Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

At Cornerstone Conveyancing, we combine professional expertise with personalised service to make your property transaction as smooth and stress-free as possible. As registered South Australian conveyancers, we specialise in both residential and commercial property transactions and provide clear, practical advice tailored to your circumstances. We utilise secure electronic settlements through PEXA, offer transparent pricing with no hidden costs, and keep you informed throughout every stage of the process. Based in Adelaide and the Adelaide Hills, our family-owned business is known for its strong communication, attention to detail, and experience managing both straightforward and complex property matters. Whether you’re buying, selling, transferring, subdividing, or dealing with a specialised property transaction, you can trust our team to guide you with professionalism, care, and confidence.

A conveyancer is a licensed property professional who manages the legal transfer of property ownership in South Australia. When you buy, sell, transfer, or subdivide property, your conveyancer prepares and lodges legal documents, conducts title and property searches, liaises with agents, lenders, and government authorities, and oversees settlement.

At Cornerstone Conveyancing, we help clients across Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills, and throughout South Australia navigate property transactions with confidence, ensuring all legal requirements are met and settlement proceeds smoothly.

Verification of Identity (VOI) is a mandatory process used during conveyancing transactions to confirm that the person dealing with a property is who they claim to be.

As part of the conveyancing process in South Australia, we are required to verify the identity of our clients before acting on their behalf. This helps prevent property fraud, identity theft, and unauthorised dealings involving land.

VOI may involve reviewing documents such as passports, driver’s licences, and other approved forms of identification. Your information is handled securely and in accordance with applicable privacy and regulatory requirements.

The cost of conveyancing in South Australia depends on the type of property transaction, whether you’re buying, selling, transferring ownership, registering a caveat, a land division or any other property matter. 

Conveyancing fees typically include professional fees, government lodgement fees, and property search costs. At Cornerstone Conveyancing, we provide transparent pricing wherever possible, so you know exactly what to expect before we commence work. We do not have any hidden fees.

Contact us for an obligation-free conveyancing quote tailored to your South Australian property transaction.

Generally, no. In most property transactions, the vendor and the purchaser each engage their own conveyancer. This is because a conveyancer acts in the best interests of their client, and representing both parties in the same transaction can create a conflict of interest.

Having your own conveyancer ensures you receive independent advice, and someone dedicated solely to protecting your interests, giving you confidence and peace of mind throughout your property transaction. If you’re unsure about engaging a conveyancer or how the process works, we’re always happy to explain.

Cooling-off rights give eligible purchasers of residential property in South Australia two clear business days to withdraw from a contract after receiving the required Form 1 documentation.

Joint tenants and tenants in common are two different ways that two or more people can hold ownership of a property together.

As joint tenants, all owners hold the property equally as a whole. The key feature is the “right of survivorship”, if one owner passes away, their share automatically passes to the surviving owner(s), rather than forming part of their estate. This is a common arrangement for couples.

As tenants in common, each owner holds a defined share of the property, which can be equal or unequal (for example, 50/50, or 70/30). There is no right of survivorship, so each owner can leave their share to whomever they choose in their Will. This arrangement is often used by family members, friends, or business partners buying together.

Choosing between joint tenancy and tenancy in common depends on your individual circumstances, your preferences around inheritance, and the level of control you want over the property.

At Cornerstone Conveyancing, we can prepare the documents to establish or change how your property is held, ensuring the title reflects your intentions. If you require independent legal advice on which option best suits your situation, please don’t hesitate to contact us, we’re happy to provide a recommendation from our trusted network of legal professionals.

The best time to engage a conveyancer is before signing a contract to buy or sell property in South Australia.

A Torrens Title is the most common form of property ownership in South Australia. Under the Torrens system, the government maintains a central register that records the current owner of each property, along with any interests affecting it, such as mortgages, easements, or caveats. Because ownership is guaranteed by this register, a Torrens Title provides a clear and reliable record of who owns the property.

Interestingly, the Torrens system was first introduced right here in South Australia in 1858 and has since been adopted across Australia and around the world.

Most freestanding houses and vacant land are held under Torrens Title, whereas properties such as units or apartments may be held under Community or Strata Title. When you buy or sell a property, we’ll check the title, confirm exactly what’s registered, and ensure ownership is transferred correctly.

At Cornerstone Conveyancing, we manage property transactions across all title types in South Australia, giving you confidence that your title is handled accurately.

A Community Title is a form of property ownership used when a building or complex is divided into individual lots, such as units, apartments, or townhouses that are owned separately, along with shared “common property” like driveways, stairwells, gardens, or car parks.

When you buy a property under a Community Title, you own your individual lot outright and share ownership of the common property with the other owners. All owners automatically become members of a community corporation (also known as a body corporate), which is responsible for managing, maintaining, and insuring the common areas. Owners usually contribute to these costs through regular body corporate fees.

Because Community Title properties involve additional details, such as community corporation records, fees, and any by-laws, it’s important these are reviewed carefully before you buy or sell. At Cornerstone Conveyancing, we check the relevant body corporate information as part of your property transaction, so you understand exactly what you’re selling or purchasing.

Strata Title and Community Title are both forms of property ownership used when land or a building is divided into individual lots with shared common property or units. In South Australia, they operate under separate legislation and suit different types of developments.

With Strata Title, the boundaries of each lot are generally defined by the building itself, for example, the walls, floor, and ceiling of a unit or apartment. Common property (such as driveways, stairwells, and gardens) is owned and managed collectively by the strata corporation. Strata Title is typically used for older unit and apartment complexes.

With Community Title, each lot is defined by survey, meaning the boundaries are set by measured land dimensions rather than a building. This makes Community Title more flexible, and it’s often used for a wider range of developments, including residential, commercial, and staged or tiered schemes. Common property is owned and managed by a community corporation.

In both cases, owners share responsibility for the common property and contribute to its upkeep. Because each type involves different records, fees, and by-laws, it’s important these are reviewed before you buy or sell. At Cornerstone Conveyancing, we check the relevant strata or community corporation details as part of your property transaction, so you know exactly what you’re purchasing.

Yes. Cornerstone Conveyancing is a proud member of the Australian Institute of Conveyancers SA Division (AICSA), the peak professional body representing conveyancers in South Australia. Our membership reflects our commitment to professional standards, ongoing education, and best practice, giving you added confidence that your property transaction is in experienced, qualified hands.

In most cases, yes. Electronic conveyancing (eConveyancing) is now the standard way property transactions are lodged and settled in South Australia. Electronic settlements were first introduced in South Australia in 2016 and mandated from August 2020. Rather than parties meeting in person to exchange documents and cheques, settlement takes place securely online through an Electronic Lodgement Network Operator (ELNO), the approved platform we use in South Australia is PEXA, Australia’s leading electronic property settlement platform.

As part of your property settlement, we adjust rates and charges such as council rates, water rates, emergency services levy and body corporate fees (if applicable) between the buyer and seller, so each party pays their share up to or from the settlement date.

However, arranging the connection or disconnection of services such as electricity, gas, phone, and internet is the responsibility of each party, not your conveyancer. We recommend contacting your chosen providers ahead of settlement to ensure your services are ready when you move.

If you have any questions about what is and isn’t handled as part of your settlement, we’re always happy to explain.