
James S. Tupitza, General Attorney in West Chester, Pennsylvania
Over 50 years of legal practice · focused on General, Litigation, and Probate · 4.4/5 rating from 1 verified client review
MemberatTupitza & Associates, P.C.
West Chester, PA
Practicing general in West Chester since 1976.
- 50+
- Years practicing
- 4.4 ★
- 1 client review
- 5
- Bar admissions
Are you James S. Tupitza?
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Quick answer
James S. Tupitza is a member based in West Chester, PA. The practice focuses on General, Litigation, and Probate. James has over 50 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Tupitza & Associates, P.C.. Rated 4.4 out of 5 from 1 client review.
- Based in
- West Chester, PA
- Experience
- over 50 years
- Known for
- General · Litigation · Probate
- Handles General, Litigation, and Probate matters from West Chester, PA.
- Over 50 years of practice as a licensed attorney.
- Recognized with BV Distinguished.
About James S. Tupitza: James S. Tupitza is a member based in West Chester, PA. The practice focuses on General, Litigation, and Probate. James has over 50 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Tupitza & Associates, P.C.. Rated 4.4 out of 5 from 1 client review.
Areas of practice
James's practice areas in West Chester
James concentrates on general, litigation, probate, real estate, and residential. Each area below outlines the kind of case James handles, typical outcomes to expect, and how the intake process starts.
General
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Litigation
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Probate
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Real Estate
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Residential
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Tax
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General cases in West Chester, Pennsylvania
James takes general matters in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before James agrees to represent you.
Litigation cases in West Chester, Pennsylvania
James takes litigation matters in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before James agrees to represent you.
Probate cases in West Chester, Pennsylvania
James takes probate matters in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before James agrees to represent you.
Real Estate cases in West Chester, Pennsylvania
James takes real estate matters in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before James agrees to represent you.
Residential cases in West Chester, Pennsylvania
James takes residential matters in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before James agrees to represent you.
Biography
James S. Tupitza, general attorney serving West Chester
James S. Tupitza is a member based in West Chester, PA. The practice focuses on General, Litigation, and Probate. James has over 50 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Tupitza & Associates, P.C.. Rated 4.4 out of 5 from 1 client review. James works from West Chester, Pennsylvania and takes on general matters across the region.
James S. Tupitza, Esquire is a practicing attorney in West Chester, Pennsylvania, under the firm name of Tupitza & Associates, P.C. He was born in Erie, PA in 1949. In 1976, he was admitted to the bar of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; 1981 U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; 1988 U.S. Supreme Court; 1990 U.S. Tax Court.
Mr. Tupitza’s practice is primarily related to real estate connected matters. His focus is in the areas of transactions and litigation. His clients are lenders, appraisal management companies, real estate licensees and property sellers, buyers and developers. With the development of numerous pipelines in Pennsylvania, he spends considerable time protecting property owners in cases of pipeline expansion, new pipelines, rail improvement and highway widening. (eminent domain cases).
Mr. Tupitza is called on to speak almost monthly on a variety of current topics of interest to the real estate community. These topics range from analysis of changes in the law, to nuts and bolts application of legal issues. He is consistently ranked as one of the best speakers at every conference in which he participates.
He has been a regular course planner, writer and lecturer for:
• The Pennsylvania Land Title Institute
• The Pennsylvania Bar Institute
• Various Mortgage Bankers Associations
• Conestoga College (Conestoga Title Insurance Company)
• Suburban West Association of Realtors®
• Lawyers Title Insurance Company’s Continuing Education Program
• Stewart Title Guaranty Company’s Continuing Education Program
• Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company’s Continuing Education Program
• Security Title of Baltimore’s Continuing Education Program
• Ticor Title Insurance Company Continuing Education Program
• Chester County Bar Association’s Realtor®/Lawyer Committee
In addition he regularly speaks to groups in the Residential Real Estate Lending business, Commercial Real Estate business, Accountants, Financial Planners and Building Trade Groups.
He has been the Course Planner, author and principal speaker for three major Pennsylvania Bar Institute programs, which are each offered live at 3 locations every two years, by simulcast to 20 to 30 other locations, and by webcast:
• “Boundary Law,”
• “Who’s on First? , Lien Priority in Pennsylvania,” and
• “What’s on Second, Advanced Issues in Lien Priority and Lien Divestiture.”
He has spoken at many other Pennsylvania Bar Institute presentations including:
• “Litigating the Failure to Disclose Case”
• “Real Estate Broker and Agent Liability”
• “Tax Deferred Exchanges of Real Estate”
• “Residential Real Estate Documents”
• “A Practical Approach to Liens on Real Estate”
• “Essentials of Pennsylvania Practice”
• “Title Insurance from Commitment to Claim”
• “Current Issues in Title Insurance”
• “Ten Settlement Mistakes, Ethics in Title Insurance”
• “Title Claims Fraud, Flips and RESPA”
• “Title Insurance Underwriting Update”
• “A Day on Real Estate”
• “Using Cost Segregation to Address Cash Flow Problems”
• “Ethically Using the Scientifically Tested Tools of Influence”
• “Deeds, Good and Bad”
• He has been a regular speaker at each Annual “Real Estate Institute” held each December at the Philadelphia Convention Center.
• He spoke at the Gulf Coast CLE Conference in Marco Island , Florida sponsored by numerous state Bar Institutes.
