When Do You Pay Conveyancing Fees?

Prices checked October 2026. Ranges are typical quotes for a standard residential matter, include GST, and vary by firm, state and property.

When is each part of the conveyancing bill paid?

Most of the bill is paid on settlement day, but a few costs can fall due earlier. The order below is typical; your costs agreement sets the exact terms.

For the size of each part in your state, see how much conveyancing costs in Australia.

How are conveyancing fees paid at settlement?

On an electronic settlement, your conveyancer's account is one of the payments in the settlement figures, so it is paid automatically when settlement happens. You do not usually pay it separately.

• Sellers: the professional fee, disbursements and the discharge registration fee are usually deducted from the sale proceeds, after the lender is repaid, before the balance is paid to you.
• Buyers: the fees are added to the amount you need to bring to settlement, alongside the balance of the price, transfer duty and registration fees. Your conveyancer gives you the exact figure a few days before so you can move the funds in time.

The settlement statement shows every figure: the price, the deposit already paid, the adjustments and each payment. When settlement completes, the funds are paid out electronically as directed and the documents are lodged with the land registry. See what happens at settlement and PEXA electronic settlement.

Do you pay a conveyancer upfront?

Sometimes, but rarely the whole fee. Practice varies between firms:

• Some firms charge nothing until settlement and add everything to the final figures.
• Others ask for a deposit, or for search costs when the searches are ordered, because they pay the third parties straight away.
• Sellers who need a contract or vendor statement prepared before listing may be asked to cover those searches when they are ordered, since settlement may be months away.
• Work outside the quote is normally billed as agreed in writing.

Whatever the arrangement, it should be in writing. In NSW, conveyancers must disclose an estimate of costs and the billing terms, in writing, before or when they are engaged where practicable. In Victoria, the written disclosure must say how and when you will be invoiced. In both states, if a required disclosure is not made, the client does not have to pay those costs. A fixed-fee quote makes the amounts clear from the start.

Who pays conveyancing fees, the buyer or the seller?

Each side pays its own conveyancer. On a normal sale, neither party pays the other's conveyancing costs. The other costs are split by standard practice and state law:

The ACT is a partial exception: sellers must have building and pest reports before marketing, and the buyer reimburses the seller for them at completion. For the searches each side orders in your state, see conveyancing disbursements explained.

When is transfer duty paid, and is it part of the fees?

Transfer (stamp) duty is not a conveyancing fee, but it is often the largest payment a buyer makes. Each state sets its own deadline, and in practice it is usually paid at or before settlement, often through the electronic settlement itself. Many states reduce or remove it for eligible first home buyers. Our stamp duty guide covers each state's rules.

Other costs buyers often pay before settlement, outside the conveyancer's bill, include building and pest inspections, strata reports, loan application and valuation fees, and insurance. The NSW Government notes that some upfront costs, such as building reports and legal fees, may be paid more than once if you make offers on more than one home.

What if the sale or purchase does not go ahead?

If there is no settlement, there are no settlement funds to pay from, so the conveyancer invoices you directly. You usually pay for the work done to that point plus any disbursements already incurred, unless your agreement says otherwise. A no sale, no fee agreement for sellers waives the professional fee but not the disbursements. The full picture is in conveyancing fees if a sale falls through.

ConveyDirect sale quotes are no sale, no fee: the professional fee is payable only if the property sells and settles. Buyers get a free contract review before they sign. See residential sale conveyancing.

Paying fees when you buy and sell at the same time

When you sell one home and buy another, you pay for two matters, but the sale proceeds can cover both sets of costs. If the two settlements happen on the same day, your conveyancer can direct part of the sale proceeds into the purchase, including the fees for both. If the purchase settles first, you need to cover its costs from savings, your loan or a bridging loan.

Ask for both matters to be quoted together, and tell your conveyancer early if the dates may not line up. Our guide to bridging loans and settlement timing explains the options.

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules, fees and timeframes change and differ between states, so confirm your own situation with a licensed conveyancer, settlement agent or solicitor.