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Conveyancing
& Property Law
Conveyancing
Buying or selling property involves important decisions, tight deadlines and legal obligations. Goulburn Legal provides practical guidance from contract review through to settlement, helping you understand what you’re signing, identify potential issues and move forward with confidence.
Clear Advice at Every Stage
Buying or selling property involves more than completing paperwork and arranging settlement. Your contract contains important terms, conditions and obligations that can affect the transaction, which is why obtaining legal advice early can make a real difference.
Goulburn Legal assists buyers and sellers throughout the conveyancing process, from reviewing or preparing the Contract for Sale through to exchange, searches, negotiations and settlement. We take the time to explain what’s happening, identify matters that may require attention and provide practical advice along the way.
Whether you’re purchasing your first home, selling an investment property or dealing with a more complex transaction, you’ll have clear guidance throughout the process and know what to expect at each stage.
Have Your Contract Reviewed Before You Commit
A Contract for Sale sets out the terms of your property purchase and can contain conditions that affect your rights, obligations and how you may use the property. Having the contract reviewed before you sign gives you the opportunity to understand those terms and identify matters that may need further consideration.
Goulburn Legal reviews the contract and relevant property information, explains the important provisions in plain English and advises you about issues that may affect your purchase. Where appropriate, we can also raise questions or negotiate amendments with the vendor’s solicitor before contracts are exchanged.
Every property and contract is different, so our advice is tailored to the particular transaction and your circumstances.
Title and Property
We review the title and supporting property information to identify matters that may affect your ownership or use of the property. This can include easements, restrictive or positive covenants, rights of access, shared driveways and other registered interests or restrictions that should be understood before you proceed.
Finance and Inspections
Where relevant to the transaction, we review provisions relating to finance approval, building and pest inspections and other conditions that may affect your ability to proceed with the purchase. We also explain important timeframes and what may happen if a condition cannot be satisfied.
Contract Conditions
We carefully consider the terms of the Contract for Sale, including the deposit, settlement period, special conditions, default provisions and other obligations applying to the transaction. We explain any conditions requiring particular attention and advise where clarification or amendments may be appropriate before exchange.
Property-Specific Issues
24-Hour Contract Reviews
Property decisions can move quickly, particularly when there is strong buyer interest, an upcoming auction or a deadline to respond to the selling agent. Having your contract reviewed promptly gives you the opportunity to understand the terms and identify potential issues before deciding whether to proceed.
Where possible, Goulburn Legal aims to complete standard contract reviews within 24 hours of receiving all relevant documents. We review the contract and available property information, explain the key terms and your legal obligations, and identify any matters that may require further investigation, clarification or negotiation.
If changes to the contract should be considered, we can advise you on the available options and, where appropriate, raise proposed amendments with the vendor’s solicitor before exchange.
If you’re working to a particularly tight deadline, urgent contract reviews may also be available by prior arrangement. Send us your contract as early as possible so we can confirm what’s required and help you obtain advice before you commit.
Ready to Get Your
Conveyancing Started?
Whether you’re buying, selling or transferring property, Goulburn Legal provides clear, practical advice and guidance from the initial contract through to settlement.
Ready to Get Your Conveyancing Started?
Whether you’re buying, selling or transferring property, Goulburn Legal provides clear, practical advice and guidance from the initial contract through to settlement.
Selling Property
Selling a property begins well before a buyer signs the contract. We can prepare the Contract for Sale and required supporting documentation, discuss the proposed terms with you and help ensure the contract is ready before your property is offered for sale.
Once a purchaser is found, we liaise with their solicitor or conveyancer, respond to contract enquiries and consider any proposed amendments before exchange. We then manage the legal requirements leading up to settlement, including relevant adjustments, mortgage discharge arrangements where required and coordination of the electronic settlement.
From preparing the contract through to receiving the sale proceeds, we keep you informed about the progress of your matter and any action required from you. Our aim is to make the legal side of selling your property clear and straightforward while ensuring important issues are addressed as the transaction progresses.
Buying Property
Whether you’re purchasing your first home, moving to your next property or adding to an investment portfolio, having the right legal advice early can help you understand exactly what you’re agreeing to. We assist from the initial contract review through to exchange and settlement, advising on important contract conditions, title and property matters and any issues that may require further investigation.
Where appropriate, we can negotiate amendments before exchange, liaise with your lender or broker and coordinate the legal requirements leading up to settlement. Throughout the transaction, we’ll keep you informed of important dates, explain what’s required and help ensure you know what to expect at each stage.
We can also assist with purchases involving auctions, off-the-plan contracts and other transactions where additional conditions or timeframes may apply. By getting involved early, we can help you identify the legal issues relevant to the property and make informed decisions before you become committed to the purchase.
Rural Property
Rural and agricultural property transactions can involve legal and practical issues that are not commonly encountered when buying or selling a suburban home. We assist with transactions involving lifestyle acreage, hobby farms, grazing properties and agricultural land, helping you understand the matters that may affect the property before you proceed.
Depending on the land, this can include access rights and easements, water access licences, Crown roads, boundaries and fencing responsibilities, native vegetation restrictions, biosecurity obligations and other land-use considerations. We review the contract and available property information with these issues in mind and advise where further enquiries or investigation may be appropriate.
