separately.
The fee is usually split evenly between buyer and seller and is agreed in the escrow agreement. Purchase agreement drafting and trademark review are separate legal services, available on a flat-fee basis if you want ELG as counsel and not only as escrow agent.
Attorney escrow compared with platform escrow
Both models hold the buyer’s money until the domain moves. The differences are in who holds it, under what rules, and how the release happens.
| ELG attorney escrow | Platform escrow | |
|---|---|---|
| Who holds the funds | A licensed attorney, in the firm’s trust account, under the escrow agreement and applicable state trust-account rules. | The platform, in its own accounts, under its terms of service. |
| Fee basis | Flat fee agreed before funds arrive. | Percentage of the purchase price, set by tier. |
| Release trigger | Signed release instructions from both parties, verified by the attorney. | The platform’s own verification process. |
| Who you talk to | The attorney directly handling your escrow. | The platform’s support team. |
| If the deal falls apart | The escrow agreement controls. Funds are returned, disbursed as agreed, or held until the parties resolve the dispute. | The platform’s terms of service control. |
| Interest on funds | None to the parties. Interest on attorney trust accounts goes to the state bar foundation, not to the parties or the firm. | Per the platform’s terms. |
Domain escrow FAQ
What is domain escrow and why do I need it?
A neutral third party holds the buyer’s money while the seller transfers the domain, and pays the seller once the transfer is confirmed. Without escrow, one side has to go first and trust the other. Escrow removes that problem for both sides.
How is attorney escrow different from a platform like Escrow.com?
The funds are held by a licensed attorney in an attorney trust account, under a signed escrow agreement and applicable state trust-account rules. The fee is flat rather than a percentage. Releases happen on signed instructions from both parties, reviewed by the attorney. You deal directly with the attorney handling the escrow.
What size deal makes sense for attorney escrow?
Use the calculator above. On purchases under about $20,000, a platform’s percentage fee is usually lower than our $500 tier, and we will tell you so. From about $32,000 up, the flat tier is the lower number at Escrow.com’s current Standard rates, and the gap widens as the price rises. Many clients choose attorney escrow on large deals for the trust-account structure and the direct attorney contact rather than the fee.
How can a law firm act as escrow agent?
Attorneys hold client and third-party funds in trust accounts as a normal part of practice. ELG holds escrow funds in its attorney trust account under the escrow agreement and applicable state trust-account rules. The funds are kept separate from the firm’s operating funds.
Is ELG my lawyer if it is the escrow agent?
No. As escrow agent, ELG is neutral and does not represent the buyer or the seller. Either party can engage ELG separately as counsel, for example to draft the purchase agreement, and that engagement is documented in writing.
How long does a domain escrow take?
The escrow agreement usually goes out the same day we receive the signed terms. The rest depends on how fast the buyer’s wire lands, how quickly the registrar completes the transfer, and how quickly both parties sign the release. Once the signed release instructions are in and verified, we send the wire. We do not promise a fixed disbursement date because we verify every release before funds move.
What happens if the deal does not close?
The escrow agreement controls. Depending on its terms and the parties’ instructions, we return the funds, disburse them as agreed, or continue holding disputed funds until the parties resolve the dispute or provide legally sufficient direction.
Do the parties earn interest on escrowed funds?
No. Attorney trust accounts for short-term client funds are interest-bearing accounts whose interest goes to the state bar foundation. Neither party nor the firm earns interest on escrowed funds.
Do you handle international buyers and sellers?
Yes, where the identity checks required by the firm and its bank can be completed and funds can be wired to the trust account. We tell international parties what documents we need before anyone wires money.
Ready to open a domain escrow
Tell us the purchase price, the transfer method, and who the parties are. We confirm the fee in writing before anything else happens.
This page is general information about escrow for domain name sales. It is not legal advice. Reading it or contacting Ecommerce Law Group does not create an attorney-client relationship. Representation begins only after a signed engagement. Escrow services are provided under a written escrow agreement. Escrow.com is a trademark of its owner, and its pricing is shown for comparison from its public fee page as of the date noted above.