Notary or Lawyer for Buying Property in Quebec: Who Does What?
Thinking of buying a house, condo, or income property in Quebec?
You might be wondering:
“Do I need a notary… or a lawyer?”
If you’ve done a real estate deal in Ontario, Alberta, or the U.S., it’s normal to feel confused —
but in Quebec, the answer is crystal clear.
You must go through a notary to finalize the purchase
In Quebec, all real estate transactions must be concluded by a notary.
The notary will:
- Check the property title
- Draft the deed of sale and mortgage deed
- Handle the fund transfers
- Register the transaction with Quebec’s land registry
- And walk you through every step, in person
A lawyer cannot do this — unless they’re also a licensed notary (which is rare).
So, when would you need a lawyer?
A lawyer can help in special cases such as:
- Ongoing lawsuits or legal disputes
- Hidden defects or latent issues
- Disputes between co-owners
- Financing refusals
- Complex estate or power of attorney cases
But for a standard real estate transaction,
a lawyer isn’t required.
Only a notary has the legal authority to make your transaction official.
Quebec ≠ Rest of Canada
In most provinces:
- Lawyers can handle real estate closings
- Notaries have limited or no role
In Quebec:
- Notaries are public officers with legal training
- They handle real estate, wills, estates, and authentic contracts
In short:
In Quebec, only the notary can complete your real estate deal. Period.
Why it’s more than just paperwork
A notary does more than “get the papers signed.” They protect:
- Your property rights
- Your mortgage
- Your money
They also explain the fine print and can:
- Flag risky purchases (like title issues or unresolved disputes)
- Spot irregularities in your purchase offer or broker agreement
- Clarify family, tax, or estate implications
What you get with Notairo — Let’s break it down:
|
Service |
Lawyer |
Notary |
Notairo |
|
Property title check |
❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
|
Deed drafting |
❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
|
Land registry filing |
❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
|
Official signing |
❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
|
Online file tracking |
❌ |
❌ |
✅ |
|
Instant online quote |
❌ |
❌ |
✅ |
|
Transparent pricing |
❌ |
Sometimes |
✅ |
In Short:
|
Question |
Answer |
|
Can I buy a property in Quebec without a notary? |
No — it’s illegal |
|
Can a lawyer do the notary’s job? |
No |
|
Do I need both a notary and a lawyer? |
Not for standard purchases |
|
Who can handle everything, start to finish? |
A notary — especially with Notairo |
Ready to move forward?
At Notairo, we make property purchases in Quebec simple — without cutting corners.
You’ll get:
- A clear quote in under 2 minutes
- Step-by-step guidance in your secure portal
- A trusted notary, without the usual back-and-forth
