Conveyancer or solicitor?
Both can handle a property settlement — but they are not the same, and in Queensland and the ACT you must use a solicitor. Pick your state and your matter to see which you need.
Choose a state and a matter type to see whether a licensed conveyancer can act, or whether you need a solicitor.
General information only, not legal advice. Conveyancing is a regulated legal service; the right choice can depend on details specific to your matter. Confirm scope and fees with the practitioner, and seek independent legal advice for anything beyond a standard settlement.
How this works
A licensed conveyancer specialises in the transfer of property ownership — reviewing the contract, ordering searches, and attending settlement. For a standard residential purchase or sale they are generally all you need, and usually the better value. A solicitor can do the same work and also advise on legal issues beyond the conveyance, which matters when a transaction is complicated.
The one hard rule is geographic: Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory do not license conveyancers. In those two jurisdictions, settlement must be handled by a solicitor — there is no conveyancer to choose. Everywhere else you have the choice, and the tool leans on how complex your matter is.
This is general information to point you in the right direction, not legal advice. The right choice can turn on details specific to your matter, so confirm scope and fees with the practitioner and seek independent legal advice for anything beyond a standard settlement.