• He was a speaker on Dodd Frank enforcement at the Annual Meeting of the New England Mortgage Bankers Association.
He has authored materials for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, the Pennsylvania Land Title Institute and others including:
• Dodd-Frank, Dirty Words in Many Circles
• Depreciation – Running Fast in a Slow World
• Disputes Between Adjoining Landowners
• Easements and Access to Landlocked Property
• Riparian Rights and Titles that Border Water
• How to Draft a Legal Description
• Deeds in Pennsylvania
• Documenting the 1031 Exchange
• Easements in Pennsylvania
• Judgments
• Federal Tax Liens
• Inheritance and Estate Tax Liens
• Litigating with the IRS
• Liens for Overdue Support Obligations
• Ethics for Title Insurance Agents
• The Ethical Use of Scientifically Tested Tools of Influence
He is a member of the Chester County (Chair, Real Estate Section, 1978- 2014) and Pennsylvania Bar Associations. He is a Master of the John E. Stively Inns of Court.
He is AVVO rated at “10.0 Superb,” and was selected as one of the five featured “Top Lawyers” for 2012 by Main Line Today.
Lawyer James Tupitza | Top Attorney Real Estate
Lawyer James Tupitza | Top Attorney Oil & Gas
Lawyer James Tupitza | Top Attorney Land Use & Zoning
Lawyer James Tupitza | Top Attorney Construction
Lawyer James Tupitza | Top Attorney Lawsuits & Disputes
Lawyer James Tupitza | Top Attorney Appeals
Lawyer James Tupitza | Lawyer Real Estate
How James handles general matters
James S. Tupitza, Esquire is a practicing attorney in West Chester, Pennsylvania, under the firm name of Tupitza & Associates, P.C. He was born in Erie, PA in 1949. In 1976, he was admitted to the bar of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; 1981 U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; 1988 U.S. Supreme Court; 1990 U.S. Tax…
Who James represents
James reviews new inquiries case-by-case for general, litigation, and probate matters in West Chester and the surrounding Pennsylvania area.
Credentials
Credentials — where James studied and practices
Delaware Law School of Widener University
J.D. Villanova · 1975
Temple University
B.A. · 1971
Jurisdictions
James's state bar admissions
U.S. Tax Court
1990 · ACTIVE
U.S. Supreme Court
1988 · ACTIVE
U.S. Court of Appeal
1981 · ACTIVE
Pennsylvania
1976 · ACTIVE
U.S. District Court,
1976 · ACTIVE
James studied at J.D. Villanova in Delaware Law School of Widener University and B.A. in Temple University.
Law school and academic background
James completed J.D. Villanova in Delaware Law School of Widener University and B.A. in Temple University. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice James runs in Pennsylvania is where that training gets applied to real client questions.
Recognition
James's legal honors and published work
James has received 1 formal recognition from bar associations, industry bodies, and peer-review services.
BV Distinguished
Legal awards and honors
BV Distinguished.
Locations
James S. Tupitza's office in West Chester
James's primary office is at 212 West Gay Street, West Chester, PA, 19380. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.
Client feedback
Client reviews of James S. Tupitza — 4.4/5 rating from 1 verified client review
Every review below is from a verified client of James. Reviews cover communication, case outcome, and value — the three signals that matter most when comparing general attorneys in West Chester.
4.4
1 client review
Client ratings are sourced from public records and editorial research. Reviews on LawyersListed are accepted from verified clients once James S. Tupitza claims this profile.
Read all reviewsHiring guide
How to hire James S. Tupitza — what to expect in your first consultation
Working with a new general attorney should feel structured. Here's how the first two conversations with James usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.
Consultation formats and pricing
James charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain James's office.
What to bring to your first meeting
Bring any documents you already have — police reports, medical records, filed pleadings, correspondence from an insurer, a copy of the contract at issue. If you're not sure, err on the side of bringing everything; James will tell you what matters and what doesn't.
Questions to ask a general attorney in West Chester, Pennsylvania
A short list to run through before you commit: How many general matters have you handled in the last year? What's your fee structure? Who else in the office will work on this? What's your realistic estimate of timeline and range of outcomes? How do I reach you between meetings?
Fees & payment
Fees, payment methods, and consultation options for James
James discusses fees during intake so the arrangement fits the matter. Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee options are all common in general practice — ask which fits.
Hourly rates, contingency fees, and flat-fee options
Every general matter is priced differently. Simple document review might be a flat fee. Injury litigation is often contingency. Complex commercial disputes usually run hourly with a retainer. James confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.
Payment methods and payment plans
James's office accepts standard payment methods. Ask about payment plans if the retainer is a stretch — many general practices work with clients on structured schedules.
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions about James S. Tupitza
How much does it cost to hire James for a general case?
Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. James walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.
Does James offer a free consultation?
James charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain James's office. Some general attorneys offer free consults — check James's current terms during booking.
How long do general cases in Pennsylvania typically take?
Simple general matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. James gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.
Can James take my case if I'm outside West Chester?
James is licensed in Pennsylvania. Matters governed by Pennsylvania law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — James will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.
What should I bring to my first meeting with James?
Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. James will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.
Is James accepting new general clients right now?
James's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.
Areas served
General attorneys serving West Chester, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania
James handles general matters throughout Pennsylvania. Each city below is a direct link into the search page for verified general attorneys in that community.
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