Understanding these matters before exchange can help reduce the risk of discovering unexpected restrictions or responsibilities after settlement. Whether the property is being purchased as a home, working farm, investment or lifestyle property, we tailor our advice to the land and the way you intend to use it.
Commercial Property
Buying or selling commercial property can involve additional legal and commercial considerations that require careful review before you commit to the transaction. We assist with commercial property acquisitions and sales, reviewing and negotiating contracts and advising on title matters, due diligence requirements and other issues relevant to the particular property.
Where a property is subject to an existing lease, we can also consider the lease arrangements and the obligations that may transfer with ownership. Depending on the transaction, advice may also involve GST provisions, access and easements, planning considerations and other contractual matters that could affect the property, its use or your broader commercial objectives.
Commercial property is often acquired as part of a wider investment or business strategy, so it is important to consider more than the settlement itself. We provide practical legal advice throughout the transaction and can work alongside your accountant, financial adviser or other professional advisers where the purchase or sale involves broader commercial considerations.
SMSF Property Purchases
Purchasing property through a Self-Managed Super Fund requires careful consideration of the proposed ownership structure before the contract is signed. The purchasing entity, trustee arrangements and, where borrowing is involved, the relevant structure and documentation need to be considered as part of the transaction.
Goulburn Legal can assist with reviewing the Contract for Sale, property documentation and the legal aspects of the proposed purchase, including relevant trustee or bare trust arrangements where applicable. We can also work alongside your accountant, financial adviser, mortgage broker or lender so the property transaction is coordinated with the broader SMSF structure.
Getting the structure right before exchange is particularly important in an SMSF property transaction, as problems can be difficult to correct once a contract has been entered into. Involving your legal and financial advisers early allows the relevant documentation and ownership arrangements to be considered before you commit to the purchase.
Property Transfers
Not every change in property ownership involves buying or selling on the open market. Goulburn Legal can assist with a range of property transfers, including transfers between family members, transfers following separation, estate and deceased estate matters, gifts of property and other changes to the registered ownership of land.
Property transfers can involve more than simply changing the name recorded on the title. The circumstances of the transfer may have legal, duty or taxation implications that should be considered before documents are signed. We can explain the legal requirements, prepare the necessary transfer documentation and work with your accountant or other adviser where additional taxation or financial advice is required.
We can also assist with the practical steps required to complete the change of ownership, including preparing and lodging relevant property documentation and coordinating electronic settlement where required. Getting advice at the beginning can help ensure the proposed transfer is structured and documented appropriately for the circumstances.
WHAT TO EXPECT
A Straightforward
Conveyancing Process
Every property transaction is different, but the conveyancing process follows a number of key stages. Goulburn Legal guides you through each one, providing clear advice, keeping you informed of important dates and helping you understand what’s required as your matter progresses.
Send Us the Contract
If you’re buying a property, send us the Contract for Sale as early as possible for review by one of our solicitors. If you’re selling, we’ll prepare the contract and required property documentation so your property is ready to be offered for sale.
Understand the Transaction
We review the contract, explain the important terms and identify matters that may require attention. Where appropriate, we can raise questions or negotiate amendments with the other party’s solicitor or conveyancer before exchange.
Prepare for Settlement
Once contracts are exchanged, we manage all legal requirements leading to settlement, including relevant searches, adjustments and documents. We also liaise with your lender, broker and the other party’s representative where required.
Complete the Transaction
We coordinate the electronic settlement through PEXA and ensure the required arrangements are in place for a stress free completion. Once settlement has occurred, we’ll confirm the outcome and explain any final steps required.
CONVEYANCING FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about buying, selling and conveyancing with Goulburn Legal.
When should I contact a solicitor when buying property?
Ideally, you should contact us before signing the Contract for Sale. Obtaining legal advice early gives you an opportunity to understand the contract, identify potential issues and discuss whether any changes or further enquiries should be considered before you become legally committed.
Can you review a contract before I sign?
Yes. We can review the Contract for Sale, explain the important terms and conditions and identify matters that may require further investigation or clarification. Where appropriate, we can also discuss proposed amendments before contracts are exchanged.
How quickly can you review my contract?
How long does conveyancing take?
The timeframe will depend on the Contract for Sale and the circumstances of the transaction. Residential settlement periods commonly range from 30 to 90 days, although shorter or longer periods can be agreed between the parties. Commercial and rural transactions may require additional investigations and can take longer.
Can you negotiate changes to the contract?
Yes. Where appropriate, we can raise proposed amendments with the other party’s solicitor or conveyancer before exchange. These may relate to matters such as the settlement date, deposit arrangements, special conditions, finance or building and pest provisions.
What happens on settlement day?
Settlement is generally completed electronically through PEXA. The required funds and legal documents are coordinated between the parties and their representatives, and ownership is transferred as part of the settlement process. We’ll let you know once settlement has been successfully completed and advise you of any final steps.
Buying, Selling or Making Your Next Property Move?
Whether you need a contract reviewed, are preparing to buy or sell, or need advice about another property transaction, Goulburn Legal can provide practical guidance and support from contract through to settlement.
Buying, Selling or Making Your Next Property Move?
Whether you need a contract reviewed, are preparing to buy or sell, or need advice about another property transaction, Goulburn Legal can provide practical guidance and support from contract through to settlement.