Practice area

Residential Conveyancing & Property

Treat title, identity, money and settlement dates as separate verification points. Compare extracted contract details with current searches and the signed documents before acting on a transaction.

Key facts

Tasks covered: 34
Tasks with a step-by-step checklist: 10
Local differences: 2 jurisdictions where this area changes

Jurisdiction

Tasks

GreenLawyer reviewYellowClose supervisionRedLawyer-led

Tasks in Residential Conveyancing & Property
Task	How AI is used	Human involvement	What the lawyer must review
Find gaps in the seller disclosure packStart this task See suggested levels	Compare the draft seller-disclosure pack and attachments with a lawyer-selected current checklist; produce a missing-item table with document references.	YellowClose supervision	Decide whether the disclosure scheme and any exception apply Confirm required certificates and the delivery process before the buyer signs
Find gaps in a Queensland seller disclosure packChecklist Start this task See suggested levels	Compare a draft Form 2 and its attachments with a lawyer-selected current disclosure checklist; produce a missing-item table with document references.	YellowClose supervision	Decide whether the scheme and any exception apply Confirm the required information and certificates Verify the delivery process before the buyer signs
Match clearance certificates to the property sellersStart this task See suggested levelsWritten for Australia	Extract each seller’s name and the certificate validity dates into a comparison table; identify absent or mismatched certificates.	YellowClose supervision	Verify certificate identity and validity against the transaction Determine withholding or variation treatment Confirm the settlement figures independently
Confirm each seller's New Zealand tax position for the saleChecklist Start this task See suggested levels	Extract seller names and residency facts from the file into a list for the tax lawyer.	YellowClose supervision	Do not apply ATO foreign-resident capital-gains withholding Confirm the current Inland Revenue position Check whether an overseas buyer needs Overseas Investment Act consent
Prepare a right-to-deal evidence mapChecklist Start this task See suggested levelsWritten for Australia	Index permitted identity, title and authority records and show how they relate to the proposed transaction; flag inconsistent names or roles.	RedLawyer-led	Have the subscriber or authorised practitioner verify identity, authority and right to deal Apply local rules; AI does not do that verification
Review the contract of sale and draft the buyer's issues reportStart this task See suggested levelsWritten for Queensland	Extract special conditions, title notifications, encumbrances and onerous clauses into a buyer's report with clause references and a list of searches still needed.	YellowClose supervision	Advise on risk against the actual title, searches and client instructions Do not send a generated report as advice
Review a US residential purchase contract under state recording and disclosure rulesChecklist Start this task See suggested levels	Extract dates, parties, property description and special conditions into a table for the lawyer to match to the state contract form.	YellowClose supervision	Apply state law; do not import an Australian statute or form Remove any PEXA or FIRB step Apply Rule 1.6 to identity documents and contracts in any tool
Prepare the seller disclosure statement from the searchesStart this task See suggested levels	Against the prescribed items of the applicable disclosure form, the tool indexes what the searches and certificates on file actually cover — title search and registered plan, rates, water and land tax notices, owners-corporation or body-corporate records, and planning, zoning and building-approval certificates — marking each prescribed item sourced, unsourced or superseded, and then compares the statement and annexures the lawyer has written against those documents, reporting every mismatched lot and plan reference, figure, encumbrance, notice and order. The tool writes no part of the statement or its annexures: no populated fields, no draft, no suggested wording.	RedLawyer-led	The lawyer compiles and writes every disclosure item personally from the primary search or certificate, then checks their own statement item by item against the form as in force in the jurisdiction at the date it is given: that each prescribed item is answered, that the annexed certificates are the current ones for this lot and plan, and that nothing known to the seller — unapproved building work, an outstanding notice or order, an unregistered interest, an owners-corporation levy or defect — has been left out. The lawyer confirms the statement and annexures reach the buyer before the contract is signed, and treats the tool's unsourced and mismatch lists as prompts to obtain a missing or fresher search, not as evidence that the answered items are correct, because an inaccurate or incomplete statement gives the buyer a right to terminate or rescind before settlement and cannot be cured after signing.
Prepare the vendor disclosure statement under the applicable state ActChecklist Start this task See suggested levels	Draft a disclosure statement from searches and matter data (title, rates, body corporate records, building permits), and list mandatory items with no source document.	RedLawyer-led	Compile and verify every item from primary sources against the state checklist Note a defective s 32 (Vic) lets the buyer rescind before settlement Note a defective Form 1 (SA) triggers cooling-off rights Check council, water and titles records and unapproved works
