Can you sell a house without a notary in Quebec?
Selling a house is exciting. But one question often comes up:
“Do I really have to have a notary?”
Perhaps you've already bought or sold a car without an intermediary. So why not a house?
Well... because in Quebec, the law is very clear.
In Quebec, a notary is required for all real estate sales.
This is not a preference or a habit: it is a legal requirement enshrined in the Civil Code of Quebec.
For a property sale:
The deed of sale must be drawn up in notarial form
The deed must be signed in person before a notary.
The notary must register it in the Quebec Land Register
This applies to all real estate sales :
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Single-family home
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Condo
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Ground
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Duplex, triplex, income building
Can we get around this rule?
No. Any attempt to draw up a “house” sales deed without a notary:
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Will not be legally recognized
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Will not allow any registration in the Land Registry
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Can create enormous risk of litigation, fraud or invalidation
Even if both parties (buyer and seller) are in good faith, you will not have legal protection without a notarial deed.
Why is a notary essential?
Here is what the notary actually does during a sale:
|
Stain |
Why it's crucial |
|
Check the titles |
Ensures that the seller is the owner |
|
Write the deed |
Ensures that all clauses are valid |
|
Manages funds |
Withholds amounts due (e.g. taxes, mortgage to be repaid) |
|
Registered in the land register |
Makes the transaction official and enforceable against third parties |
This is your best guarantee against unpleasant surprises.
Why do some people still ask this question?
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Because in some Canadian provinces , it is lawyers who do the work of the notary.
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Because some sites suggest that a “contract between individuals” is sufficient (this is not the case in Quebec).
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Because the online part of the process (submission, communication, etc.) gives the impression that everything can be done remotely.
But in Quebec, no real estate sale can be completed without a notary. Period.
How Notairo simplifies things (without sacrificing legality)
Yes, the final signature must be done in person , by law.
But everything else can be simplified :
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Online quote request
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100% digital document sharing
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Quick appointment booking with a trusted notary
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File tracking with dashboard
And all this without guessing the price in advance.
Quick summary
|
Question |
Answer |
|
Can you sell without a notary in Quebec? |
No, it's illegal |
|
For what? |
The deed of sale must be notarized and registered |
|
Can everything be done online? |
Not the signature, but everything else yes |
|
What is a Notary? |
A simple, modern and legal way to manage your transaction |
Ready to start selling your property?
With Notairo, you have the support of a notary and the ease of a modern service.
