Cost guide · Australia

Property and conveyancing fees in Australia

Buying or selling property anywhere in Australia means paying someone to handle the legal transfer and settlement. The basics are the same everywhere, but who can do the work and the duties you pay depend on your state.

Updated October 2026

Know this first

Stamp duty, set by your state's revenue office, is usually the largest cost when buying, and it's separate from your lawyer's or conveyancer's fee.

Conveyancer or lawyer?

In most states, licensed conveyancers (called settlement agents in Western Australia) as well as lawyers can handle a property transfer. In Queensland, conveyancing is generally done by solicitors. A lawyer is worth considering when there's legal complexity, such as unusual contract terms, a dispute, a trust or company buying, or a family arrangement.

How fees usually work

Conveyancing is commonly quoted as a fixed fee, plus disbursements such as searches and registration costs. Advice on disputes or unusual matters is more often charged by the hour. Always check what a fixed fee includes.

Stamp duty and other costs

Stamp duty, also called transfer duty, is usually the largest cost when buying. It's set and collected by each state's revenue office: Revenue NSW, the State Revenue Office Victoria, the Queensland Revenue Office, RevenueWA, RevenueSA, the State Revenue Office Tasmania, the ACT Revenue Office and the Territory Revenue Office in the Northern Territory. Registration fees, searches and bank fees are extra.

Your right to know the costs, state by state

Every Australian state and territory requires lawyers to tell clients about their costs, including an estimate, and gives clients a way to dispute a bill. The rules and the body that handles complaints depend on where your lawyer practises:

  • New South Wales: Legal Profession Uniform Law. Complaints: Office of the Legal Services Commissioner. Legal aid: Legal Aid NSW.
  • Victoria: Legal Profession Uniform Law. Complaints: Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner. Legal aid: Victoria Legal Aid.
  • Western Australia: Legal Profession Uniform Law (since 1 July 2022). Complaints: Legal Practice Board of Western Australia. Legal aid: Legal Aid WA.
  • Queensland: Legal Profession Act 2007 (Qld). Complaints: Legal Services Commission. Legal aid: Legal Aid Queensland.
  • South Australia: Legal Practitioners Act 1981 (SA). Complaints: Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner. Legal aid: Legal Services Commission of South Australia.
  • Tasmania: Legal Profession Act 2007 (Tas). Complaints: Legal Profession Board of Tasmania. Legal aid: Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania.
  • Australian Capital Territory: Legal Profession Act 2006 (ACT). Complaints: ACT Law Society. Legal aid: Legal Aid ACT.
  • Northern Territory: Legal Profession Act 2006 (NT). Complaints: Law Society Northern Territory. Legal aid: Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission.

Questions to ask first

  • Is this a fixed fee or hourly? If hourly, what is the rate and roughly how many hours do you expect?
  • What is included, and what would cost extra?
  • Which costs are disbursements or official fees, and roughly how much are they?
  • How often will I be billed, and can I get an update on costs as we go?

Free and low-cost help anywhere in Australia

  • Each state and territory has a legal aid commission, listed above, which gives free legal information and advice, and legal aid if you're eligible.
  • Community legal centres give free legal help across Australia.

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Sources

Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner: costs disclosure · Legal Services Commission (Qld): costs disclosure and costs agreements · Law Handbook (SA): costs disclosure · Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2022 (WA) · NSW OLSC: legal regulators in each state and territory · Attorney-General's Department: legal assistance services · Revenue NSW · State Revenue Office Victoria · Queensland Revenue Office · RevenueSA

General information only, not legal advice. Fees and rules change, so check the official sources and ask your lawyer for a written estimate. Lawmateanz is a directory, not a law firm.