Each instrument in a dealing must be certified and signed by a conveyancing professional (CP) before being released.
What conveyancing professionals need
Before certifying and signing an instrument the CP must:
- hold evidence in support of the matters stated in the certificate
- connect their digital certificate to Landonline.
Connect your digital certificate to Landonline
Tax information
Tax information from the land transfer tax statement must be entered in Landonline before roles in a transfer instrument can be signed.
The circumstances under which a party can sign for their client vary, depending on the scenario.
Tax information scenarios
| Scenario | Tax information criteria |
|---|---|
One firm transfer, 1 CP. Firm A acts for both transferor and transferee. | Transferor and transferee roles can be signed when tax information has been entered for both roles. |
Two firm transfer, 2 CPs. Firm A acts for the transferor. Firm B acts for the transferee. | Transferor and transferee roles can be signed independently of each other if tax information is complete for that role. |
Three firm transfer, 3 CPs. Firms A and B act for 2 transferors. Firm C acts for the transferee. | Transferor roles can be signed when tax information has been entered by both Firms A and B. Transferee role can be signed when tax information has been entered by Firm C. |
Two firm transfer, 2 CPs. Firm A acts for the transferor and 1 of 2 transferees. Firm B acts for the other transferee. | Tax information for all 3 roles must be completed before Firm A can sign the transferor or transferee. Tax information for the transferee must be completed for Firms A and B before Firm B can sign for the transferee. |
Three firm transfer, 2 CPs. Firm A acts for the transferor. A Primary Contact from Firm B acts for the transferee as does a CP from Firm C. | Transferor and transferee roles can be signed independently of each other if tax information is complete for that role. Firms B and C are acting in the transferee role. Both firms are able to access the tax information for the transferee. |
Multi-party instruments
Sometimes multiple parties to an instrument may each choose to be represented by their own CP. For example, where there are:
- two or more transferors
- two or more mortgagees
- grantees of an easement appurtenant to 2 or more properties.
In Landonline each individual party in a multi-party instrument can be represented by their own CP and each CP can certify for the party they represent.
It is important that CPs do not make the mistake of certifying on behalf of a party they are not authorised to act for. To avoid this, make sure:
- the instrument is prepared correctly
- any certification made on behalf of a party is supported by a signed A & I form or other evidence as relevant.
When you edit a signed instrument
Once an instrument has been signed it becomes read-only.
If changes to the instrument are needed after it's been signed, you'll need to revert it back to draft. You can do this in the Prepare screen for the instrument.
You'll need to certify and sign the instrument again.
When certifying and signing mortgages
Landonline will automatically create separate mortgagor and mortgagee roles (multi-party) for a new mortgage instrument.
When a mortgage is created in Landonline, CPs will need to certify and sign separately for the mortgagor or mortgagee roles.
Validation before you can certify and sign
Each time you navigate to the Certify & Sign page the certify and sign business rules will run a set of validations.
A red circle (failed) icon will display if an instrument has failed the business rules. This shows the instrument is not yet ready to be certified and signed.
Run pre-validation to see what warnings or errors are present. Then make changes to your dealing to comply with the business rules.
E-dealing compliance monitoring
All practitioners who certify electronic instruments will, from time to time, be reviewed under section 30 of the Land Transfer Act 2017 as part of the Registrar-General of Land’s routine monitoring programme.
For more information about practitioner’s certification obligations and the RGL’s e-dealing compliance monitoring programme, read:
- Authority and identity
- Statutory and evidentiary requirements
- Compliance monitoring and quality assurance
Don't update your saved password to your Password Manager
Do not save your password to your browser or Password Manager when certifying and signing. This may override your saved password with your passphrase.
The next time you try to log into Landonline your Password Manager will pick up your passphrase, not your password.
You'll then need to reset your password.
Reset your Landonline password
