The short answer: a conveyancer is the legal professional who handles the paperwork, searches, and settlement when you buy or sell a property. In Queensland, that role is filled by a solicitor or an experienced paralegal working under a solicitor. It is never a “licensed conveyancer” – Queensland does not regulate that title, unlike some other states.
This page covers what a conveyancer actually does, what it costs in QLD, how to choose one, and what to look out for. If you’re already past the basics and ready to talk pricing, jump straight to our pricing page.
What does a conveyancer do?
A conveyancer manages the legal transfer of property from one owner to another. They review and explain the contract, order and check the searches, liaise with your bank and the other side, calculate settlement figures and attend settlement so the title transfers correctly. In Queensland, that work is done by solicitors and experienced paralegals working under a solicitor.
A conveyancer carries you from the day you sign a contract to the day the keys change hands. Concretely:
For a buyer:
- Reviews the sale contract before you sign (or shortly after, depending on timing)
- Explains special conditions, sunset clauses, and red flags in plain English
- Orders title, council, body corporate, flood, and contamination searches
- Liaises with the seller’s law firm, the agent, your bank, your broker, and PEXA
- Calculates and remits transfer duty (stamp duty) to Queensland Revenue Office
- Coordinates settlement day – the moment the money moves and the title changes hands
- Registers the transfer with Titles Queensland post-settlement
For a seller:
- Prepares the contract (or reviews the contract the agent has already drafted)
- Prepares the Form 2 seller’s disclosure statement (mandatory since 1 August 2025)
- Orders prescribed certificates (council rates, body corporate, title searches)
- Liaises with the buyer’s law firm, agent, and your bank to discharge the mortgage
- Coordinates settlement and confirms the proceeds land in your account
Done well, conveyancing should feel almost invisible to you. The conveyancer handles the noise and you turn up at settlement to sign.
Conveyancer vs solicitor – what’s the difference in Queensland?
This trips people up everywhere outside the legal profession.
In some Australian states (NSW, Victoria, WA), “licensed conveyancers” are a distinct, regulated profession – they handle property settlements but are not lawyers. In Queensland, that role doesn’t exist. Every conveyancing transaction in QLD must be supervised by an admitted solicitor.
What that means in practice:
- A QLD conveyancing firm is, legally speaking, a law firm
- Your file is supervised by a solicitor with an admission certificate and a current practising certificate
- Day-to-day file management may be handled by an experienced paralegal under that solicitor’s supervision
- If something goes seriously wrong (contract dispute, settlement failure, legal advice), a solicitor is on hand
Empire Legal employs both solicitors and experienced paralegals as separate staff roles. The two work together on every matter.
For more on this distinction, see our conveyancer vs solicitor guide.
How much does a conveyancer cost in Queensland?
QLD conveyancing fees range widely depending on the firm and the matter. Bargain-basement online conveyancing can run $700-$900 for a no-frills sale or purchase. Mid-market full-service firms charge $1,500-$3,000. Premium boutique firms (specialist commercial work, off-the-plan, complex unit purchases) charge $3,000+.
Empire Legal’s residential purchase conveyancing is currently $2,600 (July 2026 pricing), all-inclusive of professional fees, standard searches, and pre-contract advice. We work on fixed fees for all conveyancing matters – you know the number before you commit.
For the full pricing breakdown, see our pricing page.
What to look for when choosing a conveyancer
Most people pick a conveyancer once or twice in their life. Here’s what actually matters:
- A real solicitor on the file (especially important in QLD where licensed conveyancers don’t exist – if a “QLD conveyancer” is not a law firm with a solicitor, walk away)
- Fixed fees (hourly billing on a conveyancing matter is a signal of either inefficiency or a slippery final invoice – fixed fee = certainty)
- Same person from contract to settlement (call centres and pass-the-parcel firms are common – ask “who specifically will handle my file?” If the answer is vague, that’s the answer)
- 24-hour contract review turnaround (conveyancing is time-sensitive – a firm that takes a week to come back on a contract review is a firm that will miss your finance date)
- Reviews from real people (not testimonials on the firm’s own site – independent Google reviews – we have 3,029 five-star Google reviews across our offices)
- Local QLD experience (QLD has its own searches, its own Form 2 regime, its own flood/storm-tide overlay quirks – a firm that does mostly NSW work and “also” QLD is a worse fit than a QLD-first firm)
Common conveyancing questions
