Written by: John Greenhalgh, Legal & Accounting (Updated: 10 July 2026)
From 1 July 2026, Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws now apply to lawyers, conveyancers, accountants and other professional service providers for certain types of work.
This means we may now be legally required to verify your identity before we can act for you in some matters. This is not a Greenhalgh Pickard policy choice. It is a legal requirement that now applies across the legal, accounting and conveyancing professions.
For most clients, the process is straightforward. It usually involves providing standard identification, such as your driver’s licence, so we can confirm who you are and comply with our obligations. It does not mean we suspect you of anything. It does not mean you have done anything wrong. It simply means the law has changed and we are required to follow it.
What has changed?
Australia has expanded its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regime to cover a broader range of businesses and professions.
Banks and financial institutions have been subject to these obligations for many years. From 1 July 2026, the rules also apply to a new group of businesses that may be involved in higher-risk transactions, including:
- lawyers
- conveyancers
- accountants
- real estate professionals
- trust and company service providers
- dealers in precious stones and metals.
These changes are designed to prevent criminals from using professional services, property transactions, company structures and financial systems to move, hide or disguise money.
Why does this affect you?
If you are buying or selling property, setting up a trust or company, dealing with certain business structures, or engaging us for particular legal or accounting services, we may be required to verify your identity before we can act. This process is called customer due diligence. It applies because of the type of work being performed, not because of who you are. These obligations apply across the profession, not just to Greenhalgh Pickard.
Every legal, accounting and conveyancing firm now works under the same requirement.
What ID will you need to provide?
For most matters, one form of photo ID is enough. Your driver’s licence will often be sufficient, provided it shows your:
- full name
- residential address
- date of birth.
Depending on the type of matter, we may also need additional information. For example, if you are a sole trader, company director, trustee, business owner or acting for an entity, we may need details such as your business name, business address, Australian Business Number, company information or trust details.
The exact information we ask for will depend on the service you are engaging us to provide. We will let you know what we need before your appointment wherever possible, so there are no surprises on the day.
Why existing clients might be asked again
Some long-term clients may be surprised to be asked for identification again. Unfortunately, being an existing client does not always remove the need for further checks.
Under the AML/CTF requirements, we may need to monitor and reassess client information on an ongoing basis. This means we may occasionally ask you to reconfirm or update your identification, especially if:
- it has been some time since we last verified your details
- you are engaging us for a new type of matter
- the nature of the transaction has changed
- the risk profile of the work is different
- the information we currently hold is incomplete or out of date.
If we ask you for updated identification, it is not a reflection on you. It is simply part of the compliance process we are now required to follow.
Your privacy is still protected
We understand that clients are careful about providing personal information, particularly identification documents. We handle your information in line with the Privacy Act 1988. We only collect the information we need for compliance purposes and we take steps to keep that information secure.
What this means in practice
For most clients, this will be a simple additional step. If we need identification from you, our team will tell you what is required and how to provide it. Having your ID ready before your appointment will usually mean the process can be completed quickly and without delaying your matter.
The bottom line
The law has changed, and legal, accounting and conveyancing firms are now required to complete identity checks for certain types of work. We appreciate that this may feel like an extra administrative step, particularly for existing clients. However, it is now part of the compliance process we are required to follow.
If you are unsure what identification you need to provide, please contact our team before your appointment. We will let you know what is required for your particular matter.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. It does not take into account your personal circumstances and should not be relied on as a substitute for professional legal advice. Strict time limits apply to employment claims under Australian law. For advice about your specific situation, please contact Greenhalgh Pickard on (07) 5444 1022.