Digital signature certificate (DSC)
Digital signature certificates are the electronic equivalent of conventional signatures. The most appropriate type of DSC for use in the NECS will be discussed by the Consultation Forums. See page 21 of the draft National Business Model for more information.
Licensed Service Providers (LSPs)
LSPs are organizations authorized by a Land Registry (LR) to provide services to users in the LR’s jurisdiction to facilitate their access to NECS. LSPs must provide user familiarization and subscriber accreditation training, and levels one and two user support. They may also provide user interfaces for NECS, integration with other software packages used in conveyancing, and ready access to electronic stamping provided by Revenue Offices.
Subscribers
Subscribers act on behalf of clients. They will mostly be lawyers or conveyancers but can also be an employee of a corporation or any person who meets certain minimum requirements. In some jurisdictions, subscribers must be accredited with the Land Registry. Accreditation requirements might include verification of professional standing, confirmation of insurance cover, establishment of account facility for fees payment, execution of a practitioner agreement and satisfactory completion of system familiarization training. NECS will maintain accreditations for subscribers used by financial institutions for the purposes of providing pre-approved funds certifications.
Subscribers and clients physically sign a Client Authorisation, which specifies the extent to which the subscriber is authorized to act on the client’s behalf.
There may also be “users” of the system, who work under the supervision of subscribers but are not qualified to certify or sign instruments.