You have just signed a contract to buy a home in Queensland, or you are about to. The paperwork is done, the price is agreed, and now a new question appears: what actually happens between now and the day you get the keys? That process is called conveyancing, and it involves more moving parts than most buyers expect.
Conveyancing is the legal process that transfers ownership of property from one person to another. In Queensland, it runs from the moment a contract is signed through to the registration of the new owner's name at the land titles office. Along the way it covers title searches, transfer duty, settlement funds and identity verification requirements that are newer than many buyers realise.
Brookwater Legal helps clients across Greater Springfield and Ipswich with buying and selling property, from reviewing the contract before signing through to settlement day.
Here is how conveyancing works in Queensland, and why having a solicitor involved matters.
Key takeaways
- Conveyancing in Queensland is a legal service only solicitors can provide.
- Transfer duty must be lodged within 30 days of the contract date, not settlement.
- Identity verification is now a legal requirement for all buyers and sellers.
This article is general information only and is not legal advice. Every situation is different, and you should speak with a solicitor about your own circumstances.
What is conveyancing in Queensland?
Conveyancing is the legal process that transfers registered ownership of property from one person to another, according to the Queensland Government. It covers all the steps needed to ensure the land is registered in the buyer's name at Titles Queensland, the state's land titles office. From the buyer's side, a solicitor checks the contract, carries out title searches and explains the results, then deals with the seller's solicitor to manage the final payment on settlement day and transfer the title.
The process begins at the contract date, not on settlement day. Transfer duty, for example, must be lodged within 30 days of the liability date, which is usually the contract date, according to the Queensland Revenue Office. Most buyers assume duty is a settlement concern. It is not, and a late lodgement can delay settlement and attract penalty tax.
Queensland conveyancing also now involves mandatory identity and anti-money laundering verification. From 1 July 2026, lawyers and conveyancers became regulated entities under Australia's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws, according to AUSTRAC. Buyers and sellers can expect to provide identity documents before their matter proceeds.
Who can do conveyancing in Queensland?
Conveyancing is a legal service in Queensland and can only be provided by qualified and licensed solicitors and law practices, according to the Legal Services Commission. In other states and territories, licensed conveyancers who are not lawyers may also do this work, but that is not the position in Queensland. A person can do their own conveyancing, though the Queensland Government recommends getting legal advice even then.
The Queensland Law Society keeps a public register of solicitors, searchable by name or organisation. A solicitor must hold a current practising certificate to provide legal services. Engaging in legal practice without one is an offence under Queensland's Legal Profession Act.
When choosing a solicitor, the Queensland Government suggests finding a firm that practises in property or conveyancing, shopping around for experience and services, and making sure the solicitor is not connected to any other party in the transaction.
What are the main costs and taxes a buyer faces in Queensland?
Transfer duty and concessions apply to most purchases, according to the Queensland Revenue Office:
- › General rate (as at 25 June 2026): five bands apply from nil on values up to $5,000, rising to $38,025 plus $5.75 per $100 over $1,000,000 for higher-value properties.
- › First home concession: for contracts signed on or after 9 June 2024, no duty is payable where an established home is valued at $700,000 or under, with the concession reducing in steps up to $800,000, according to the Queensland Revenue Office.
- › First home (new home) concession: from 1 May 2025, eligible first home buyers acquiring a new or substantially renovated home pay no transfer duty at all, with no value cap, according to the Queensland Revenue Office.
- › First home owner grant:$30,000 for eligible new homes valued under $750,000 including land, continuing for contracts signed from 1 July 2026 onwards, according to the Queensland Revenue Office.
- › Citizenship requirement (from 1 August 2026): to claim a home, first home or first home vacant land concession, buyers must now be Australian citizens, permanent residents or specified foreign retirees, according to the Queensland Revenue Office.
- › Investment and commercial property: the general rates apply and home concessions are generally not available, according to the Queensland Revenue Office.
Only one transfer duty concession can be claimed per transaction. There is no first home owner grant for established homes. A solicitor can confirm which concession, if any, applies to a particular purchase.
"The three biggest changes to Queensland conveyancing in the past twelve months are the seller disclosure scheme from August 2025, the new home duty concession from May 2025, and mandatory identity verification from July 2026. A lot of existing online guides predate all three."
Jade Kickbusch, Principal, Brookwater Legal
When does the seller disclosure scheme apply?
From 1 August 2025, sellers of existing residential property, commercial property and vacant land must give buyers a signed seller disclosure statement before the buyer signs a contract, under Queensland's Property Law Act. This reform ended Queensland's long-standing buyer beware position for most sales.
The disclosure statement covers the property's title, registered and unregistered encumbrances, any tenancy, zoning notices, heritage listing, contaminated land register status, pool compliance, and certain building and planning notices, according to the Queensland Government. Where the property is in a community titles scheme, a body corporate certificate and the community management statement are also required.
Where a seller does not provide the disclosure documents, or the information given is inaccurate or incomplete and that inaccuracy was material, the buyer may be entitled to terminate the contract at any time up to settlement, according to the Queensland Government. A solicitor reviews the disclosure documents as part of the conveyancing process and can advise whether the information given is complete.
How does a solicitor help with conveyancing in Queensland?
