EZtoFind.ca provides general educational information about BC real estate — not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice. For your own situation, speak with the appropriate licensed professional: a BC lawyer or notary, an accountant or tax professional, a licensed mortgage broker, or a licensed REALTOR®.
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Legal & Conveyancing
Lawyer or Notary (BC Conveyancing)
What is Lawyer or Notary (BC Conveyancing) in British Columbia?
General information only — not legal, tax, financial, or real-estate advice. Verify with a licensed BC professional before acting.
In British Columbia, real estate transactions are conveyanced (closed) by either a lawyer (a member of the Law Society of BC) or a notary public (a member of the Society of Notaries Public of BC). Both are qualified to prepare closing documents, register title transfers and mortgages at the Land Title and Survey Authority (LTSA), and handle trust funds. Lawyers can also provide broader legal advice on disputes, litigation, family-law implications and estate matters — notaries generally cannot. For a straightforward BC residential purchase or sale, either can be retained; for anything with a dispute, litigation risk or complex family/tax dimension, a lawyer is typically engaged.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference in fees between a BC lawyer and a notary?
Fees are set by the individual professional and vary by complexity of the transaction. Both must provide a written fee estimate on request.
Can a lawyer or notary represent both buyer and seller?
Generally no — the Law Society and Society of Notaries have conflict-of-interest rules preventing dual representation in most transactions. Each party typically retains their own.
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