{"id":"registration-of-deeds-regulations-2004","name":"Registration of Deeds Regulations 2004","slug":"registration-of-deeds-regulations-2004","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":181833,"registerId":"wa-registration-of-deeds-regulations-2004-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Registration of Deeds Regulations 2004","content":"![Crest]()Western Australia\n\nRegistration of Deeds Act 1856\n\nRegistration of Deeds Regulations 2004\n\nWestern Australia\n\nRegistration of Deeds Regulations 2004\n\nContents\n\n1. Citation 1\n\n2. Commencement 1\n\n3. Terms used 1\n\n4. Memorials for registration, requirements for etc. 1\n\n5. Fees (Sch. 1) 2\n\n5A. Waiving and refunding fees in relation to copies for TLA applications 2\n\nSchedule 1 — Fees to be charged by the Registrar\n\nDivision 1 — Registrations\n\nDivision 2 — Reproduction of documents\n\nDivision 3 — Miscellaneous\n\nNotes\n\nCompilation table 5\n\nDefined terms\n\n  \n\nRegistration of Deeds Act 1856\n\nRegistration of Deeds Regulations 2004\n\n##### 1. Citation\n\nThese regulations may be cited as the *Registration of Deeds Regulations 2004*.\n\n##### 2. Commencement\n\nThese regulations come into operation on 6 September 2004.\n\n##### 3. Terms used\n\nIn these regulations, unless the context requires otherwise —\n\n  memorial means any judgment, deed, will, conveyance or instrument presented for registration;\n\n  Registrar means the Registrar of Deeds and Transfers;\n\nTLA application means an application to bring land under the *Transfer of Land Act 1893* within the meaning of that Act.\n\n[Regulation 3 amended: SL 2025/178 r. 4.]\n\n##### 4. Memorials for registration, requirements for etc.\n\n(1) Every memorial presented for registration is to —\n\n(a) be prepared on good quality paper approved by the Registrar and having the dimensions of 210 mm by 297 mm;\n\n(b) be clearly and legibly handwritten in ink, printed or typewritten;\n\n(c) have a binding margin on each page of 51 mm free of written, printed or typewritten matter with the binding margin on the left hand side of the face sheet and on a corresponding side for all subsequent sheets;\n\n(d) have all writing, printing, type or other matter appearing on the memorial of sufficient strength to bear photographic reproduction.\n\n(2) The Registrar may reject for registration a memorial which does not comply with this regulation.\n\n[Regulation 4 amended: Gazette 7 Jul 2006 p. 2512.]\n\n##### 5. Fees (Sch. 1)\n\nThe fees to be charged by the Registrar are set out in Schedule 1.\n\n##### 5A. Waiving and refunding fees in relation to copies for TLA applications\n\nThe Registrar may waive or refund the fee set out in Schedule 1 Division 2 item 1 in relation to a copy of a document referred to in that item if —\n\n(a) the copy is supplied for the purposes of making a TLA application; and\n\n(b) the Registrar is satisfied it is appropriate to waive or refund the fee.\n\n[Regulation 5A inserted: SL 2025/178 r. 5.]\n\n[**6.** Omitted under the Reprints Act 1984 s. 7(4)(f).]\n\nSchedule 1 — Fees to be charged by the Registrar\n\n[r. 5]  \n\nDivision 1 — Registrations\n\n| 1. | For registering, recording, enrolling or receiving on deposit, any memorial, enrolment or instrument — |  |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n|  | (a) if the memorial, enrolment or instrument relates to the making of a TLA application | No fee |\n|  | (b) otherwise | $188.60 |\n| 2. | For cancelling or amending a registration by order of the Court | $188.60 |\n\n\n[Division 1 amended: Gazette 24 Jun 2005 p. 2761; 7 Jul 2006 p. 2512; 25 Jun 2007 p. 2966‑7; 20 Jun 2008 p. 2708; 9 Jan 2009 p. 28; 19 Jun 2009 p. 2242; 18 Jun 2010 p. 2677; 14 Jun 2011 p. 2137; 19 Jun 2015 p. 2135; 24 Jun 2016 p. 2321; 23 Jun 2017 p. 3181; 15 Jun 2018 p. 1923; 21 May 2019 p. 1474; SL 2020/76 r. 4; SL 2021/88 r. 4; SL 2022/62 r. 6; SL 2023/44 r. 6; SL 2024/83 r. 6; SL 2025/85 r. 6; SL 2025/178 r. 6(1).]\n\nDivision 2 — Reproduction of documents\n\n| 1. | For a copy supplied of a memorial or other document not specifically provided for | $32.60 |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n\n\nNote for this item:\n\nThis fee may be waived or refunded by the Registrar under regulation 5A.