Southwold property closings — purchases, sales, and refinances — run through Treadstone Law's online process, for a single flat legal fee set before your file opens. Signing and closing happen by courier and video call, with one lawyer managing the file start to finish.
“We were juggling a move with two kids, and the office kept everything on schedule so we didn't have to think about it.”
M.T. · Home purchase · London
Shared with permission. Initials changed to protect client privacy.
Our charges include applicable taxes. Disbursements and, on a purchase, Land Transfer Tax are extra and billed at cost — itemized upfront, in writing, never hidden.
Prices are “our charges” and include applicable taxes. Disbursements and Land Transfer Tax are extra, at cost, estimated in writing before you commit.
Purchase price aside, this is what a buyer in Southwold sees on the closing statement: our fee, then the disbursements we estimate on your behalf, then the government taxes — each sourced and dated. We don't total these into one figure; disbursements vary by file and are itemized in your written quote.
| Line item | $600,000 | $900,000 | $1,200,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our fee (flat, any price) — 13% HST included | $1,354.87 | $1,354.87 | $1,354.87 |
| Estimated disbursements — billed at cost, itemised in your written quote; they vary by file | |||
| Teranet search fees & disbursements (registrations, searches, bank fees) — estimate | $583.26 | $583.26 | $583.26 |
| Technology & file management — estimate | $332.05 | $332.05 | $332.05 |
| Title insurance (example premium, varies by insurer and price) | $513.80 | $805.40 | $1,097.00 |
| Government charges | |||
| Ontario land transfer tax | $8,475.00 | $14,475.00 | $20,475.00 |
| First-time buyer refunds, if you qualify | − up to $4,000 | − up to $4,000 | − up to $4,000 |
Disbursements vary by file and are itemized, estimated in writing, before any work begins — these lines are estimates, not quotes. Ontario refunds up to $4,000 of the land transfer tax for first-time buyers, applied by your lawyer at registration.
Sources: Ontario electronic land registration fee, 2026-09-17: ontario.ca (rises to $86.42 per instrument from 2026-11-02); TitlePLUS residential premium schedule, 2026-09-17: titleplus.ca; Ontario land transfer tax, 2026-09-17: ontario.ca.
See the full breakdown on our Ontario real estate lawyer fee guide or flat-fee pricing page.
Every figure is from Statistics Canada’s 2021 Census of Population — real published data, current until the 2026 Census releases (2027).
Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population, Census Profile — Southwold, Ontario. Reproduced and distributed on an “as is” basis with the permission of Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
| Authority | Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority |
|---|---|
| Head office | 100 Thames Street, Chatham, ON, N7L 2Y8 |
| Phone | 519-354-7310 |
| Website | lowerthames-conservation.on.ca |
| Watershed area | 3,273 km² |
Development in a regulated area, and interference with a wetland or watercourse, are prohibited by section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act without a permit under section 28.1, issued by the authority — not the municipality — under O. Reg. 41/24. Watershed boundaries follow drainage rather than municipal lines, so a property at the edge of Southwold can fall under a neighbouring authority; confirm for the specific address.
Source: Conservation Ontario, Conservation Authority Boundaries (2023). Retrieved 2026-08-10.
The Southwold-specific mechanics we handle on every file — so nothing surprises you at closing.
Southwold properties register at the Elgin Land Registry Office, LRO #11, with registration completed electronically through Ontario's ONLAND system. Our intake and signing steps are structured around that electronic filing.
You don’t “set up” property tax — we prorate it. The statement of adjustments credits whoever prepaid; after closing, the municipality bills you directly and you can enrol in pre-authorized payments.
ID verification, document review, and signing happen online — no office visit needed. In-person signings remain available across the province if you prefer.
Southwold buyers pay Ontario's provincial land transfer tax only; the township doesn't add a municipal charge on top. Our purchase fee is a flat $1,354.87, taxes included, and we itemize the provincial LTT and disbursements separately in your closing cost estimate. Statistics Canada's 2021 census counted 4,851 residents in Southwold, across 1,760 total private dwellings, with 1,713 occupied by usual residents. We handle title review, requisitions, mortgage instructions, and closing preparation under that fixed price.
Financing, inspection, status certificate — your offer’s conditions are legal protections, and waiving them is a legal decision. We review before you sign and flag the risks in plain language.
Buying pre-construction or an assignment carries its own tax and disclosure rules — ask us before you commit so nothing catches you at closing.
Selling in Southwold is a flat $1,241.87, taxes included, covering discharge of your existing mortgage, handling the buyer's requisitions, and releasing your net proceeds once closing funds are confirmed. Land transfer tax is paid by the buyer, so it doesn't affect a seller's costs. We keep your agent and the buyer's lawyer informed to keep the closing date firm.
Sellers don’t pay LTT. Your closing costs are the legal fee, discharge-related disbursements, and any mortgage payout penalties your lender sets.
We obtain your mortgage discharge statement, answer the buyer’s requisitions, and prorate taxes and utilities on the statement of adjustments.
Funds are wired the day of closing where possible. Selling a condo? We coordinate the status certificate the buyer’s lawyer will request.
Our Mortgage service covers new purchase mortgages, refinances, and private mortgage registrations on Southwold properties, all for a flat $1,241.87, taxes included. We review your lender's commitment letter, prepare and register the charge, and confirm conditions are satisfied so funds move without delay.
A new charge on a home you already own. We handle the lender’s requirements and register it — one flat fee.
Switching lenders or borrowing more? We manage the payout and discharge of your old mortgage and register the new one.
Borrowing from or lending to a private party. We paper it properly, register the charge, and protect your interests.
No — our Southwold files are reviewed, signed, and closed online, by phone and courier, so distance from our office doesn't limit service.
No. Toronto is the only Ontario municipality that levies its own land transfer tax, so Southwold buyers pay the provincial rate alone.
Our flat fee, taxes included, is strictly for legal work. Ontario's land transfer tax and an optional title insurance premium are billed at cost and shown as separate entries on your statement of adjustments.
The Elgin Land Registry Office, LRO #11, through Ontario's electronic ONLAND registration system.
Most Southwold files close on the date already agreed in the purchase contract, since we start title work right after retainer.
Official Ontario and federal resources for Southwold buyers and sellers who want to verify land transfer tax and registration details are below.
Sourced, dated municipal and provincial data for Southwold — not legal advice, just the facts a closing touches.
Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (519-354-7310, website). Development in a regulated area, or interference with a wetland or watercourse, needs a permit from the conservation authority — separate from municipal approvals — under section 28.1 of the Conservation Authorities Act.
Source: Conservation Ontario, Conservation Authority Boundaries (2023). Retrieved 2026-08-10.
The property-tax adjustment on the statement of adjustments doesn't set up a new tax account — it simply divides the current tax bill between buyer and seller as of closing day, crediting whichever side prepaid past their ownership. After closing, the municipality bills the new owner directly.
Ontario land transfer tax is the largest single line on most closing statements, and it is due in full on closing day. Enter a price to see the bracket-by-bracket calculation, the first-time buyer refund, and — where they apply — the Toronto municipal tax and the Non-Resident Speculation Tax. Full workings and the rate sources are on the land transfer tax calculator.
Open your Southwold file in minutes — hear from your lawyer tomorrow.