Costs disclosure and agreement

Handover Conveyancing is a business name of Corporate Legal Pty Ltd ACN 640 661 847 ABN 52 640 661 847, an incorporated legal practice in New South Wales (we, us). Your matter is supervised by a solicitor who holds a current practising certificate.

Part A - Costs disclosure

What we will do: act for you on your purchase or sale of the property named at sign-up. The work covered by the fixed fee is listed under Scope below.

How we charge: a fixed professional fee of $699.00 + GST for a purchase or $599.00 + GST for a sale. The fee does not change if the matter takes longer than expected, as long as the work stays within the scope.

Disbursements: searches, certificates and government and settlement fees. Your estimate is shown at sign-up and sent with your receipt. They vary with the property, the number of people we verify and government fee changes. Stamp duty, lender fees and adjustments of rates, levies and rent are not legal costs.

Work outside the scope: we tell you the cost in writing before doing it. Unless we agree another amount, it is charged at $400.00 + GST per hour in 6-minute units.

Your rights: you can negotiate this agreement and how we bill you; ask for an itemised bill; contact the NSW Legal Services Commissioner (1800 242 958, olsc.nsw.gov.au) about a costs dispute; and be told as soon as practicable of any substantial change to this disclosure.

Part B - Costs agreement

Paying the fixed fee: you pay the fee, including GST, at sign-up into our trust account. We issue a trust receipt straight away and transfer the fee when we bill you, normally at settlement.

If the matter ends early:

1. before we have reviewed or prepared the contract, we refund the fixed fee in full;
2. after we have reviewed or prepared the contract but before exchange, or if you rescind during the cooling-off period, we keep $150.00 + GST and refund the balance to your nominated bank account;
3. after exchange, other than a rescission during the cooling-off period, the whole fixed fee is earned.

Disbursements already paid or committed to on your behalf are payable within 14 days of our invoice.

Disbursements: collected at settlement and itemised on your settlement statement. If a disbursement over $200.00 arises that is not in your estimate, we tell you before we incur it.

How we work: we run your matter on our own software. We use software, which may include AI, to help us read documents and prepare drafts. A solicitor reviews and approves all legal advice and every document before it is relied on. Our staff, some of whom work from outside Australia, help under a solicitor's supervision.

Communication: by email, SMS and your client portal. We will never change our bank details by email or text. Always call us on a number you already have before sending money.

Unpaid costs: if an invoice is unpaid after 30 days we may charge interest at the rate allowed under the Legal Profession Uniform Law. We do not charge interest on money held in trust.

Introductions: we pass on your details only with your consent. We do not receive a commission or any other benefit for introductions. Where an introduction is to a related business, we will tell you.

Governing law: New South Wales.

Acceptance: you accept by ticking the box and typing your name at sign-up. If more than one of you is buying or selling, each of you is jointly and severally liable for our costs.

Scope

Purchase: contract review with a letter of advice; negotiating contract amendments (1 round); exchange; checking certificates and searches; requisitions; stamp duty; settlement adjustments; electronic settlement; notices after settlement.

Sale: preparing the contract; responding to amendment requests; exchange; replies to requisitions; your ATO clearance certificate; discharge of your mortgage; settlement adjustments; electronic settlement.

Not included: off-the-plan, vacant land subdivision, company title, commercial or business sales, SMSF borrowing documents, disputes, rescission or default notices, and extensions you request. We quote these before starting.

Government fees change each 1 July. Land Registry registration fee currently $182.73.

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.