Legal Fees & Disbursement Estimator Singapore 2026
Conveyancing Scale Fees, GST, SLA Charges & All Disbursements for Buyer, Seller & Mortgage
Estimate your total legal and conveyancing costs for a Singapore property transaction — whether you are buying, selling, or doing both simultaneously. Using the Law Society of Singapore’s scale of fees (the recommended benchmark), this estimator computes the professional conveyancing fee, 9% GST, and all disbursements: SLA registration, title searches, bankruptcy searches, CPF processing, mortgage documentation, and miscellaneous charges. It also compares budget vs premium law firm tiers to show how much you can save by shopping around.
The Law Society of Singapore recommends a scale of fees for conveyancing work. Law firms may charge above or below this scale. Budget conveyancers (high-volume firms) often charge 10%–20% below scale; premium firms with specialist expertise charge 15%–30% above. Professional fees are subject to 9% GST.
Enter property price, type, role, and law firm tier to estimate your total legal costs including scale fees, GST, SLA registration, searches, and all disbursements.
Singapore Property Legal Fees 2026 — Law Society Scale, What’s Included & When Fees Are Paid
Singapore property legal costs have three components: (1) Professional fees — the lawyer’s charge for conveyancing work, based on the Law Society’s recommended scale; (2) GST at 9% on professional fees (lawyers are GST-registered); (3) Disbursements — third-party costs paid on your behalf (SLA registration fees, search fees, CPF processing). Disbursements are typically not subject to GST. Total legal costs for a S$1.2M private condo purchase (with mortgage) typically run S$4,000–S$8,000 for the buyer.
Law Society Scale of Fees — Conveyancing for Purchase/Sale
| Property Value Band | Rate | On S$1.2M Property |
|---|---|---|
| First S$30,000 | 0.9% | S$270 |
| Next S$30,000 (S$30K–S$60K) | 0.75% | S$225 |
| Next S$940,000 (S$60K–S$1M) | 0.70% | S$6,580 |
| Next S$200,000 (S$1M–S$1.2M) | 0.60% | S$1,200 |
| Total scale fee (S$1.2M) | — | S$8,275 |
Typical Disbursements (Buyer, Private Property with Mortgage)
| Disbursement Item | Typical Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SLA transfer registration | S$100–S$500 | Based on consideration |
| SLA caveat registration | S$64 | Flat fee |
| Title / OS search | S$40–S$80 | Verify ownership, encumbrances |
| Bankruptcy search (×2) | S$14–S$20 | Both buyer & seller checked |
| CPF Board processing | S$50–S$200 | If using CPF |
| Mortgage documentation | S$800–S$2,800 | For bank loan |
| SLA mortgage registration | S$64–S$400 | Registering bank’s charge |
| Miscellaneous | S$200–S$400 | Postage, photocopies |
How This Legal Fees Calculator Works — Scale, GST & Disbursement Breakdown
Step 1 — Enter Property Details and Role
Enter the property price, type (private or HDB), and whether you are the buyer, seller, or both (simultaneous sale and purchase). Select whether a mortgage is involved — mortgage documentation adds S$1,800–S$2,800 to the legal cost. The buyer’s legal costs are typically 30%–40% higher than the seller’s (more searches and mortgage work for the buyer).
Step 2 — Select Law Firm Tier
Scale fees are a recommendation, not a statutory cap. Budget conveyancers (typically high-volume, online-first firms) charge 10%–20% below scale. Standard tier = Law Society scale. Premium firms (specialist property teams at larger firms) charge 15%–30% above scale for personalised service. The comparison box shows savings between tiers.
Step 3 — Review Itemised Breakdown
Every disbursement is itemised: SLA registration, caveat, searches, CPF fees, mortgage registration. GST at 9% is applied to professional fees only (not disbursements). The doughnut chart shows the professional/GST/disbursement split visually.
3 Real Singapore Legal Fee Examples — HDB Resale, Condo Purchase & Simultaneous Sale-Buy
S$650K HDB Resale (Buyer)
S$1.5M Condo (Buyer + Mortgage)
Sell S$900K + Buy S$1.3M (Both)
3 Expert Legal Cost Tips — Bundle Both Transactions, Fixed-Fee Conveyancers & What to Check
Use the Same Firm for Sale and Purchase — Negotiate a Bundle Discount
If you are simultaneously selling your current property and buying a new one, using the same law firm for both transactions saves money in two ways: (1) bundled fee negotiation — many firms offer 10%–20% discount when handling both sides; (2) coordination efficiency — the same firm can synchronise Contra arrangements, CPF flows, and completion dates without inter-firm communication delays. Ask any firm you are considering: “What is your combined fee for selling at S$X and buying at S$Y simultaneously?” Bundle savings of S$1,500–S$3,000 are typical. However, check for actual conflict of interest — some transactions require separate representation.
Fixed-Fee Conveyancers vs Scale Fees — Do the Math First
Several Singapore law firms now advertise fixed-fee conveyancing packages (e.g., S$2,500 all-in for buyer’s conveyancing, or S$1,800 for seller). These can be significantly below the Law Society scale for higher-value properties. Example: scale fee on a S$2M property = ~S$12,700 vs a S$2,500 fixed-fee package. The saving is S$10,200 — substantial. However, verify what is included: some fixed-fee packages exclude certain disbursements or mortgage documentation (charged separately). Always get a written itemised fee quote before engaging, including: professional fee, GST, each disbursement, and any conditions. Compare total (all-in) cost, not just the headline fee.
Seller’s Legal Fees Are Often Forgotten in Sale Proceeds Planning
When planning the net cash from a property sale, sellers often budget for agent commission and SSD but forget the seller’s legal fees. The seller’s conveyancing: discharge of mortgage, CPF Board coordination, transfer documents — typically S$2,000–S$5,000 depending on the property price and mortgage complexity. If you are selling without an existing mortgage, fees are lower (~S$2,000). With mortgage discharge and CPF refund coordination: S$3,000–S$5,000. Include this in your Private Property Sale Proceeds calculation for accurate net cash planning. Sellers are often surprised when their lawyer’s bill reduces expected proceeds.