List the title, LIM and contract documents for a New Zealand residential saleChecklist Start this task See suggested levels	List the New Zealand title, LIM, land-information and contract documents actually on the file so the lawyer can see what is missing.	RedLawyer-led	Remove any Victorian s 32 statement or NSW cooling-off certificate Work from the Land Transfer Act 2017, the signed contract and LINZ e-dealing standards
Analyse the title search and list encumbrances and deal-stoppersStart this task See suggested levels	From the title and plan, list mortgages, caveats, easements, covenants and restrictions, and flag items that need a discharge, consent or special condition.	YellowClose supervision	Read the instruments, not the search summary Confirm current title with a search the firm ordered
Prepare the transfer-duty calculation inputs and lodgement or filing checklistStart this task See suggested levels	From the contract and concession facts, list duty inputs, concession categories to test and lodgement steps. Do not output a payable figure as advice.	RedLawyer-led	Use the official revenue calculator on the calculation date Check current rates, foreign-purchaser surcharges and concessions Never lodge or file a generated amount
Prepare transfer-duty calculation inputs and the OSR or SRO lodgement checklistChecklist Start this task See suggested levels	From the contract and concession facts, list duty inputs, first-home, off-the-plan or pensioner concessions to test, and SRO/OSR lodgement steps. Output no payable figure.	RedLawyer-led	Use the official state revenue calculator on the calculation date Check NSW first-home thresholds from 1 July 2023: exempt to $800,000, concession to $1 million Note NSW thresholds apply to new or existing homes; vacant land has its own thresholds Check Vic first-home and new-home concessions Check foreign-purchaser surcharges
Screen the buyer for foreign-investment or overseas-ownership consentStart this task See suggested levels	From the buyer facts on the file, draft a foreign-investment screening note: who may be a foreign person, what is being acquired, and documents still needed.	RedLawyer-led	Apply the current foreign-investment rules, including any restriction for this property type Get it right; an error can void the contract
Screen the buyer for FIRB status, ban compliance and clearanceChecklist Start this task See suggested levels	From the buyer facts, draft a FIRB note under the FATA 1975 (Cth): who may be a foreign person, what is acquired, whether a ban or approval applies, and documents needed.	RedLawyer-led	Check the ban first: 1 April 2025 to 30 June 2029, no foreign purchases of established dwellings Check the narrow exceptions: 20+ dwelling redevelopment, commercial-scale housing, build-to-rent Get approval for new dwellings and vacant land; fees index each 1 July Check state vacant land tax and the ATO vacancy fee
Screen an overseas buyer under the Overseas Investment Act 2005Checklist Start this task See suggested levels	Extract buyer identity, control and the land description into an overseas-person fact sheet for the lawyer.	RedLawyer-led	Open the Overseas Investment Act 2005 and current OIO guidance; FIRB does not decide Do not let a tool decide whether consent is required
Draft special conditions and contract amendmentsStart this task See suggested levels	From the issues report and instructions, draft special conditions, annexures and a marked-up standard form.	YellowClose supervision	Check interaction with the printed form Check the condition is operable: who, by when, with what consequence
Build the pre-settlement checklist and adjustment worksheetStart this task See suggested levels	Build a pre-settlement checklist and adjustment worksheet from the contract, certificates and figures on the file, flagging missing discharges and identity steps.	YellowClose supervision	Verify adjustments against authority certificates Confirm bank details out of band Keep identity verification and electronic-workspace roles with the firm
Prepare a Landonline certify-and-sign checklistChecklist Start this task See suggested levels	Turn the sale contract, title and A&I into a checklist of certifications, names, title reference, mortgage and priority amount for the practitioner to confirm.	YellowClose supervision	Certify yourself: you are personally responsible under s 27 of the Land Transfer Act 2017 Confirm s 30 evidence is held Do not treat the checklist as the certification
Build the pre-settlement checklist, adjustment worksheet and PEXA workspace stepsChecklist Start this task See suggested levels	Build a pre-settlement checklist and adjustment worksheet (rates, water, land tax) from the file, flagging missing discharges, PEXA workspace set-up and VOI steps.	YellowClose supervision	Check adjustments against certificates, including periods straddling settlement Verify bank details out of band Complete VOI under the Participation Rules and keep the evidence; an AI summary is not VOI Mark discharges in the workspace Apply FRCGW rules and match clearance certificates
