Please note: any capitalised term has the meaning given to it in the Recorder’s Directions, the Participation Rules, the Operating Requirements, or the Electronic Conveyancing National Law (ECNL) as applicable.
Entitlement to Sign Registry Instruments - Paper-based conveyancing process
In the paper-based conveyancing process, a Signer signs the Registry Instrument or other Document.
Recorder's Directions Version 2 effective 13 April 2026
Directions Version 2 provides the definition of 'Signer'.
Signer means:
(a) an Australian Legal Practitioner who is a principal, Officer, employee, agent or contractor of the Subscriber, and is authorised by, such Subscriber to sign Registry Instruments and other Documents, on behalf of such Subscriber; or
(b) a Licensed Conveyancer who is a principal, Officer, employee, agent or contractor of the Subscriber, and is authorised by, such Subscriber to sign Registry Instruments and other Documents, on behalf of such Subscriber; or
(c) a principal, Officer or employee of the Subscriber where the Subscriber is an ADI and such principal, Officer or employee is authorised by such Subscriber to sign Registry Instruments and other Documents, on behalf of such Subscriber; or
(d) for the purposes of a Mortgage, Discharge of Mortgage, or Partial Discharge of Mortgage only, an attorney of the Subscriber duly appointed pursuant to the Powers of Attorney Act 2000 (TAS) as amended from time to time, provided that such:
i. Subscriber is an ADI;
ii. attorney is authorised by the Subscriber to sign such documents on behalf of the Subscriber; and
iii. attorney declares in the attestation clause of any such document that such attorney has not received notice of revocation of the power contained in the relevant power of attorney.
(e) any Person required by statute to sign the Registry Instrument or other Document; or
(f) an Officer or employee of the Crown with the appropriate authority to sign the Registry Instrument or other Document.
Note: relating to the Recorder's Directions Version 1 effective 7 March 2024 - 12 April 2026
Directions Version 1 provides the definition of 'Signer'.
Representative
When acting as Representative of a Client who is party to the conveyancing transaction, a Signer on behalf of the Representative must sign the Registry Instrument or other Document on behalf of the Client*.
*The Land Titles Office is amending Registry Instruments and other Documents to require the Registry Instrument or other Document to be signed by a Signer on behalf of the authorised Representative on behalf of the Client (as authorised by a Client Authorisation). As part of these amendments, witnessing requirements will also be removed. Until amended, some Registry Instruments and other Documents will remain signed by the Client (and witnessing requirements will remain).
Self-represented
When the Self-represented party is party to the conveyancing transaction, a Signer on behalf of the Self-represented party must sign the Registry Instrument or other Document. A Self-represented party may be a Signer. For example, a sole Australian Legal Practitioner or a Licensed Conveyancer with no staff.
Entitlement to Sign Registry Instruments - Electronic conveyancing process
In the electronic conveyancing process, a Signer signs a Registry Instrument or other Document.
In order to sign a Registry Instrument or other Document in the electronic conveyancing process, a Subscriber must authorise a Signer to Digitally Sign, as per the Participation Rules.
The Participation Rules provide that, for the purposes of electronic conveyancing, a Signer means:
a User authorised by the Subscriber to Digitally Sign electronic Registry Instruments and other electronic Documents on behalf of the Subscriber.
Representative
When acting as Representative of a Client who is party to the conveyancing transaction, a Signer on behalf of the Representative must Digitally Sign the Registry Instrument or other Document on behalf of the Client.Self-represented
When the Self-represented party is party to the conveyancing transaction, a Signer on behalf of the Self-represented party must Digitally Sign the Registry Instrument or other Document.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following FAQs do not constitute legal advice, nor do they replace prudent conveyancing practice. Nothing written below overrides the Recorder’s Directions, Participation Rules, any other relevant legislation, or Prescribed Requirements.
For this information and more, including a comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions, please see the ARNECC Guidance Note on System Security & Integrity.
Who can sign Registry Instruments and other Documents?
Who can be a Signer?
Can an employee of an organisation sign?
For paper-based conveyancing:
A Signer signs the Registry Instrument or other Document.
Signer is defined in the Recorder's Directions Version 2 and means:
(a) an Australian Legal Practitioner who is a principal, Officer, employee, agent or contractor of the Subscriber, and is authorised by, such Subscriber to sign Registry Instruments and other Documents, on behalf of such Subscriber; or
(b) a Licensed Conveyancer who is a principal, Officer, employee, agent or contractor of the Subscriber, and is authorised by, such Subscriber to sign Registry Instruments and other Documents, on behalf of such Subscriber; or
(c) a principal, Officer or employee of the Subscriber where the Subscriber is an ADI and such principal, Officer or employee is authorised by such Subscriber to sign Registry Instruments and other Documents, on behalf of such Subscriber; or
(d) for the purposes of a Mortgage, Discharge of Mortgage, or Partial Discharge of Mortgage only, an attorney of the Subscriber duly appointed pursuant to the Powers of Attorney Act 2000 (TAS) as amended from time to time, provided that such:
ii. attorney is authorised by the Subscriber to sign such documents on behalf of the Subscriber; and
iii. attorney declares in the attestation clause of any such document that such attorney has not received notice of revocation of the power contained in the relevant power of attorney.
(e) any Person required by statute to sign the Registry Instrument or other Document; or
(f) an Officer or employee of the Crown with the appropriate authority to sign the Registry Instrument or other Document.
Where available on the Registry Instrument or other Document, the Signer on behalf of the Representative must sign on behalf of the Client (where not available the Client must sign). For a Self-represented party, a Signer on behalf of the Self-represented party must sign. Evidence must be retained for the purposes of the Supporting Evidence clause of the Recorder's Directions.
Information about the Registry Instruments requiring a Signer to sign can be found on the Approved Forms webpage.
For electronic conveyancing:
a User authorised by the Subscriber to Digitally Sign electronic Registry Instruments and other electronic Documents on behalf of the Subscriber.
It is up to each Subscriber within its own business to determine and authorise which of their Users may Digitally Sign Registry Instruments and other Documents.
Further information about Signers in electronic conveyancing can be found on the Electronic Signers webpage.
Can a Client sign the Registry Instrument or other Document?
For paper-based conveyancing:
Where a Registry Instrument or other Document requires the Client to sign, the Client (or Client Agent) must sign the Registry Instrument or other Document.
*The Land Titles Office is amending Registry Instruments and other Documents to require the Registry Instrument or other Document to be signed by a Signer on behalf of the authorised Representative on behalf of the Client (as authorised by a Client Authorisation). As part of these amendments, witnessing requirements will also be removed. Until amended, some Registry Instruments and other Documents will remain signed by the Client (and witnessing requirements will remain).
Information about the Registry Instruments requiring a Signer to sign can be found on the Approved Forms webpage.
For electronic conveyancing:
No. In electronic conveyancing only Subscribers have access to sign Registry Instruments or other Documents.