\n\n[Division 2 amended: Gazette 7 Jul 2006 p. 2512; 25 Jun 2007 p. 2967; 20 Jun 2008 p. 2708; 9 Jan 2009 p. 29; 19 Jun 2009 p. 2242; 18 Jun 2010 p. 2677; 14 Jun 2011 p. 2137; 19 Jun 2015 p. 2135; 24 Jun 2016 p. 2321; 23 Jun 2017 p. 3181; 15 Jun 2018 p. 1923; 21 May 2019 p. 1474; SL 2020/76 r. 4; SL 2021/88 r. 4; SL 2022/62 r. 6; SL 2023/44 r. 6; SL 2024/83 r. 6; SL 2025/85 r. 6; SL 2025/178 r. 6(2).]\n\nDivision 3 — Miscellaneous\n\n- 1. For a certification by the Registrar —\n- (a) if the certification relates to the making of a TLA application No fee\n- (b) otherwise $77.00\n- 2. Withdrawal of a memorial registered under section 46 of the *Land Tax Assessment Act 1976* before that Act was repealed or the *Taxation Administration Act 2003* Part 6 Division 2 $188.60\n- 3. For any service not mentioned in this Schedule fee, if any, as assessed by the Registrar, not exceeding actual cost\n\n\n[Division 3 amended: Gazette 24 Jun 2005 p. 2761; 7 Jul 2006 p. 2512; 25 Jun 2007 p. 2967; 20 Jun 2008 p. 2709; 9 Jan 2009 p. 29; 19 Jun 2009 p. 2242; 18 Jun 2010 p. 2677; 14 Jun 2011 p. 2137; 19 Jun 2015 p. 2135; 24 Jun 2016 p. 2321; 23 Jun 2017 p. 3181; 15 Jun 2018 p. 1923; 21 May 2019 p. 1474; SL 2020/76 r. 4; SL 2021/88 r. 4; SL 2022/62 r. 6; SL 2023/44 r. 6; SL 2024/83 r. 6; SL 2025/85 r. 6; SL 2025/178 r. 6(3).]\n\n[Division 4 deleted: Gazette 22 Jun 2012 p. 2784.]\n\n![dline]()\n\nNotes\n\nThis is a compilation of the *Registration of Deeds Regulations 2004* and includes amendments made by other written laws. For provisions that have come into operation, and for information about any reprints, see the compilation table.\n\nCompilation table\n\n| **Citation** | **Published** | | **Commencement** | |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| *Registration of Deeds Regulations 2004* | 2 Sep 2004 p. 3822‑3 | | 6 Sep 2004 (see r. 2) | |\n| *Registration of Deeds Amendment Regulations 2005* | 24 Jun 2005 p. 2760‑1 | | 4 Jul 2005 (see r. 2) | |\n| *Registration of Deeds Amendment Regulations 2006* | 7 Jul 2006 p. 2511‑12 | | 10 Jul 2006 (see r. 2) | |\n| *Registration of Deeds Amendment Regulations 2007* | 25 Jun 2007 p. 2966‑7 | | r. 1 and 2: 25 Jun 2007 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 2 Jul 2007 (see r. 2(b)) | |\n| *Registration of Deeds Amendment Regulations 2008* | 20 Jun 2008 p. 2708‑9 | | r. 1 and 2: 20 Jun 2008 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Jul 2008 (see r. 2(b)) | |\n| **Reprint 1: The *Registration of Deeds Regulations 2004* as at 5 Dec 2008** (includes amendments listed above) | | | | |\n| *Registration of Deeds Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 2008* | 9 Jan 2009 p. 28-9 | | r. 1 and 2: 9 Jan 2009 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 19 Jan 2009 (see r. 2(b)) | |\n| *Registration of Deeds Amendment Regulations 2009* | 19 Jun 2009 p. 2241-2 | | r. 1 and 2: 19 Jun 2009 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Jul 2009 (see r. 2(b)) | |\n| *Registration of Deeds Amendment Regulations 2010* | 18 Jun 2010 p. 2677 | | r. 1 and 2: 18 Jun 2010 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Jul 2010 (see r. 2(b)) | |\n| *Registration of Deeds Amendment Regulations 2011* | 14 Jun 2011 p. 2136‑7 | | r. 1 and 2: 14 Jun 2011 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Jul 2011 (see r. 2(b)) | |\n| *Registration of Deeds Amendment Regulations 2012* | 22 Jun 2012 p. 2783-4 | | r. 1 and 2: 22 Jun 2012 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Jul 2012 (see r. 2(b)) | |\n| **Reprint 2: The *Registration of Deeds Regulations 2004* as at 12 Oct 2012** (includes amendments listed above) | | | | |\n| *Registration of Deeds Amendment Regulations 2015* | | 19 Jun 2015 p. 2134‑5 | | r. 1 and 2: 19 Jun 2015 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Jul 2015 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Lands Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2016* Pt. 2 | | 24 Jun 2016 p. 2320-5 | | r. 1 and 2: 24 Jun 2016 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Jul 2016 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Lands Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2017* Pt. 2 | | 23 Jun 2017 p. 3181‑6 | | 3 Jul 2017 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Lands Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2018* Pt. 2 | | 