Every residential sale here closes through a lawyer's trust account, which is simply the local mechanism for holding and releasing funds. Title itself moves through ISC's land registry, and the lawyer confirms it is clear before funds and keys change hands.
Legal fees for a straightforward Saskatoon transaction typically run $800 to $1,500, and that cost is separate from your REALTOR®'s commission, which is negotiable and set in your listing agreement, not by any board.
So yes, a lawyer is required, just not the courtroom-style model some buyers and sellers expect from elsewhere. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.