Fee vs disbursements: the two parts of a conveyancing cost
When you get a conveyancing quote, the total is made up of two very different things — and confusing them is where buyers get caught out.
Fee vs disbursements at a glance
| Cost | Paid to | Conveyancer margin? | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional legal fee | Conveyancer/solicitor | Yes — covers the legal work | $800–$2,500 (fixed fee) |
| Title search | State land registry | No — passed through at cost | At cost — varies by state |
| Council & water certificates | Council / water authority | No | At cost — varies by state |
| PEXA / electronic settlement fee | PEXA / Sympli | No | At cost — varies by state |
| Verification of identity | ID verification provider | No | At cost — varies by state |
The professional fee
This is what you pay the conveyancer or solicitor for their work: reviewing your contract, managing the conditions, liaising with the other side, and getting you to settlement. For a standard residential purchase this is almost always a fixed fee, agreed upfront.
Disbursements
These are third-party costs your conveyancer pays on your behalf and passes on to you at cost — government title searches, council and water certificates, planning searches, the PEXA settlement fee, and land registration. They aren't the conveyancer's income; they're the out-of-pocket costs of doing the transaction.
Why it matters
A quote that shows only the professional fee can look cheaper than one that itemises everything — until the disbursements land. Always ask for a quote that lists both, so you're comparing like with like.