Professional Gold Coast Conveyancers, servicing QLD & NSW
Buying or selling property is likely to be the biggest financial investment many people will ever make, which is why it is critical you get the right advice from an experienced team that don’t cut corners or provide service and advice based on “cut-price” fees.
Paramount Legal offers extensive experience in relation to Property Law in Queensland and New South Wales, and provides personalised service and advice to each of our clients. We ensure that we are clear and open in our communication and that we are always available to provide clients advice, clarification or peace of mind in what can understandably be a stressful time.
Our Conveyancing Team have more than 20 years’ experience in the industry, and are able to offer their knowledge and assistance in the following ways:
- Conveyancing for sale or purchase of house, land, unit, off the plan, and commercial property;
- Queensland and New South Wales property;
- Pre-signing advice – we are willing to review your sale or purchase contract before you sign, providing you with peace of mind, and explaining your contractual obligation and risk;
- Contract preparation, including any negotiating of special conditions;
What is conveyancing?
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property ownership from seller to buyer. For both Queensland and New South Wales, this involves preparing and reviewing contracts, conducting essential property searches, managing settlement, and handling complex regulatory requirements unique to each state. Our licensed team expertly navigates the legal and regulatory requirements, ensuring a secure, efficient and importantly, stress-free transaction that is tailored to your needs.
Conveyancing FAQ's
At what point should I engage a conveyancer?
You should engage a conveyancer as soon as you decide to buy or sell a property. It’s best to involve them early in the process, so they can advise on terms and any risks, and ensure all legal requirements are met.
What are the main steps in the conveyancing process?
For Buyers:
- Contract Review: Your conveyancer will review the terms and conditions, ensuring there are no hidden risks.
- Sign the Contract: Once satisfied, you’ll sign the contract and pay a deposit (usually 10%).
- Conduct Property Searches: Searches are done to check for any issues with the property, such as title, zoning, and encumbrances.
- Cooling-Off Period: The standard cooling-off period is 5 business days. In NSW, the buyer can waive it with a signed certificate from a solicitor or conveyancer, while in QLD, both parties must agree to waive it.
- Pre-Settlement Checks: The conveyancer will conduct final checks to ensure the property is as agreed.
- Settlement: On settlement day, the balance is paid, and the property ownership is transferred.
For Sellers:
- Prepare the Contract: The contract is drafted, including any necessary disclosures like zoning certificates.
- Negotiating Offers: Your conveyancer will assist in negotiating and finalising the sale.
- Exchange of Contracts: Once both parties agree, contracts are exchanged, and the buyer pays a deposit.
- Pre-Settlement: The seller ensures the property is in the agreed condition and is ready for transfer.
- Settlement: On settlement day, the buyer pays the balance, and the property is officially transferred to them.
What is the difference between a conveyancer and a property lawyer?
In Australia, property law differs from state to state. Some states in Australia, including New South Wales, grant licences to conveyancers. A conveyancer is a licensed professional who specialises in the administrative aspects of property transactions, such as contract preparation, property searches, and settlement processes. Queensland does not have a scheme for the registration of licenced conveyancers.
A property lawyer is a qualified lawyer with expertise in property law and is also able to offer broader legal advice and handle complex issues like contract disputes, land use, and property-related legal proceedings. At Paramount Legal we have qualified lawyers who are able to handle a broad range of property law and conveyancing matters in both Queensland and New South Wales.
What are "disbursements" in conveyancing?
Disbursements are the out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the client during the property transaction. Common disbursements include fees for property searches (e.g., title searches, zoning certificates), government charges (such as stamp duty or registration fees), and costs for documents like contracts or certificates required for the transaction.
What is Transfer Duty (also known as Stamp Duty)?
Transfer duty, also commonly known as stamp duty, is a tax levied by the state or territory government on the transfer of property ownership. It is calculated based on the purchase price or market value of the property, whichever is higher. If you want to understand transfer duty in more depth, read our article about it here.
Other Property Matters
In addition to conveyancing, our team are able to assist in many other aspects of property law including:
- Related party transfers;
- Commercial/Industrial conveyancing;
- Commercial and retail leasing;
- Sub divisions;
- Reviewing mortgage documents;
- Change of name on registered title;
- Refinance;
- Release of Mortgage from title;
Family Law Transfers
The process of transferring ownership, which effectively removes one party from the title, is not dissimilar to transferring ownership when a property is bought and sold. The key difference is that the parties involved in the transaction are connected by a relationship or marriage. Typically this change is the result of a relationship breakdown.
These are difficult times for all parties and the transfer needs to take place with a degree of sensitivity. In some instances, there is limited communication between parties and this requires a lot of diplomacy and empathy.
It is vitally important that all parties involved in the transaction have a full understanding of all elements in the transfer. Our Family Lawyers and Conveyancers can provide you with legal advice so that you fully understand what your liabilities might be once the transaction has taken place.
Get A Conveyancing Price Estimate
Conveyancing is an important job. One simple mistake by your lawyer can cost you alot of money. Paramount Legal pride themselves on providing professional, high quality conveyancing services. We advise our customers against looking for cut-price fees when so much is at stake.
Please complete the Quote Request form below and we will contact you with a price for your conveyancing.
What our clients say
We used Paramount Legal for our conveyancing when we bought a house recently and couldn't recommend them more highly. Prompt communication, friendly staff and great advice. The team was on top of everything and it took a lot of stress from the process of buying a house.
Megan Kraa
We were lucky enough to have Paramount Legal help us with the process of buying our first home. Their whole team was fantastic! All communication from them was clear and efficient. Tanya’s experience showed as she took us through the purchase and kindly took the time to answer any questions that we had over the phone or via email. A big thanks to her and Josh for managing our purchase so competently and helping us feel confident as we purchased our first home. I would highly recommend the team at Paramount Legal and will definitely be using their services again.
Sarah Kross
We are licensed to provide conveyancing services in both Queensland and New South Wales. Reach out by contacting us directly or by filling out the conveyancing form above, we’d love to chat.