In brief
For a residential purchase in Quebec, budget roughly $1,000 to $2,500 in notary fees, plus about $450 to $500 in related costs (disbursements, searches, Land Register registration). The professional association of Quebec notaries cited minimum buyer fees of about $1,200 (APNQ, quoted by La Presse, January 2021), and the Chambre des notaires confirms there is no mandatory tariff: every notary sets their own prices — ask for a written quote. Transfer duties (the "welcome tax") are separate — they go to the municipality, not the notary.
The bill, line by line
| Item | Range | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Notary fees (purchase with a mortgage) | $1,000 – $2,500 | Buyer |
| Related costs and disbursements (searches, copies, Land Register registrations) | ≈ $450 – $500 | Buyer |
| GST + QST on fees | ≈ 15% of fees | Buyer |
| Discharge of the seller's old mortgage | Billed separately | Seller |
| Transfer duties ("welcome tax") | Price-based — e.g. ≈ $5,611 at $500,000 | Buyer (to the municipality, not the notary) |
Indicative ranges: no province publishes an official schedule of legal fees — the Chambre des notaires du Québec confirms no mandatory tariff exists. Minimum buyer fees of about $1,200 per the APNQ (quoted by La Presse, January 2021). Always confirm with a written local quote.
Why the bill varies so much
Two notaries can bill the same file very differently — that is legal, and it is why shopping around pays. What drives the bill up: a mortgage deed to receive (two deeds instead of one), an expired or missing certificate of location (the seller must order a new one), multiple lots or a divided co-ownership, an untraceable discharge on the old mortgage, or complex adjustments (taxes, oil, rents on a plex).
Before committing, ask for a written service contract spelling out what is included — fees, disbursements, registrations — and what will be billed on top. That is the Chambre des notaires' own recommendation.
What the notary does for that price
The fees buy real protection: the title examination (the chain of ownership at the Land Register), tax and charge checks, preparing and receiving the deed of sale and the mortgage deed, holding funds in trust, the adjustments between the parties and registering your rights. The detail of those checks — and the disasters they prevent — is in our pillar "The lawyer at closing".
In Quebec, the notary is not optional: they receive the deed of sale and publish your rights. The buyer chooses the notary — a right often given up by default to "the broker's notary".
What is NOT in the notary fees
Three neighbouring expenses cause confusion. Transfer duties (the "welcome tax") are charged by the municipality — the notary only warns you the bill is coming: for example, about $5,611 on a $500,000 purchase at the base scale, more in municipalities with higher brackets — the exact math is in our welcome-tax dossier. The certificate of location is paid by the seller (unless agreed otherwise). And optional title insurance runs about $150 to $400.
For the full bill of a purchase — down payment, inspection, mortgage insurance, transfer tax, notary — see our closing costs by province.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a notary cost when buying a home in Quebec?
For a residential purchase in Quebec, budget roughly $1,000 to $2,500 in notary fees, plus about $450 to $500 in related costs (disbursements, searches, Land Register registration). The professional association of Quebec notaries cited minimum buyer fees of about $1,200 (APNQ, quoted by La Presse, January 2021), and the Chambre des notaires confirms there is no mandatory tariff: every notary sets their own prices — ask for a written quote. Transfer duties (the "welcome tax") are separate — they go to the municipality, not the notary.
Who pays the notary: the buyer or the seller?
The buyer chooses the notary and pays most of the bill (deed of sale, mortgage deed, disbursements). The seller pays the discharge of their old mortgage and, unless agreed otherwise, an up-to-date certificate of location.
Are notary fees negotiable?
Yes — there is no mandatory tariff (Chambre des notaires du Québec). Two firms can bill the same file very differently. Get 2-3 written quotes describing your situation (mortgage or not, property type) and compare what is included, not just the number.
Why is my quote higher than the range?
The usual drivers: a mortgage deed to receive (two deeds), a certificate of location to redo, multiple lots or a co-ownership, an untraceable discharge, complex adjustments. The $1,000–$2,500 range is for a simple residential purchase; a complicated file can legitimately cost more — get the detail in writing.
Is the welcome tax part of the notary fees?
No. Transfer duties go to the municipality — the notary does not touch them. The bill arrives by mail weeks or months after closing. At $500,000, expect about $5,611 at the base scale (more in Montreal and cities with higher brackets).
Sources
Related reading — our data dossiers
- Canada policy rate
- 2026-2027 forecasts: will prices drop?
- What income do you need to buy?
- Average rent by city (CMHC)
- Quebec real estate prices
- Ontario real estate prices
- Alberta real estate prices
- British Columbia real estate prices
- Saskatchewan real estate prices
- Rent or buy? The monthly gap by city
- How long to sell? City by city
- Land transfer tax, city by city
- 25 vs 30-year amortization: the real cost
- Real estate commission: the real numbers
- Sell with an agent or sell yourself?
- Real-estate market statistics
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