Attorney’s fees for conveyancing are what buyers and sellers pay their lawyers to prepare the agreement for sale, examine title, manage the transfer and register the change of ownership. They are usually one of the largest items in the closing costs of a Jamaican property deal.
How fees are charged
Most conveyancing attorneys in Jamaica charge a percentage of the sale price rather than an hourly rate. Recent reporting on home-buying costs puts the commonly quoted level at around 3% of the price, though rates vary between firms and on larger transactions there is often room to negotiate. General Consumption Tax is added on top, because legal services attract GCT. Each party normally pays its own attorney, and an agreement for sale will often state who bears which costs; sellers sometimes agree to absorb part of the buyer’s legal costs to close a deal.
Separate from the fee itself are disbursements: stamp duty, registration fees at the National Land Agency, search fees, courier and copying costs. A clear quotation should list the fee, the GCT and the expected disbursements separately.
Practical points
Agree the fee in writing at the start, ask whether it covers mortgage documentation, and check whether a lender’s attorney will also bill you. Comparing two or three quotations is normal practice.
In England, conveyancers more often quote a fixed fee, so overseas buyers should not assume a flat charge applies here.
Related terms: Closing Costs, Legal fees, Stamp Duty, Transfer Tax, Registration fees and taxes, Purchaser’s Attorney.
Accurate as at October 2026. Fees vary between firms and tax rates can change.
