Costs & fees
Legal Fees
Lawyer or notary fees for closing the purchase. Typically $1,000–$2,500 including disbursements.
Every Canadian home purchase requires a real-estate lawyer (or notary in Quebec and BC). The lawyer reviews the purchase agreement, conducts a title search, registers the new title, registers the mortgage, prepares the closing statement, transfers funds, and handles all the legal mechanics of taking ownership.
Legal fees are typically $1,000 to $2,500 all-in for a standard residential transaction in 2026 dollars. That total includes the lawyer's professional fees plus disbursements: title insurance, registration fees, courier costs, photocopying, and per-page government charges. Get a flat-fee quote in writing before retaining counsel — verbal estimates often miss disbursements.
The lender pays for its own legal work ("lender's solicitor"); you pay for yours. Some lenders include a borrower-side legal benefit (e.g. the lender pays for a basic switch-in lawyer at renewal), so ask about that during shopping.
Source: FCAC — Closing costs