With advancements in technology and with the rise of electronic dealings, there are now more stringent Verification of Identity (“VOI”) requirements for identifying all persons whom we deal with. At the beginning of your transaction, and also to update our existing records, we will ask you for identification to meet legislative requirements and, more importantly, to protect you and your interests from fraudulent activity. Whilst you may have been a client of our firm for many years, you will also be required to meet these requirements.
As result of changes to the Land Act 1994 and Land Title Act 1994 which came into effect on 30 September, there are new witnessing requirements for transactions relating to property transactions, such as the sale and mortgage of property and identifying Executors for estate administration purposes. These requirements have been brought into effect to ensure that the persons seeking to deal with your property are adequately identified prior to selling or mortgage property and before paying estate proceeds to Executors. We are now required to complete a Record of the Witnessing Land Title documents and to confirm that we have sighted the required identification documents.
For Australian Citizens and residents the minimum required identification documents are:-
| Cat | Document Type |
| 1 | Australian Passport or foreign passport or ImmiCard plus Australian drivers licence or Photo Card plus change of name or marriage certificate if necessary |
| 2 | Australian Passport or foreign passport plus full birth certificate or citizenship certificate or descent certificate plus Medicare or Centrelink or Department of Veterans’ Affairs card plus change of name or marriage certificate if necessary |
| 3 | Australian drivers licence or Photo Card plus full birth certificate or citizenship certificate or descent certificate plus Medicare or Centrelink or Department of Veterans’ Affairs card plus change of name or marriage certificate if necessary |
For persons who are not Australia Citizens or Residents the minimum required identification documents are:-
| Cat | Document Type |
| 6(a) | Foreign passport plus another form of government issued photographic identity Document plus change of name or marriage certificate if necessary |
| 6(b) | Foreign passport plus full birth certificate plus another form of government issued identity Document plus change of name or marriage certificate if necessary |
To save time in any future matters, feel free to attend at our office to provide us with relevant copies of identification.