15 Jun 2018 p. 1923‑8 | | 1 Jul 2018 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Lands Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2019* Pt. 2 | | 21 May 2019 p. 1474‑81 | | 1 Jul 2019 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Lands Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2020* Pt. 2 | | SL 2020/76 9 Jun 2020 | | 1 Jul 2020 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Lands Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2021* Pt. 2 | | SL 2021/88   18 Jun 2021 | | 1 Jul 2021 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Lands Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2022* Pt. 3 | | SL 2022/62 3 Jun 2022 | | 1 Jul 2022 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Lands Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2023* Pt. 3 | | SL 2023/44 19 May 2023 | | 1 Jul 2023 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Lands Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2024* Pt. 3 | | SL 2024/83 29 May 2024 | | 1 Jul 2024 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Lands Regulations Amendment (Fees and Charges) Regulations 2025* Pt. 3 | | SL 2025/85 11 Jun 2025 | | 1 Jul 2025 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Planning and Lands Regulations Amendment Regulations 2025* Pt. 2 | | SL 2025/178 15 Oct 2025 | | 16 Oct 2025 (see r. 2(b)) |\n\n\nDefined terms\n\n*[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]*\n\n**Defined term Provision(s)**\n\nmemorial 3\n\nRegistrar 3\n\nTLA application 3\n\n© State of Western Australia 2025.\n\nThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0). To view relevant information and for a link to a copy of the licence, visit www.legislation.wa.gov.au.\n\nAttribute work as: © State of Western Australia 2025.\n\nBy Authority: GEOFF O. LAWN, Government Printer\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope cannot be assessed as no legislative content was provided. The submission contained only a broken-link error page from the Western Australian legislation website, not the text of the Registration of Deeds Regulations 2004 itself."},"complexity_factors":["No legislative content was retrievable — only a webpage error message was provided","No provisions, schedules, definitions, or operative clauses were available for analysis","Complexity cannot be meaningfully assessed without the actual text of the regulations"],"plain_english_summary":"The Registration of Deeds Regulations 2004 (WA) would set out procedural rules for how deeds (e.g., property transfers, mortgages, agreements) are to be registered in Western Australia, affecting landowners, conveyancers, legal practitioners and registry staff by governing how instruments are recorded and given legal effect.\n\nThe regulation text wasn’t retrievable here — to review it, check legislation.wa.gov.au, contact the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office helpdesk, or consult State Law Publisher or commercial legal databases."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The regulations have been amended since enactment to modify fee arrangements and add fee‑relief measures for Transfer of Land Act (TLA) related matters. A no‑fee outcome is recorded for registrations and certifications that relate to TLA applications (Schedule 1 Division 1 item 1(a); Division 3 item 1(a)), and regulation 5A expressly permits the Registrar to waive or refund the reproduction fee for copies supplied for TLA applications. The definition of ‘TLA application’ is included in regulation 3; numerous fee amounts in Schedule 1 have also been updated by later amendments (see compilation table)."},"complexity_factors":["Limited number of short substantive provisions (regulations 3–5A and Schedule 1) which simplifies navigation","Detailed technical formatting requirements for memorials (paper size, margins, legibility, reproducibility) that require precise compliance (reg 4)","Fee schedule organised into divisions with multiple line items and periodic numeric updates (Schedule 1 Divs 1–3)","Discretionary powers given to the Registrar to reject memorials, waive or refund specified fees and to assess fees up to actual cost (reg 4; reg 5A; Schedule 1 Div 3 item 3)","Cross‑references to external statutes and categories (Transfer of Land Act 