VERIFICATION OF IDENTITY
CLIENT INFORMATION
From the 28th April 2014, the government has introduced a policy to minimise the possibility of fraud in land transactions. The process involves a face-to-face in-person interview at which particular documents are produced to verify the identity. Your Conveyancer must give a certificate on the document lodged with the Lands Titles Office in relation t
o that process. Who may perform the verification of identity? The face-to-face in-person interview may be performed by your Conveyancer or a person appointed by them as Agent to undertake the verification on their behalf. The classes of persons who may perform the process is limited and do not include real estate agents. Your Conveyancer will advise you if it is intended to use an Agent. You should also advise your Conveyancer if you will be away from your home for any significant period before settlement. What is the verification process? The verification process involves you attending a face-to-face in-person interview with your Conveyancer or their Agent. At that interview, you must produce particular documents that verify that you are the person you purport to be. There are various Categories of documents that you may produce but you must produce –
•the highest category of documents possible, and
•all documents from that Category. The various Categories of Documents are set out below. The person conducting the interview is required to take copies of these documents. If you are unable to produce your passport or driver’s licence or form of photographic proof of age card, you need to be accompanied by some-one (called a Declarant) who can identify you. Details of that additional process are set out below. If you are not an Australian citizen or resident, limited categories of Documents may be used. Details are set out below. Category 1: A Passport plus either an Australian driver’s licence or Proof of Age Card (photo)
Category 2: A Passport plus
•a full birth certificate, citizenship certificate or descent certificate, and
•a Medicare, Centrelink or Department of Veterans’ Affairs card. Category 3: An Australian driver’s licence or form of photographic Proof of Age Card plus
•a full birth certificate, citizenship certificate or descent certificate, and
•a Medicare, Centrelink or Department of Veterans’ Affairs card. If you cannot provide the above documents please contact your Conveyancer who will advise what other documents to produce. There is a fee of $50.00 (+ GST) per person to be identified payable at time of Verfication.
