THE SHORT ANSWER
Document the counterparty, ownership, custody and exit before funding
This private worksheet tracks fourteen independent dealer, title, bar-list, vault, insurance, audit, fee, statement and withdrawal checks. A conflict produces a stop-and-reconcile result even when every other field is complete. It does not rank providers or invent a safety score.
PRIVATE WORKSHEET
Build a dated evidence record and export it
Nothing is uploaded or retained by GoldObserve. This record does not approve a counterparty, establish legal title, prove insurance coverage or guarantee withdrawal.
STATUS METHOD
Conflict first; missing evidence second
SCOPE BOUNDARY
A checklist cannot replace the governing agreement
The form helps organize questions. It cannot determine whether title is enforceable, whether a policy would pay a claim, whether a registration is required, whether an audit covers your account or whether a withdrawal will succeed. Preserve the actual contract, statements, official lookup pages and correspondence behind each selected state.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Regulator and market-standard evidence
- Joint FINRA/CFTC physical-metals bulletin for dealer, spread, fees, storage and statement checks.
- CFTC precious-metals fraud advisory for missing metal, undisclosed storage, financing and delivery warning signs.
- NFA guidance on checking BASIC records for the important difference between an ID number, membership and approved status.
- LBMA precious-metal account guide for allocated account bar lists, unallocated entitlement and insurance boundaries.
- LBMA vaulting overview for the Loco London custodian role and the fact that LBMA does not accredit new vaults.
- CME precious-metals delivery process for warrant, eligible metal and load-out choices in that exchange framework.
Reviewed July 31, 2026. Registration, custody terms, fees, insurance and withdrawal procedures are time-sensitive; verify the current contract and official record.
FAQ
Gold custody due diligence questions
Does this checklist approve a gold dealer or vault?
No. It records evidence status and prioritizes conflicts. Legal, financial, regulatory and technical conclusions require appropriate professionals and current primary records.
Why does one conflict stop the result?
A contradictory entity, title clause, vault location or withdrawal promise can be more important than many completed low-risk fields. Completeness must not average away a serious mismatch.
Is my provider data uploaded?
No. The tool runs in the browser and GoldObserve does not retain the entries. Avoid entering account credentials or sensitive identity details in the exported notes.
When should I repeat the checklist?
Repeat it before a new provider relationship, after a material contract or custodian change, and periodically for long-held storage because fees, status, insurance and withdrawal terms can change.