Draft cooling-off, waiver or rescission notices from the contractStart this task See suggested levels	Extract the cooling-off, waiver and rescission provisions from the executed contract together with the signing date, the date the buyer received the signed contract, and the disclosure and service dates, and table each right, the period it runs for, the last day shown as a figure for the lawyer to confirm, and every person who must sign. Check the notice or certificate the lawyer has written against those provisions, against the form this jurisdiction's rules prescribe, and against the firm's precedent, and list missing dates, signatories and service steps. The tool writes no part of the notice or of any waiver certificate.	RedLawyer-led	The lawyer writes the notice and any waiver certificate. Confirm the current cooling-off and rescission provisions for this property and this jurisdiction rather than relying on the table: in Queensland the period runs from the date the buyer received the contract signed by both parties, not from signing. Confirm the right to rescind exists, and verify the prescribed form, the signatories, the last day and the service method before the notice goes out. Confirm how the waiver works in this jurisdiction before drafting anything. Where it works by a practitioner’s certificate, confirm from the current provision which classes of person may sign it — in New South Wales a s 66W certificate may be signed by a solicitor, barrister or licensed conveyancer — and the certificate says, in that person’s own voice, that they explained the contract and the certificate to the purchaser. Where it works by the buyer’s own written notice, as in Queensland, the buyer signs it and no practitioner’s certificate is involved. Once given, a facially compliant certificate may be relied on and cannot be walked back, and a stale or wrong form can destroy the waiver.
Draft cooling-off, NSW s.66W waiver or rescission notices from the contractChecklist Start this task See suggested levels	Draft cooling-off, s.66W waiver or rescission notices from the contract and the firm's precedent, listing the statutory period and signatories still to confirm.	RedLawyer-led	Check the cooling-off period: NSW 5 business days (s 66S); Vic 3 clear business days (s 31) Check Qld 5 business days; SA 2 clear; ACT 5; WA and Tas none Note a s 66W certificate may be signed by a solicitor, barrister or licensed conveyancer Sign the s 66W certificate at or before exchange Confirm the right to rescind and the matter details
Draft the client report: offer advice, pre-contract and post-settlementStart this task See suggested levelsWritten for Australia	Turn the issues list, searches and dates into a client reporting letter with outstanding items and a settlement timetable.	YellowClose supervision	Give the advice in the letter yourself Check names, title references and dates against the file
Review an off-the-plan contract for sunset, registration and variation riskStart this task See suggested levels	Extract sunset date, plan-registration mechanics, variation rights, deposit treatment and tax clauses into an issues table.	YellowClose supervision	Advise against the current off-the-plan rules in the property's jurisdiction Check sunset and variation clauses closely; they are high-stakes
Review the owners-corporation, body-corporate or association fileStart this task See suggested levels	From the owners-corporation, body-corporate or association search, list levies, special levies, by-laws, proceedings and known defects with document references.	YellowClose supervision	Read the minutes and notices Do not treat a summary as the search
Extract tenancy details that will sit on title at settlementStart this task See suggested levels	From the lease and disclosure, table rent, term, options, bond, arrears and any notice already given.	YellowClose supervision	Confirm whether the sale is subject to tenancy Confirm what notices the contract requires
Compare the transfer and mortgage drafts to the contract names and titleStart this task See suggested levels	Compare transferee names, tenancy, consideration and title reference across contract, transfer, mortgage and identification documents; list mismatches.	YellowClose supervision	Resolve every name mismatch; one stops settlement Confirm identity and capacity from the firm's own identity and KYC checks, not the table
Check a contract of sale against searches before exchangeStart this task See suggested levelsAustralia onlySource basis: General AI-use guidance applied to this area; no area-specific AI source found.	Compare vendor disclosure, title and planning searches into a mismatch table.	GreenLawyer review	Resolve each mismatch; advise the client.
Use an AI conveyancing contract-review tool safelyStart this task See suggested levelsAustralia onlySource basis: General AI-use guidance applied to this area; no area-specific AI source found.	Record tool, inputs and outputs; spot-check flagged clauses.	YellowClose supervision	Confirm confidentiality settings; client data in third-party tools needs checking.
Run an AI contract review on a NSW or Vic residential contractStart this task See suggested levelsWritten for AustraliaAustralia onlySource basis: Area-specific sources in links; vendor pages marked (vendor).	Use a conveyancing contract-review tool to flag special conditions.	YellowClose supervision	Lawyer reviews flagged and unflagged clauses.
