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The Closing Disclosure: Using Your Review Window

The days before a home purchase closes can be crowded with moving plans and last-minute requests. Your loan documents still deserve a separate review. The Closing Disclosure shows the transaction you are being asked to accept, while the other closing papers explain the promises and rights behind it. Know what should arrive and how to respond when it does not.

The questions below use selected Consumer Financial Protection Bureau guidance, adapted and organized by Fynoptic. Source links and the dates displayed by those sources are provided at the end.

What is a Closing Disclosure?

A Closing Disclosure is a five-page form that provides final details about the mortgage loan you have selected. It includes the loan terms, your projected monthly payments, and how much you will pay in fees and other costs to get your mortgage (closing costs).

The lender is required to give you the Closing Disclosure at least three business days before you close on the mortgage loan. This three-day window allows you time to compare your final terms and costs to those estimated in the Loan Estimate that you previously received from the lender. The three days also gives you time to ask your lender any questions before you go to the closing table.

See a sample Closing Disclosure form with interactive tips and definitions.

Note: You won't receive a Closing Disclosure if you're applying for a reverse mortgage. For those loans, you will receive two forms-a HUD-1 Settlement Statement and a final Truth in Lending Disclosure—instead of the Closing Disclosure. If you are applying for a HELOC, a manufactured housing loan that is not secured by real estate, or a loan through certain types of homebuyer assistance programs, you will not receive a HUD-1 or a Closing Disclosure, but you should receive a Truth-in-Lending disclosure.

What should I do if I do not get a Closing Disclosure three days before my mortgage closing?

If you have not received this document, you should request one from your lender immediately. You should also not go through with the closing until you receive and review the Closing Disclosure.

Your lender is required to send you a Closing Disclosure that you must receive at least three business days before your closing. It’s important that you carefully review the Closing Disclosure to make sure that the terms of your loan are what you are expecting.

Sign your closing documents only after you have carefully reviewed all of the terms on the Closing Disclosure and compared them to your Loan Estimate. Make sure that there are no errors and that you understand the reason for any increase in fees or discrepancies. You should review the Closing Disclosure before closing, as there will be many other documents to review at the closing itself. Remember there is no time limit at closing, so don’t feel pressured. Take your time to review documents and ask any questions you have.

Note: You will not receive a Loan Estimate or Closing Disclosure if you are shopping for:

For these kinds of loans, you should receive Truth-in-Lending disclosures. If you are shopping for a reverse mortgage, you will also receive a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) and a HUD-1 or HUD-1A Settlement Statement. Lenders are not required to send you these final closing documents in advance of closing. However, if you request to see a copy of your HUD-1, you can review it at least one business day before closing.

If you have a problem with your mortgage closing process, you should discuss the problem with your lender. You can also submit a complaint to the CFPB online or by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372). We’ll forward your complaint to the company and work to get you a response – generally in 15 days. You may also wish to consult an attorney about your problem.

When do I get a Closing Disclosure?

By law, you must receive your Closing Disclosure at least three business days before your closing.

Read your Closing Disclosure carefully. It tells you how much you will pay for your loan. Our interactive sample Closing Disclosure helps you double-check the details and get definitions for terms used on the form.

Note: You will not receive a Loan Estimate or Closing Disclosure if you are shopping for:

For these kinds of loans, you should receive Truth-in-Lending disclosures. If you are shopping for a reverse mortgage, you will also receive a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) and a HUD-1 or HUD-1A Settlement Statement. Lenders are not required to send you these closing documents in advance of closing. However, if you request to see a copy of your HUD-1, you can review it at least one business day before closing.

What documents should I receive before closing on a mortgage loan?

Before closing on a mortgage, you can expect to receive documents required by state and federal law and contractual documents.

You can expect to receive various types of documents:

Documents required by federal law

These documents inform you of the key terms, provisions, and costs of your loan. They outline your key rights and responsibilities as a borrower and record the transaction between you and your lender.

These documents include:

  • The Loan Estimate is a form that lays out important information about the loan you applied for. The lender sends you a Loan Estimate within three business days of receiving your application. Visit our interactive sample Loan Estimate with tips and definitions.
  • The Closing Disclosure is a form that lists all final terms of the loan you’ve selected, final closing costs, and the details of who pays and who receives money at closing. Your lender sends you a Closing Disclosure at least three business days before closing. Visit our interactive sample Closing Disclosure with tips and definitions.

Tip

If you are refinancing or adding a subordinate mortgage on your home and the lender fails to give you two copies of the three-day right of rescission notice or fails to provide you with appropriate Truth-in-Lending information, you have the right to cancel the loan for up to three years.

  • The Notice of the Right to Rescind for loans not used to purchase a home, for example, a refinance or home equity line of credit. This notice informs you that you have three business days from the lender’s fulfillment of certain conditions to cancel your loan and provides a form for cancelling the loan.
  • The Initial Escrow Statement, which lists the estimated taxes, insurance premiums, and other charges the lender anticipates paying from your escrow account during the first year of your loan.

Note: You will not receive a Loan Estimate or Closing Disclosure if you are shopping for:

For these kinds of loans, you should receive Truth-in-Lending disclosures. If you are shopping for a reverse mortgage, you will also receive a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) and a HUD-1 Settlement Statement.

Tip

Ask your lender to provide a full set of all the documents in advance, at the same time that you receive the Closing Disclosure. That way, you’ll have more time to review them all.

Contractual documents include:

  • A promissory note, which describes what you are agreeing to. It provides you with details regarding your loan, including:
    • The amount you owe
    • The interest rate of the mortgage loan
    • The dates when the payments are to be made
    • The total amount you will pay
    • The length of time for repayment
    • Whether and how the payment amounts can change
    • The place where the payments are to be sent
  • A mortgage or security instrument: This explains your responsibilities and rights as a borrower. The mortgage grants the lender or servicer the right to foreclose on your home if you fail to make payments as you’ve agreed.
  • State and local government-mandated documents: These are documents that fulfill state and local government requirements, generally for the purpose of collecting information and protecting you.
  • Lender documents: These are documents added by the lender, for example, an affidavit of occupancy.

The CFPB has resources to help you review your closing documents:

Sources and further reading

The CFPB source passages are U.S. government work in the public domain. Fynoptic has selected, organized, and adapted the material for this guide, including corrections identified through the additional sources listed above. Sources accessed October 27, 2026. This use does not imply agency endorsement or affiliation.

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