1893, Land Tax Assessment Act 1976, Taxation Administration Act 2003) increasing practical linkage to other regimes","Extensive amendment history recorded in the compilation table, indicating evolving numeric fees and inserted provisions (e.g. reg 5A)"],"plain_english_summary":"Specifies how documents (‘memorials’) must be presented for registration (paper size, legibility, binding margin, reproducibility) and gives the Registrar power to reject non‑compliant memorials (reg 4). It sets fixed fees and exemptions for registrations, copies and certifications — including no fee and discretionary waivers for matters related to Transfer of Land Act applications — and so determines who pays and when the Registrar may waive or refund fees (regs 5, 5A; Schedule 1)."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations remain tightly focused on their original purpose: prescribing document formatting standards and fees for the Registration of Deeds Act 1856. The 2025 amendment adding regulation 5A (fee waiver for TLA applications) and the TLA-related fee exemptions throughout Schedule 1 actually reinforce the original intent by facilitating the transition from the old deeds system to the modern Torrens system, rather than expanding into new areas."},"complexity_factors":["Only 3 defined terms in the interpretation section (memorial, Registrar, TLA application)","Straightforward fee schedule with simple tabular structure","Minimal conditional logic — essentially just 'if TLA application then no fee, otherwise fee applies'","No cross-references to other legislation except for definitions and the parent Act","Short length (approximately 6 substantive regulations plus fee schedule)","Single amendment mechanism visible (fee updates via annual amendment regulations)","No nested exceptions or complex procedural requirements"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this legislation does:**\n\nThese regulations set out the practical rules for registering legal documents (called \"memorials\") under Western Australia's old **Registration of Deeds Act 1856**. This Act still applies to some older land transactions that haven't been moved to the modern Torrens title system (the *Transfer of Land Act 1893*).\n\n**Key things covered:**\n\n*   **Paper and formatting rules** — Documents must be on A4 paper (210mm x 297mm), clearly printed or typed in ink, with a 51mm left margin for binding, and dark enough to photocopy properly. The Registrar can reject documents that don't meet these standards.\n*   **Fees** — Sets out what the Registrar charges for:\n    *   Registering deeds and other instruments ($188.60, but **no fee** if it's for converting old land titles to the modern system — called a \"TLA application\")\n    *   Providing copies of documents ($32.60)\n    *   Certifying documents ($77.00, or **no fee** for TLA applications)\n    *   Other miscellaneous services\n*   **Fee waivers** — The Registrar has discretion to waive or refund copying fees when documents are needed for TLA applications (converting to the modern land title system).\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n*   People dealing with old \"general law\" land titles in Western Australia (increasingly rare)\n*   Lawyers and conveyancers handling historical property transactions\n*   Anyone converting old deed-based land ownership to the modern Torrens title system\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nWhile most WA land is now under the modern Torrens system, some older properties still sit under the old deeds system. These regulations ensure documents are recorded properly and fees are standardised. The fee exemptions for \"TLA applications\" show the government's priority: encouraging people to move old titles onto the modern, more reliable system."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/registration-of-deeds-regulations-2004","history":"/api/acts/registration-of-deeds-regulations-2004/history","analysis":"/api/acts/registration-of-deeds-regulations-2004/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/registration-of-deeds-regulations-2004/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/registration-of-deeds-regulations-2004/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/registration-of-deeds-regulations-2004/documents"}}