Compare a contract against the client's purchase instructionsStart this task See suggested levelsWritten for AustraliaAustralia onlySource basis: Area-specific sources in links; vendor pages marked (vendor).	Flag mismatches in price, deposit, inclusions and dates.	GreenLawyer review	Lawyer confirms.
Draft a plain-English contract summary for a first-home buyerStart this task See suggested levelsWritten for AustraliaAustralia onlySource basis: Area-specific sources in links; vendor pages marked (vendor).	Summarise key terms and cooling-off rights.	YellowClose supervision	Lawyer checks and adds advice.
Summarise strata or owners-corporation records for a purchaserStart this task See suggested levelsWritten for AustraliaAustralia onlySource basis: Area-specific sources in links; vendor pages marked (vendor).	Extract levies, works and disputes from records.	GreenLawyer review	Verify against the records.
Prepare settlement adjustments draftStart this task See suggested levelsWritten for AustraliaAustralia onlySource basis: Area-specific sources in links; vendor pages marked (vendor).	Draft rates and levies adjustments from notices.	YellowClose supervision	Conveyancer checks calculations.
Comply with NSW Local Court GenAI restrictions in conveyancing disputesStart this task See suggested levelsWritten for AustraliaAustralia onlySource basis: Area-specific AU source in links	Check documents for compliance.	YellowClose supervision	Lawyer confirms.
Explain to clients how the firm uses AI in conveyancingStart this task See suggested levelsWritten for AustraliaAustralia onlySource basis: Area-specific AU source in links	Draft a transparency statement.	GreenLawyer review	Principal approves.
Review a vendor disclosure statement with AIStart this task See suggested levelsWritten for AustraliaAustralia onlySource basis: Area-specific AU source in links	Flag missing items.	YellowClose supervision	Lawyer verifies.
Work out NSW transfer duty from the contract price on the Revenue NSW transfer duty pageStart this task See suggested levelsWritten for New South WalesNew South Wales only	Set out the contract price and the duty steps for the lawyer to complete from the current page.	YellowClose supervision	Read the current transfer duty page and use only a rate and threshold that page shows.
Work out Victorian land transfer duty from the contract price on the State Revenue Office pageStart this task See suggested levelsWritten for VictoriaVictoria only	Set out the contract price and the duty steps for the lawyer to complete from the current page.	YellowClose supervision	Read the current land transfer duty page and use only a rate and threshold that page shows.
Draft the purchaser's affidavit on a vendor and purchaser summons in the Supreme Court of New South WalesStart this task See suggested levelsWritten for New South WalesNew South Wales only	Do not generate the affidavit. List the contract, requisitions and notices the deponent will exhibit.	RedLawyer-led	Take the affidavit in the purchaser's own account and disclose that generative AI did not generate its content.
Prepare a chronology of the contract, requisitions and notices for a specific performance claim in the Supreme Court of New South WalesStart this task See suggested levelsWritten for New South WalesNew South Wales only	List dates and documents from the contract file into a chronology.	GreenLawyer review	Check every date against the contract file before the chronology is used.
Draft the plaintiff's affidavit in a specific performance claim in the Supreme Court of VictoriaStart this task See suggested levelsWritten for VictoriaVictoria only	Produce a draft affidavit from the contract and the plaintiff's instructions for the lawyer to verify.	YellowClose supervision	A person verifies every fact. Asking one artificial intelligence tool to confirm what another produced is not verification. A person may check original source material, including source material kept inside a tool.
Draft written submissions on a caveat removal application in the Supreme Court of VictoriaStart this task See suggested levelsWritten for VictoriaVictoria only	Draft submissions from the caveat and the authorities the lawyer has opened.	YellowClose supervision	Confirm each case and statute exists and stands for the proposition. Asking one artificial intelligence tool to confirm what another produced is not verification. A person may check original source material, including source material kept inside a tool.
Draft the purchaser's affidavit in a Local Court of New South Wales claim for return of a depositStart this task See suggested levelsWritten for New South WalesNew South Wales only	Do not generate the affidavit. List the contract and the deposit receipt the deponent will exhibit.	RedLawyer-led	Take the affidavit in the purchaser's own account. The Local Court note adopts SC Gen 23.
Set the guardrails before AI is used on a Queensland conveyanceChecklist Start this task See suggested levelsWritten for QueenslandQueensland only	Summarise a contract or disclosure pack only after the practice has decided the tool is approved for that file.	YellowClose supervision	Queensland Law Society Guidance Statement No. 37, published 31 May 2024, has no statutory effect. A solicitor who uses AI is expected to have the skills to do so, to take reasonable steps against misuse of confidential client information, to tell the client where feasible, and to check each piece of work. It is not a court filing rule.

