Sale - Conveyancers versus lawyers: What is the difference?

When selling your property, you’ll need to appoint a conveyancer or a conveying lawyer to prepare your sale documents and to communicate with your buyer or their legal representative to effect settlement.

Generally, conveyancers and lawyers execute the same procedures and paperwork on your behalf. Conveyancers are specifically – and extensively - trained in property law, while lawyers are fully qualified legal representatives who specialise in property law.

Choosing whether to use a conveyancer or a lawyer for your property sale largely depends on your situation – and the complexity of the sale. If you need legal advice on capital gains tax, or the property sale results from a death in your family – and exposes the need for family law advice – a lawyer may be better suited to your transaction. The broad spectrum of legal knowledge that a conveyancing lawyer has can help in more diverse areas of property exchange.

That said, conveyancers undergo intense training in property law too. A highly competent conveyancer could well prove a more appropriate option for a simpler property transaction that doesn’t require complex legal advice. Think through your personal circumstances and the nature of your property sale before settling on a legal representative.