Get a document witnessed online

A special witness does not need to apply their seal of office (stamp) to electronically witnessed documents.

Only certain types of documents can be witnessed online. These include:

• affidavits
• statutory declarations (including Commonwealth and interstate forms)
• affidavits or documents for the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
• deeds (if the parties to the deed require a witness).

Step 1: Contact a special witness and schedule an appointment

• Contact a special witness directly from the list below.
• Belinda Joy Finlay, JP (Mag), 0407 125 313
• Bronwyn Kaye Venus, JP (Qual), 0413 130 505
• Geoffrey Allan Rainford, JP (Qual), 0419 189 010
• Ian Christopher Manning, JP (Qual), 0407 612 606
• James Arthur Straker, JP (Qual), 07 5494 3229
• Karl Alexander McKenzie, JP (Mag), 0417 735 336
• Kenneth John Murphy, JP (Qual), 0407 166 144
• Mark Andrew Joines, JP (Qual), 0420 587 715
• Stephen Robert Ryan, C.Dec, 07 5541 2251
• Susan Mary Thorpe, JP (Qual), 0421 952 604
• Provide your name, contact details and a description of the document that needs to be witnessed.
• Arrange a time for the online meeting.

Step 2: Receive the audio-visual link

The special witness will send you the online meeting link (e.g. a link to a video conferencing platform like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or similar).

Step 3: Join the meeting and sign the document

At the scheduled time, use the link to join the online meeting.

You can either:

• physically sign a printed document, or
• use software that allows you to sign the document electronically.

The special witness must see you sign the printed or electronic document in real time. They will ask you to move your camera or share your screen so they can see you do this.

Step 4: Send the signed document to the special witness

• If you signed a paper document during the meeting, you need to scan and email the signed document to the JP or Cdec.
• If you used electronic signature software during the meeting, the JP or Cdec will witness the document electronically.

Step 5: The special witness signs the document

The JP or Cdec will witness the scanned physical or electronic document.

Their signature, along with their title, JP (Qual) or Cdec, confirms they witnessed the document.

They may also include their registration number or other identifying details.

Step 6: Receive a scanned copy of the witnessed document

The JP or Cdec will email you a scanned copy of the witnessed document.

It is your responsibility to save the witnessed document securely.