Welcome to Lama Law, an Oakville-based law firm specializing in Residential Real Estate. Lama Law Real Estate Law can help you Buy, Sell, or Refinance homes throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
One of the first questions clients ask is simple: “How much do you charge, and what does that include?” In Ontario, real estate lawyers typically quote fees in one of two ways. Understanding the difference will help you compare quotes properly and budget confidently for your closing.
With a flat fee, the lawyer provides a single, all inclusive price at the inquiry stage. This fee covers the standard legal work required to complete your transaction. Under the Law Society of Ontario’s rules, lawyers must clearly disclose their fees and may only charge disbursements at actual cost. In a real estate transaction, the typical additional costs beyond the legal fee include:
• HST (13%) — charged on the legal fee because legal services are taxable
• Land registration fees — currently $85 per registration (e.g., transfer, mortgage, discharge)
• Title/Writ searches
• Title insurance premium — charged by the title insurance provider
• Provincial Land Transfer Tax — applicable on all Ontario purchases
• Municipal Land Transfer Tax (Toronto only) — charged in addition to the provincial tax
• Status certificate fee — applicable for condominium purchases
• Interim occupancy fees — applicable on new build condo closings during the occupancy period
• Tax certificates, where applicable
A flat fee quote usually absorbs certain office expenses (e.g., wire fees), which is why it may appear higher upfront but more predictable overall.
With this structure, the lawyer quotes only the legal fee at the inquiry stage. HST and a wider range of disbursements are added separately.
Common disbursements charged under this model, on top of those noted above, include:
• Software fees
• Banking fees
• Office expenses
• Courier fees
• Cheque or wire fees
• Third party identity verification cost
Because the firm is not absorbing these out of pocket costs, the initial legal fee may appear lower than a flat fee — but the final invoice may be higher once disbursements are added.
Always ask whether the quote provided is a flat fee OR fee + HST + Disbursements.
Ask for an estimated breakdown of account to confirm what is being charged on top of the legal fee quoted.
An experienced real estate lawyer should be able to provide you with a clear breakdown of their quote. Transparency matters because it gives you peace of mind, letting you move through your closing with clarity, confidence, and the comfort of knowing there are no surprises waiting for you.
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