Buyer · Closing costs
It is the expense buyers discover last, and usually the one explained worst. Here is what is free, what is fixed by the State, and who pays what.
In Quebec, notary fees are not regulated: the Chambre des notaires publishes no fee schedule, and each office sets its prices according to the time spent, the complexity of the file and its expertise. The notary must however inform you in advance of the approximate fees, flag any change and give you an itemized invoice. On top of the fees come disbursements set by the State: since April 1, 2026, registering a right at the Land Register costs $145 per application. A financed purchase generates two, the deed of sale and the mortgage deed, so $290 in registration charges. The buyer chooses the notary and pays for the deed of sale and the mortgage deed; the seller pays to discharge their mortgage and settle their tax balance. Comparing two or three offices before appointing one is perfectly legitimate.
The Chambre des notaires du Québec is explicit: it sets no fee schedule. Fees are framed only by the notaries' code of ethics, which requires them to be fair and reasonable, proportionate to the time spent, the complexity of the file and the expertise required. Three obligations follow and work in your favour: the notary must inform you in advance of the approximate fees, flag any change during the mandate, and give you an itemized invoice. The Chambre also offers a free account conciliation service in case of disagreement. Practical conclusion: ask two or three offices for a written estimate before appointing one. The gap between two quotes for the same file is often real.
These amounts are not negotiable: they come from the official Land Register rate schedule, indexed every April 1. Rates in force since April 1, 2026: registration of a right (sale, mortgage) $145 per application; cancellation (discharge, release) $165, plus $101 per additional registration; notice of address $57; certified copy $44; uncertified copy $27; certified statement of rights $17; document consultation $1.50.
The calculation that surprises: a financed purchase generates two separate applications, the deed of sale and the mortgage deed. That is at least $290 in registration charges before searches, copies and the notice of address.
The buyer chooses the notary, but the notary works for nobody in particular: as a public officer, the notary executes the deed for both parties and must remain impartial. Costs follow a logic of cause: the buyer pays what flows from the purchase and its financing, the fees and disbursements of the deed of sale and the mortgage deed. The seller pays what concerns the release of their own commitments: the discharge of their mortgage, the verification of municipal and school taxes and the payment of any unpaid balance. A seller with no remaining mortgage therefore has almost nothing to pay at the notary, which many people do not know when they build their selling budget.
The notary is only one line of the closing budget. Also plan for the adjustments paid to the seller for taxes already paid, the pre-purchase inspection, home insurance, the move, and above all the welcome tax, which arrives by mail a few months after you take possession. First-time buyers can also claim the welcome tax refund of up to $5,875 since 2026. Since Finances Québec's Information Bulletin 2026-2 (April 2026), this credit is reduced by 2.35 % of the portion of the price above $750,000 and disappears at $1,000,000: $4,700 at $800,000, $2,350 at $900,000.
There is no official rate. As a reference, the National Bank mentions a range of $1,500 to $3,000, and the president of the Association professionnelle des notaires du Québec spoke in 2024 of $2,000 to $2,500 all included, fees, taxes and disbursements. Always ask for a written estimate first.
The buyer, but the notary represents neither party. The buyer pays for the deed of sale and the mortgage deed; the seller pays for the discharge of their mortgage and the settlement of their taxes.
Since April 1, 2026, $145 per registration of a right, so $290 for a financed purchase, plus copies and the notice of address. These rates are indexed every April 1.
Also available in French: version française de ce guide.
Published September 1, 2026 by the Loaa & Manseur team, the number 1 team at RE/MAX Platine in 2024 and 2025, 6th RE/MAX team in Quebec, 15th in Canada and in the global top 50 according to the official RE/MAX ranking. Tell us about your project.
Équipe no 1 de RE/MAX Platine en 2024 et en 2025, 6e au Québec, 15e au Canada et dans le top 50 mondial au classement officiel RE/MAX. Réponse en moins de 24 heures, sept jours sur sept.