What British Columbia requires
- A lawyer must deliver a bill to the person charged, signed by or for the lawyer or with a signed letter that refers to itLegal Profession Act s. 69 (1), (3)
- A bill is sufficient in form if it has a reasonably descriptive statement of the services with a lump sum charge and a detailed statement of disbursementsLegal Profession Act s. 69 (4)
- A lawyer must not sue to collect a bill until 30 days after it was delivered, unless the court allows it earlierLegal Profession Act s. 69 (5), (6)
- The client may have a bill reviewed within 12 months after it was delivered or 3 months after it was paid, whichever comes firstLegal Profession Act s. 70 (1)
- The purchaser's property transfer tax is paid when the transfer is registered, with the return, so on the purchaser's side it is a disbursement paid from trust on completionProperty Transfer Tax Act s. 2 (1)
- Drawing an instrument relating to real estate that is to be registered in a registry, for a fee, is part of the practice of law in British Columbia, which lawyers and notaries practising lawfully may doLegal Profession Act s. 1 (1), "practice of law" (b) (v), and s. 15 (1)
What goes on each side
On the purchaser's side, receipts are usually the mortgage advance and the client's own funds; disbursements are the balance due to the vendor's lawyer or notary from the statement of adjustments, the property transfer tax paid with the registration, registration and search fees, and the legal fee with its taxes.
On the vendor's side, the receipt is the balance due from the purchaser; disbursements are the mortgage payout, the real estate commission, any holdbacks, and the fee. The balance left is paid to the client.
The bill and the client's rights
A lawyer delivers a signed bill, or a signed letter that refers to it, with a reasonably descriptive statement of the services, a lump sum charge and a detailed statement of disbursements. The lawyer cannot sue on it for 30 days. The client may have it reviewed within 12 months after delivery or 3 months after paying, whichever comes first.
Who prepares the registered documents
The transfer and the mortgage registered at the land title office are prepared by a lawyer or notary: drawing them for a fee is part of the practice of law in British Columbia. The statement here is the accounting that goes with that work.
Common mistakes
- Taking the balance from an old draft of the statement of adjustments instead of the final one.
- Leaving the property transfer tax off the purchaser's statement because it was paid electronically.
- Showing the legal fee without its taxes, so the balance does not match the trust ledger.
- Forgetting holdbacks still sitting in trust after completion.
Sources
- Legal Profession Act s. 69 (1), (3), checked November 4, 2026
- Legal Profession Act s. 69 (4), checked November 4, 2026
- Legal Profession Act s. 69 (5), (6), checked November 4, 2026
- Legal Profession Act s. 70 (1), checked November 4, 2026
- Property Transfer Tax Act s. 2 (1), checked November 4, 2026
- Legal Profession Act s. 1 (1), "practice of law" (b) (v), and s. 15 (1), checked November 4, 2026
Last reviewed November 4, 2026. Next review due February 4, 2027. This page explains published rules to help you write your report. It is not legal advice; the official text linked above governs.