Overview

What conveyancers actually do

Conveyancing is the legal side of buying or selling property: checking the contract before you sign, running the searches that reveal what you are actually buying, and getting the title transferred at settlement.

It is the one legal service most Australians will use, and the point at which it adds most value is before you sign — not after. Once a contract is signed, the room to fix a problem narrows considerably.

The work they handle

Reviewing the contract and vendor's statement before you sign
Ordering and interpreting title, planning, rates and authority searches
Explaining what the special conditions actually commit you to
Negotiating amendments to the contract
Coordinating settlement with your lender and the other side
Attending to the transfer of title and stamp duty

New South Wales

Where a matter like this is heard

Local Court of NSW

Handles most criminal and traffic matters, and smaller civil claims.

District Court of NSW

Handles serious criminal trials, appeals and larger civil claims.

Supreme Court of NSW

Handles the most serious criminal matters, large commercial disputes and probate.

NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT)

Handles tenancy, consumer, guardianship and administrative review matters.

NSW is the largest legal market in the country, so specialisation runs deep — in Sydney you can usually find a firm that does nothing but your kind of matter.
Contracts for the sale of residential land in NSW carry a statutory cooling-off period, which is one reason conveyancing is engaged early rather than at settlement.

When to call a conveyancer

You are about to sign a contract or bid at auction — before, ideally
You have signed and are within a cooling-off period
You are selling and need the contract and disclosure documents prepared
Something in the contract does not make sense to you
Settlement is approaching and your lender is not ready

What it costs

Conveyancing is usually a fixed professional fee plus disbursements — the searches, registration and duty paid on your behalf. The fee is the small number; the disbursements vary. Ask for a quote that separates the two, so you can compare like with like.

How to choose

Solicitor or licensed conveyancer

In several states you can use either. A licensed conveyancer handles the transaction; a solicitor can also advise if something turns into a dispute. For anything unusual — a subdivision, a deceased estate, a business attached to the property — lean toward a solicitor.

Ask about their settlement volume

This is high-volume work where practice makes a real difference. A firm doing this every day will spot a problem clause faster.

Check they act in your state

Property law is state law and the documents differ. Use someone who practises where the property is.

Before you engage anyone

Check the practitioner holds a current practising certificate. In New South Wales that is The Law Society of New South Wales, and the register is public.

Check the NSW register ↗

Common questions

Do I need a conveyancer before I bid at auction?

Yes — auction purchases generally have no cooling-off period, so the contract review has to happen beforehand. Once the hammer falls you are bound.

What is the difference between a conveyancer and a solicitor?

A licensed conveyancer is qualified specifically for property transfers. A solicitor can do the same work and also advise on wider legal issues if the transaction goes wrong. Not every state licenses conveyancers separately.

How long does settlement take?

The period is set by the contract and commonly runs several weeks from signing, though it is negotiable. Delays usually come from finance rather than the legal work.

What are searches for?

They reveal things the listing will not — easements, planning overlays, unapproved building work, outstanding rates. They are how you find out what you are actually buying.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws differ between states and every situation turns on its own facts — speak to a qualified Australian lawyer before acting. If you cannot afford one, Legal Aid operates in every state and territory.

Conveyancers by suburb in New South Wales

Albury2 Coffs Harbour2 Liverpool2 Albion Park1 Alexandria1 Batemans Bay1 Baulkham Hills1 Castle Hill1 Charlestown1

Conveyancers in other states

Victoria Queensland Western Australia South Australia Tasmania Australian Capital Territory Northern Territory