Take this with the caveat that I am not a lawyer nor am I familiar with landlord/tenant law in CT, but I don't think the LL needs to provide you with proof of payment. 

They started a Facebook group that's up to 150 people (all icona buyers), we've reached out and both cnn and Toronto Star have published an article, and the lawyers working on the Cosmo condo case has reached out and offered to start the process for us.

Let me know if there is a lawyer you find as well.

Can anyone recommend a SEC /  Real Estate Lawyer here in Long Island?

I don't claim to be a lawyer & don't play one on the internet, but there may be a need to notify for it to be valid, but that could just be for creditors.

pert near every EM squabble I have been involved with both parties have to sign cancellation docs that the title co or lawyer sends out.. once those are back money is released that day or next.. if the parties cant agree money sits in escrow.. some board of realtor forms have mandatory non binding mediation clauses so if you cant agree you go to mediation which generally cost each side 1 to 1.5  thousand.. 

The very best advice I can give you, being a lawyer myself, is that YOU SHOULD NEVER ASK OR GET LEGAL ADVICE ON BP. 

I know some lawyers, CPA, and investor Realtors if you need a referralsChristian

Basically you delay closing and get a written agreement with the seller on tenant screening procedures.Our group is actually working on a deal currently that is pretty broken from a vacancy stand point and the owner is going to let our property management take over at the execution of the contract and then we dont close until an agreed upon economic occupancy hurdle is met.Can send you some high priced lawyer language from our contract if you want lol, hope you do not have to do anything that complex in this scenario.Cheers

@Brian Dombrowski any time you are providing private money, whether for equity or as a loan you best bet is to have a lawyer that specializes in RE draw up the agreement and assist you with the structure.There are a dozens answers to your question depending on many items, with who and if all the investors are under the same LLC etc. etc.Every investor I know that has done private financing had their lawyer draw up an agreement that the "borrower" accepted and signed.