Conveyancing Fee Estimator NZ

This calculator estimates the conveyancing cost of buying or selling a property in New Zealand, pulling the lawyer's fee and the separate disbursements into one realistic total so there are no surprises at settlement. Conveyancing is the legal work that moves ownership from one party to another, and it is a cost every buyer and seller pays, yet it is easy to underestimate because the headline legal fee is only part of the bill. On top of the lawyer or conveyancer's professional fee sit the disbursements, the third-party costs they pay on your behalf and pass on, such as the LINZ registration fee to record the transfer, a LIM report from the council, anti-money-laundering identity verification, title searches and bank fees. You enter the legal fee you have been quoted, then the LINZ registration, LIM, AML verification and any other disbursements, and the calculator totals your all-in conveyancing cost. Use it to compare quotes on a like-for-like basis, since one firm's low headline fee can hide higher disbursements, and to budget the cash you need at settlement alongside your deposit. Complex titles, cross-leases, or finance and KiwiSaver withdrawals add time and cost. This is an indicative estimate only, not a quote or legal advice, so confirm the figure with your lawyer.

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$2,255
estimated all-in conveyancing cost

The legal fee is the lawyer's charge; the rest are disbursements passed on at cost. Complex titles or finance add cost. Indicative only, not a quote or legal advice.

How it works

The calculator adds the lawyer or conveyancer's professional fee to the disbursements: the LINZ registration fee, the LIM report, AML identity verification and any other disbursements. The total is the all-in cash you should expect to pay for the legal side of your purchase or sale.

Worked example

A 1,500 dollar legal fee, 165 dollars LINZ registration, a 350 dollar LIM, 90 dollars of AML checks and 150 dollars of other disbursements total about 2,255 dollars.

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Frequently asked questions

What is conveyancing?

Conveyancing is the legal work of transferring property ownership. A lawyer or conveyancer reviews the contract and title, handles the LIM and searches, manages the settlement money, and registers the transfer with Land Information New Zealand.

How much does conveyancing cost in New Zealand?

The legal fee for a standard residential purchase or sale is commonly around 1,200 to 2,500 dollars, plus disbursements such as LINZ registration, a LIM report, AML identity checks and search fees. Complex titles or finance arrangements cost more.

What are disbursements?

Disbursements are third-party costs your lawyer pays on your behalf and passes on, such as the LINZ registration fee, the council LIM, title searches and bank fees. They are charged on top of the lawyer's professional fee.