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

Victoria

Where a matter like this is heard

Magistrates' Court of Victoria

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

County Court of Victoria

Handles serious criminal trials, appeals and most personal injury claims.

Supreme Court of Victoria

Handles the most serious criminal matters, major commercial litigation and probate.

Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)

Handles tenancy, owners corporation, consumer, planning and guardianship matters.

Victoria licenses conveyancers separately from solicitors, so for a straightforward purchase you have a genuine choice between the two.
Personal injury in Victoria runs through dedicated schemes — the TAC for transport accidents and WorkSafe for workplace injuries — and firms tend to specialise in one or the other.

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 Victoria that is Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner, and the register is public.

Check the VIC 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 Victoria

Cranbourne2 Croydon2 Mornington2 Somerville2 Bacchus Marsh1 Bentleigh1 Berwick1 Blackburn1 Box Hill1 Castlemaine1 Caulfield1 Caulfield North1

Conveyancers in other states

New South Wales Queensland Western Australia South Australia Tasmania Australian Capital Territory Northern Territory