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The new obligations will apply to certain legal services. For us, this will include matters involving estate planning, estate administration, trusts, companies, other legal entities, transactions involving property, or matters where we are required to consider the source of funds or source of wealth.

Not every matter will require the same level of information. The information we request will depend on the type of matter, the services we are providing, and the level of anti-money laundering or counter-terrorism financing risk associated with the matter.

As part of the new requirements, we will need to verify your identity. This will involve asking you to provide identity documents such as a drivers licence, passport or other approved forms of identification.

To assist with this process, we will be using First AML, a secure compliance platform that assists professional service firms with identity verification and anti-money laundering compliance processes.

Where your matter requires identity verification or additional anti-money laundering checks, you may receive a request through First AML asking you to complete the required steps. This may include uploading identity documents, confirming personal details, or providing information relevant to the matter.

We may also need to ask questions about the purpose of the matter, the people or entities involved, the source of funds being used, or the source of wealth connected with a transaction or structure. This information will assist us to assess the matter in accordance with our anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing obligations.

These requests are part of our legal compliance obligations and are intended to make the process as secure, efficient and straightforward as possible.

We have invested significant time and resources in preparing for these new obligations, including educating our team, updating our internal processes, engaging external compliance support, and implementing secure systems to assist with identity verification and AML/CTF compliance.

We have sought to absorb as much of this cost as reasonably possible. However, the new regime will involve additional compliance work and external provider costs that we are unable to absorb in full.

Accordingly, from 1 July 2026, a modest one-off AML/CTF Compliance Fee will apply. This fee is intended to contribute to the cost of complying with our legal obligations, including identity verification, AML/CTF checks, risk assessment processes and related record-keeping requirements.

We will charge a flat fee when you complete and sign a costs agreement with us to cover the costs associated with identity verification, electronic database checks, and file retention. This will appear on your invoice as a separate fee. We are obligated by legislation to re-verify all client identification every 3 years, or upon a change in the services you request from us depending on the level of complexity and risk of the new service.

These requirements are being introduced by the Federal Government and regulated by AUSTRAC. They are designed to help prevent money laundering, terrorism financing and other serious financial crime.

While some of the questions may feel more detailed than those previously asked by law firms, they are now becoming part of our legal compliance obligations.

Any information collected will be handled confidentially and stored securely within our systems and/or First AML’s secure platform. Protecting client privacy and maintaining the confidentiality of client information remains extremely important to us.

We will only request information that is necessary for us to comply with our legal obligations and to properly assess the matter.

Information collected for AML/CTF purposes will be retained only for as long as required or permitted by law, or as otherwise necessary for us to comply with its legal obligations. Where information is no longer required to be retained, it will be managed in accordance with applicable privacy, record-keeping and deletion requirements.

We are committed to making this process as simple and efficient as possible for our clients.

We appreciate that these changes may introduce some additional steps at the beginning of a matter or during the course of an existing matter. We will work with you to minimise inconvenience while ensuring we comply with our obligations under the new regime.

The cost of a will, estate planning service, or legal representation in this area depends on your requirements. We provide value pricing as much as possible. Contact us to discuss a quote.

We have offices in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, and can also offer video or conference calls.

We will hand pick a member of our legal team to assist you with your needs.

Explaining the legal process you are engaging in, in clear terms is an important part of our service as it aligns with our commitment to assisting you to achieve the outcomes you desire.

By keeping things clear and straightforward, we make the process less overwhelming for you.

It is not possible to guarantee the outcome of legal proceedings, however, you can be assured that you are working with an experienced legal team committed to achieving the outcomes you are seeking.

Our estate dispute resolution lawyers aim to keep matters out of court, however we will represent you in court if it is necessary.