Firm-wide obligations

Firm-wide obligations
Obligation	What it covers
Trust accounting & handling client money	Checks that apply across files.
Costs, billing & litigation funding	Checks that apply across files.
Client-facing & access-to-justice AI tools	Checks that apply across files.
Incoming evidence — deepfakes & synthetic documents	Checks that apply across files.
AI decision systems	Checks that apply across files.
Confidentiality & client information	Checks that apply across files.
AML/CTF — the practice as a reporting entity	Checks that apply across files.

What changes in New Zealand

Known here as: Residential conveyancing (Land Transfer Act 2017 / Landonline e-dealing)

What changes in New Zealand
Topic	What changes
Title and e-dealing	Land Transfer Act 2017. Instruments are certified and signed in Landonline. There is no PEXA workspace.
Certifier's duty	You are responsible for certifications under s 27. The Registrar may revoke authority under s 29 for a fraudulent or materially incorrect certificate, or if s 30 evidence is not held.
LINZ standards	Authority and Identity Requirements for E-Dealing Standard 2024; Statutory and Evidentiary Requirements for E-Dealing Standard 2025. A breach can also engage Client Care r 2.5.
Not Australian law	No Victorian s 32 vendor statement, no NSW s 66W cooling-off and no ATO foreign-resident withholding certificate.
Buyers and money	Overseas buyers: Overseas Investment Act 2005. Client money: lawyers' trust account under the Trust Account Regulations 2008.
Limits on AI assistance	Do not let a tool certify or sign a Landonline instrument. The certifying practitioner is personally responsible under s 27 of the Land Transfer Act 2017. Do not let a tool authorise a trust-account payment or complete a CDD or suspicious-activity decision.

What changes in United States

Known here as: Residential real estate conveyancing

What changes in United States
Topic	What changes
State law	State law governs this work. Check the statutes, court rules and conduct rules of the state where the matter is. Do not import an Australian statute, form or court AI practice note.
Closing systems	Recording, disclosure, transfer tax and closing are state and county systems. No national PEXA analogue and no FIRB clearance as such.
Confidentiality	Formal Opinion 512 and Rule 1.6 govern any tool that sees contracts, title work or identity documents.

ABA Formal Opinion 512, Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools (29 July 2024) · 2026-09-23
ABA Model Rule 1.6, Confidentiality of Information · 2026-09-23

Precedents for this area

All precedents for Residential Conveyancing & Property. Signed-in accounts can read the full text.

Related jurisdictions

New Zealand United States