Step 1: Talk to us
Get in touch and we will explain how the conveyancing process works for your type of purchase and what the next steps look like.
Step 2: Contract review and searches
We review the contract and seller disclosure documents, carry out a title search to check for registered interests such as mortgages, easements and caveats, and order any additional searches the purchase requires. We explain what the results mean in plain language.
Step 3: Transfer duty, identity verification and settlement preparation
We handle the transfer duty lodgement with the Queensland Revenue Office, carry out the identity and anti-money laundering verification now required under AUSTRAC's rules, and coordinate with the buyer's lender and the seller's solicitor to prepare the settlement figures and workspace in the electronic lodgement network.
Step 4: Settlement and registration
On settlement day we manage the electronic transfer of funds and documents through our conveyancing team, confirm the title is registered in the buyer's name at Titles Queensland, and advise when the transaction is complete and the keys can be collected.
| Get in touch Need help with conveyancing in Queensland? We're an experienced team who keep you well informed at every stage of the process. Get in touch to discuss your needs. |
What does conveyancing not cover in Queensland?
Conveyancing transfers legal title. It does not, on its own, resolve disputes about what was agreed between buyer and seller, advise on whether a price is fair, assess the physical condition of the property, or provide tax or financial planning advice.
A pre-purchase building and pest inspection is separate from conveyancing. The Queensland Government recommends having one carried out by a licensed inspector before settlement. Only a licensed residential building inspector holding the relevant Queensland Building and Construction Commission licence category may carry out a pre-purchase building inspection.
Financial advice, including whether a purchase is a sound investment or how to structure borrowings, sits with a financial adviser or accountant, not a conveyancing solicitor. Conveyancing solicitors deal with the legal transfer; other professionals deal with the financial and structural questions alongside it.
What has changed in Queensland conveyancing recently?
Three reforms have reshaped Queensland conveyancing in the past twelve months, and most existing online guides predate all of them.
First, the seller disclosure scheme commenced on 1 August 2025 under Queensland's Property Law Act. Sellers of existing residential and commercial property and vacant land must now give buyers a signed disclosure statement before contract. Buyers have a termination right if material information is wrong or missing. This ended the old buyer beware position that Queensland had held for decades.
Second, the first home (new home) transfer duty concession was expanded from 1 May 2025. Eligible first home buyers acquiring a new home now pay no duty at all, with no value cap, according to the Queensland Revenue Office. This replaced what had been a partial concession for new homes.
Third, anti-money laundering obligations commenced on 1 July 2026 for lawyers and conveyancers, according to AUSTRAC. Identity verification is now a mandatory step in every matter, not an optional one. Buyers and sellers in Ipswich and Springfield, and across Queensland, can expect to provide proof of identity as a standard part of the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a conveyancing solicitor actually do in Queensland?
A conveyancing solicitor reviews the contract and disclosure documents, carries out title searches, handles transfer duty lodgement with the Queensland Revenue Office, and manages the electronic transfer of funds and title on settlement day.
When does transfer duty need to be paid in Queensland?
Documents must be lodged within 30 days of the contract date, according to the Queensland Revenue Office. Where a solicitor lodges online as a self assessor, the duty must be paid within 14 days after that. Late lodgement or payment can delay settlement.
Is the first home owner grant available for established homes in Queensland?
No. The Queensland Government's $30,000 first home owner grant is available only for new homes valued under $750,000 including land, not for established homes. A duty concession may still apply to an established home purchase.
What is the seller disclosure scheme in Queensland?
From 1 August 2025, sellers of existing residential and commercial property and vacant land must give buyers a signed disclosure statement before the buyer signs a contract, according to the Queensland Government. A buyer may be able to terminate if the information is materially inaccurate.
Why do I need to provide identity documents when buying or selling in Queensland?
From 1 July 2026, lawyers and conveyancers became regulated entities under Australia's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws, according to AUSTRAC. Identity verification is now a mandatory step for all clients before a matter proceeds.
Do you need a conveyancing solicitor to buy a property in Springfield or Ipswich QLD?
A solicitor manages the contract review, title searches, transfer duty, identity verification and settlement. Given the recent changes to seller disclosure obligations and anti-money laundering rules, the process is more involved than it was a few years ago, and legal advice can help buyers and sellers avoid costly mistakes.
How does electronic conveyancing work in Queensland?
From 20 February 2023, most property transactions in Queensland must be settled electronically through an approved Electronic Lodgment Network operator, either PEXA or Sympli, according to Titles Queensland. A buyer or seller does not subscribe directly; their solicitor manages the workspace.
Your Next Steps
Queensland conveyancing has changed significantly in the past year. The seller disclosure scheme, the expanded new home duty concession and mandatory identity verification have all altered what buyers and sellers in Springfield, Ipswich and across Queensland can expect from the process. Understanding those changes at the start, before a contract is signed, is where a solicitor adds the most value.
If you're working through buying or selling a property, the right advice early makes the process simpler. Contact the Brookwater Legal team or call (07) 3437 8555 to talk through where you stand.
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External Resources
Brookwater Legal · This article contains general information only and does not constitute legal advice. It does not take into account your individual circumstances. You should obtain legal advice about your own situation before acting on anything in this article. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
