Conveyancers versus Settlement Agents versus Solicitors
In Australia, conveyancers, settlement agents, or solicitors can perform property ownership transfers. As such, some are confused about when and which is needed for their conveyancing project.
A conveyancer is a property professional who typically must be licensed to conduct conveyancing on behalf of clients. For example, conveyancers in New South Wales must be licensed by the Department of Fair Trading.
A settlement agent is simply another name for a professional real estate conveyancer. Western Australia, for example, uses this term.
A solicitor, on the other hand, is a conveyancing specialist who can do everything settlement agents do and more, like providing legal advice on the conveyance and related agreements.
When choosing between a conveyance or solicitor, keep in mind that property law is not the only area of law relevant to conveyancing. You may have tax questions or other legal issues that we can competently address, providing a more thorough, rewarding experience. Also, keep in mind that if the conveyance is in certain states, like Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory, solicitors may be required to exclusively handle all conveyancing matters.