What banks actually require, how guarantees work, how to prepare for your appointment — and everything else our clients ask before booking. Written by Australian solicitors.
Our cornerstone guide to ILA in Australia — what the certificate is, who needs one, why lenders require it, guarantor obligations, home and SMSF loans, costs, online appointments, and lender and state requirements. Start here, then dive into the detailed guides below.
A plain-English explainer of independent legal advice, why most Australian lenders ask for it, and what actually happens during the appointment.
Who is qualified to act as your ILA solicitor, what “independent” really means, why conveyancers and brokers can't sign the certificate, and how to choose one your bank will accept.
What lawyers typically charge for an ILA certificate, why hourly billing produces surprise invoices, and how to budget for the appointment with confidence.
The legal reality of guarantor loans for parents — what the bank can do if things go wrong, how to protect your home, and the questions to ask before you sign.
Self-managed super fund loans come with extra paperwork and extra signatures. Here's how the ILA process changes for SMSF buyers and corporate trustees.
Yes — and your bank will almost certainly accept the certificate. Here's how video ILA works, why it's now standard, and how to prepare for the meeting.
A practical checklist — documents, ID, what your solicitor will walk you through, and how long the meeting actually takes. Removes all the guesswork.
They're not the same job and they're not interchangeable. Here's the difference, what each one costs, and why most buyers need both.
First home buyers using a family guarantee — how the loan is structured, why both parties need ILA, and what to expect in the lead-up to settlement.
Refinances trigger ILA more often than people expect. When the bank will require a fresh certificate, when it won't, and how to keep the deal moving.
When your settlement is tomorrow, ILA can't be the bottleneck. What needs to be in place for a same-day certificate, and what tends to slow things down.
A wet signature is pen-on-paper, witnessed in person. Why most Australian lenders still require one on mortgage and guarantee documents — and how it works in a video ILA appointment.
If you're a registered owner of a property but not on the loan, your bank may ask you to consent to the mortgage — and to get ILA first. Here's when it's required and how it differs from being a guarantor.
Usually not on the same transaction they're already running. Here's what "independent" actually means, and when your existing lawyer can or can't sign the certificate.
Not as one person — but you can borrow through a company or trust and personally guarantee the loan. Here's how the structure works and why ILA is almost always required.
Yes — and they almost always are. How the personal guarantee fits into an LRBA, what the SIS Act allows, and why every member-director needs their own ILA.
Loan increases, term extensions, new security and guarantor changes can trigger a fresh ILA requirement. When the original certificate carries over and when it doesn't.
Personal guarantees on business loans carry different risks from residential ones — all-moneys clauses, cross-collateralisation, and the Banking Code's small-business protections.
When ILA is triggered, how to flag it early, the independence rules that affect referrals, and how to build ILA into your settlement timeline without the last-minute scramble.
How ILA works for New South Wales mortgage borrowers and guarantors — accepted forms, witnessing rules, video appointments, and how Land Registry Services handles registration.
How ILA works for Victorian mortgage borrowers and guarantors — accepted forms, the VLSB+C rules, witnessing by audio-visual link, and Land Use Victoria registration.
How ILA works for Queensland mortgage borrowers and guarantors — Titles Queensland, accepted forms, remote witnessing, and the tighter QLD settlement timeline.
How ILA works for Western Australian borrowers and guarantors — who can give the advice, accepted forms, witnessing rules, Landgate registration, and why online appointments suit WA's distances.
How ILA works for South Australian borrowers and guarantors — who can sign the certificate (and why SA conveyancers can't), witnessing rules, and Land Services SA registration.
When CommBank requires ILA on a mortgage or guarantee, what their certificate template looks like, whether video appointments are accepted, and how to keep settlement on track.
When Westpac requires ILA, their certificate format, video acceptance, settlement timing, and the practical points to know if you're going through a Westpac guarantor or SMSF loan.
When ANZ requires ILA, their certificate template, video appointments, and how their settlement team processes incoming certificates and wet-signed originals.
When NAB requires ILA, their certificate format, accepted witnessing methods, and the practical points for NAB borrowers and guarantors heading to settlement.
Macquarie's digital-first mortgage process and its impact on ILA — when they require it, how their broker channel handles document delivery, and what to expect at settlement.
ING's branchless, broker-led model and what it means for ILA — when they require it, their certificate template, video acceptance, and how document delivery works at settlement.
Fixed $550 fee. 24-hour turnaround. Accepted by every major Australian lender.
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