What happens if my overseas wire transfer gets held for anti-money-laundering review right before closing?

International wires routinely face additional anti-money-laundering scrutiny at the sending bank, an intermediary bank, the receiving bank, or more than one of these, and this kind of hold can take real time to clear, particularly if the institutions involved need more documentation about the source and purpose of the funds. Because your lawyer generally cannot release funds toward your closing until they have actually cleared into trust, a hold like this can directly threaten your scheduled closing date.

If your funds are coming from overseas, tell your lawyer early in the transaction, not the week of closing, so they can advise you on what documentation is typically requested and help you anticipate delays before they become urgent. If a hold does arise close to closing, respond to information requests from your bank as quickly and completely as possible, since incomplete or slow responses tend to extend these reviews further. Depending on how long the hold lasts, your lawyer may need to discuss a short delay or other accommodation with the seller's side.