Ontario Real Estate Lawyer Fees Know Exactly What You Are Paying Before Closing Day

At Shaikh Law Firm, the combined legal fee and fixed office disbursement package are $1,698 + HST for a sale and $1,799 + HST for a purchase or refinance. Applicable land transfer tax, title insurance and government registration fees are additional.

The breakdown is a professional legal fee of $999 for a sale or $1,100 for a purchase or refinance, plus our $699 fixed office disbursement package. These prices apply to standard residential transactions within the agreed scope.

No. Our standard legal fees do not increase solely because your property has a higher value or there are multiple owners. This applies to standard purchases, sales and refinancing transactions within the agreed scope.

Transaction-specific expenses, such as land transfer tax and title insurance, may vary. Additional legal work outside the agreed scope is quoted separately and confirmed in writing before that work begins.

The legal fee covers the advice and legal work needed to complete your transaction within the agreed scope. Depending on whether you are buying, selling or refinancing, this includes document and title review, preparation of closing documents, signing, coordination with your lender and the other lawyer where applicable, handling closing funds and final reporting.

The mortgage registration and payout work included for each transaction is explained below.

Disbursements are transaction-related expenses charged separately from the professional legal fee. We distinguish between our fixed office package and separate third-party closing costs.

Our $699 fixed office disbursement package covers the following for a standard residential transaction:

• Parcel register, instrument and execution (writ) searches.
• Conveyancing software and portal fees.
• Digital identity verification and secure file archiving.
• Routine courier, banking administration and file administration.

HST applies to the office package.

Separate third-party closing costs are additional, where applicable, and passed through at cost without a firm markup:

• Land transfer tax: Provincial and Toronto municipal land transfer tax, where applicable.
• Government registration fees: Charges for registering documents, such as a transfer or mortgage.
• Title insurance: The premium for the policy arranged for your transaction.

These amounts depend on the property, financing and transaction requirements. Your written quote identifies the included services and estimates applicable additional costs.

No. Our displayed prices are before HST. HST is added to the professional legal fee and the $699 office disbursement package. Your written quote shows applicable taxes and separate third-party costs.

No. Legal fees are one part of your transaction budget. Total closing expenses may also include office disbursements, applicable HST, land transfer tax, title insurance, government registration fees and adjustments.

The funds you need to provide, or the proceeds you receive, also depend on items such as your deposit, mortgage advance and existing mortgage payouts. Use our Ontario closing costs calculator for a budgeting estimate. Your final closing figures are confirmed separately.

For standard residential transactions within the agreed scope, our legal fees include:

• Purchase: Preparation, lender coordination and registration work for one standard institutional mortgage.
• Sale: Payout and discharge handling for one existing mortgage.
• Refinance: Registration work for one new standard institutional mortgage, plus payout and discharge handling for one existing mortgage.

These inclusions cover our legal work. Government registration fees, lender discharge charges and any mortgage prepayment penalties remain separate. Additional payouts are $65 + HST each.

A standard transaction is a routine residential purchase, sale or refinance involving one Ontario freehold or condominium property, ordinary title and closing requirements and, where financing is involved, standard institutional lender instructions.

Private or alternative financing, complex title issues, additional payouts, independent legal advice and urgent closing requirements may involve work outside the standard scope. Your written quote confirms the services included for your transaction.

Additional charges may apply where your transaction requires work outside the agreed scope, including:

• Additional payouts: $65 + HST for each payout beyond the included allowance.
• Rush closings: $450 + HST if required documents, lender instructions or information are received less than seven days before closing, or changes are made during that period.
• Non-standard work: Private or alternative financing, complex title issues or independent legal advice may require a separate quote.

Your written quote sets out the agreed scope and applicable additional charges. Any additional fee is confirmed in writing before the additional work begins.

Compare the same transaction and the same scope of work. Give each firm the property type, municipality, closing date and financing details, then request an itemized written quote.

• Compare the combined legal fee and office charges.
• Check the mortgage registration and payout work included.
• Identify separate taxes, insurance and registration costs.
• Ask what circumstances could lead to additional charges.
• Confirm signing options, who handles day-to-day communication and how to speak with the lawyer.

When choosing a lawyer, also check their licensing status through the Law Society of Ontario and ask about experience with your type of transaction.

Our professional legal fee for a separate condominium status certificate review is $360 + HST. The service involves reviewing the certificate and supporting documents and advising on legal concerns relevant to your proposed purchase.

Provide the complete document package and your condition deadline. Confirm whether review is included in your closing retainer or is a separate service. The charge to obtain the certificate is distinct from our legal review fee.

Our professional legal fee for a separate Agreement of Purchase and Sale review is $360 + HST. We review the agreement and advise on its terms, conditions, deadlines and contractual obligations within the agreed review scope.

Send the agreement, schedules and amendments, together with any signing or condition deadline. Negotiations, amendments or subsequent closing work should be confirmed in the written scope of engagement.

Our professional legal fee for interim occupancy closing assistance is $860 + HST. This service relates to the interim occupancy stage of a new-build condominium purchase.

Interim occupancy and final closing are separate stages. Your written quote confirms the work covered, applicable disbursements and the fees for the subsequent final closing.

Yes. Ask for a breakdown for both your sale and your purchase. Each transaction involves its own legal work and expenses. Our published standard sale and purchase prices apply to their respective transactions.

Tell us both closing dates and whether funds from your sale are needed for your purchase. This helps us assess coordination requirements and any additional arrangements that need to be addressed in your quote.

Our team will confirm payment timing and provide instructions for your legal fees and closing funds. The arrangements depend on whether you are buying, selling or refinancing and the requirements of your transaction.

We offer remote signing for eligible transactions across Ontario, subject to identification, lender and transaction requirements. In-person appointments are also available by arrangement. Our team will confirm the signing options for your closing.