What does a property lawyer do when I sell my house?

General information from Lawmateanz

When you sell a home in New Zealand, a lawyer or licensed conveyancer handles the legal side of the sale.

They review the sale and purchase agreement before you sign it, including the price, deposit, chattels, conditions and settlement date. Once it's signed, it's binding, so it's worth checking first.

Before settlement, they deal with the buyer's lawyer, answer questions about the title, and arrange for your mortgage to be repaid and the bank's mortgage removed from the title.

On settlement day, they make sure the funds are received before releasing the keys, pay the real estate agent's commission and other costs, and pass the balance to you.

Fees vary, so ask for a written quote. Settled.govt.nz also has free guidance on selling.

Written by Lawmateanz, not by a lawyer. General information only, not legal advice about your situation. For advice about your own matter, talk to a lawyer.

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General information only. Answers are written by independent lawyers based only on what's in the question. They aren't legal advice about your situation and don't create a lawyer–client relationship. For advice about your own matter, talk to a lawyer directly.