Why Verification of Identity? You must have your identity verified in a formal manner (VOI) if you sign certain documents which relate to a Conveyancing Transaction or your legal representative provides you with your certificate of title.

What is a Conveyancing Transaction? A Conveyancing Transactions is a transaction which involves one or more parties and the purpose of which is: 

to create, transfer, dispose of, mortgage, charge, lease or deal with in any other way an estate or interest in land, or



to get something registered, noted or recorded in the titles register, or



to get the registration, note or record of something in the titles register changed, withdrawn or removed.

This could include documents required to be registered including:    

transfers of land or leases; leases; variations and surrenders of leases; and easements,

as well as documents which create or deal with an interest in land (which are not registered) such as:   

agreements for lease; contracts for sale; and possibly call options.

VOI Procedure The VOI procedure is similar to the "100 points" verification required to enable a bank account to be opened. Although you may already be well known to Clayton Utz from previous matters, a VOI is required under the Verification of Identity Standard unless your identity can be verified in some other way by your legal representative that constitutes the taking of reasonable steps. The Standard requires that the "Person Being Identified" has their identity verified in a face-to-face inperson interview. At the interview the "Identity Verifier" must ensure that you produce specified original documents to prove your identity. Certified copies of documents cannot be accepted; originals are required.

As an indication, you will generally need:  an Australian passport or a foreign passport;  plus an Australian driver's licence or Photo Card;  plus a change of name or marriage certificate (if necessary).

VOI for Clayton Utz's clients The VOI process can be undertaken in a number of ways (some take longer than others) and must be completed if you are to be a signatory to a Conveyancing Transaction:

1

Using one of our Identity Agents Clayton Utz has appointed several "Identity Agents" who have agreed, under a form of contract with Clayton Utz, to provide VOI services to our clients, in an efficient and costeffective manner. The Identity Agents appointed by Clayton Utz are considered by us to be reputable, competent and insured in compliance with the Insurance Rule under the Standard. Clayton Utz's Identity Agents are: (a)

ZipID The important feature of the VOI service provided by ZipID is that they will, by appointment, go to your workplace or home and conduct the VOI interview. The VOI report is delivered to us by the next business day. The cost of the VOI conducted by ZipID is $39.00. For this fee, ZipID will commit to visiting you within a 2-hour window. A smaller window of time can be arranged at an additional cost. You must book the appointment through the website below, and have ready the relevant original identification documents which are outlined on the website when a booking is made. To use ZipID's "come-to-you" VOI service (currently available in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Geelong and Newcastle metropolitan areas), you book an appointment online at www.zipid.com.au When booking an appointment, include Clayton Utz's Business Code 105713 where requested.

(b)

Australia Post Australia Post offers a VOI service that is similar to the service it offers for passport applications, where you attend a participating Post Office and are interviewed by an Australia Post Identity Verifier. You must check what Post Offices near you conduct the service you require. The VOI report is delivered to us on the same day if you request an Express Land Title ID Check service: http://auspost.com.au/pol/app/locate/post-office/land-title-id-check-express-service The VOI report is delivered to us within one week if you request a Non-Express Land Title ID Check service: http://auspost.com.au/pol/app/locate?service=land-title-id-check

The cost of the VOI conducted by Australia Post is also $39.00. To use Australia Post's VOI service, prior to visiting a participating Australia Post outlet, you must complete the attached Land Title Identity Verification Form. This form Identifies us as the recipient of the VOI Report. If you use another form, the VOI report will not be delivered to us and might delay your transaction. Whichever Identity Agent you use, the Identity Agent will send the Identity Agent Certification document to us for retention, as well as copies of any documents produced to verify identity, signed, dated and endorsed as a true copy of the originals by the Identity Agent. The barcode on the Australia Post Land Title Identity Verification Form will identify you as a Clayton Utz client.

2

VOI directly by Clayton Utz We can verify your identity in an interview with one of our Clayton Utz Identity Verifiers, but the cost of identity verification directly by Clayton Utz is usually more expensive than using one of our Identity Agents, as the Identity Agents' systems have been specifically designed for the purpose of identity verification. Identity verification is only a very small part of Clayton Utz' offering as a full service commercial law firm. We recommend that you use the service of our selected and appointed Identity Agents. If you engage us to conduct your identity verification, prior to the appointment we will provide a Verification of Identity Checklist (attached) for you to complete and bring to the appointment, together with details of the categories of original documents which can be provided to verify your identity and which you must also bring to the appointment. The appointment will be a formal face-to-face in-person interview. The Clayton Utz Identity Verifier will, as part of the interview, take a facial photograph of you and a specimen signature, as well as review the identification documents, and produce an Identity Agent Certification for retention by us.

What should you do now? If you are to be a signatory to a Conveyancing Transaction you must let us know how you intend to have the VOI procedure carried out.  If you intend to engage ZipID, you should book an appointment through their website, including

Clayton Utz's Business Code 105713 where requested, and have your original identity documents available at the interview.  If you intend to use Australia Post, you should complete the attached Land Title Identity

Verification Form and take it to an Australia Post Office with your original identity documents.  If you intend to have the VOI conducted by us, you should contact us to make an appointment for

that purpose and to obtain the relevant Verification of Identity Checklist.