resolve_reference

Returns the titles a name most likely means, ranked by match, each with its id, a confidence and an in_force block. Use it when you have a name as a person would write it.

Parameters

Notes

• A title no longer in force is still offered, ranked like any other, so it can be named. Every tool that would serve its text answers TITLE_NOT_IN_FORCE instead.
• Pass a candidate's id to the other tools as legislation_id.

Request (resolve_reference with {"text":"privacy act"})

Python SDK

import asyncio, os
from mcp import ClientSession
from mcp.client.streamable_http import streamablehttp_client

async def main():
    headers = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['LAWATLAS_API_KEY']}"}
    async with streamablehttp_client("https://advisor.lawatlas.ai/api/mcp-http/mcp", headers=headers) as (read, write, _):
        async with ClientSession(read, write) as session:
            await session.initialize()
            result = await session.call_tool("resolve_reference", {
                "text": "privacy act"
            })
            print(result.content[0].text)

asyncio.run(main())

curl

curl -s https://advisor.lawatlas.ai/api/mcp-http/mcp \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $LAWATLAS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Accept: application/json, text/event-stream" \
  -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"resolve_reference","arguments":{"text":"privacy act"}}}'

Response, as Advisor returned it on 10 October 2026. The tool's result is the JSON text of result.content[0].text; lists and long text are trimmed where marked "...".

{
  "candidates": [
    {
      "id": "eae28dff-3ff5-48eb-af3f-38686e6f650e",
      "title": "Privacy Act 1988",
      "confidence": 0.7058823704719543,
      "reason": "fuzzy_title",
      "in_force": {
        "in_force": true,
        "frl_status": "InForce",
        "since": null,
        "confirmed_with_frl_at": "2026-10-09T16:37:46.550767Z",
        "frl_link": "https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2026C00227",
        "notice": "In force according to the Federal Register of Legislation, as last confirmed on the date shown."
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "5f97e139-fc87-47fb-9092-7025dc2e2a9a",
      "title": "Privacy Amendment Act 2004",
      "confidence": 0.47999998927116394,
      "reason": "fuzzy_title",
      "in_force": {
        "in_force": true,
        "frl_status": "InForce",
        "since": null,
        "confirmed_with_frl_at": "2026-10-09T16:37:46.550767Z",
        "frl_link": "https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2006C00121",
        "notice": "In force according to the Federal Register of Legislation, as last confirmed on the date shown."
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "9d2d54ca-2212-428e-ac69-16513ecb62e6",
      "title": "Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000",
      "confidence": 0.34285715222358704,
      "reason": "fuzzy_title",
      "in_force": {
        "in_force": true,
        "frl_status": "InForce",
        "since": null,
        "confirmed_with_frl_at": "2026-10-09T16:37:46.550767Z",
        "frl_link": "https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2004A00748",
        "notice": "In force according to the Federal Register of Legislation, as last confirmed on the date shown."
      }
    },
    "... 2 more"
  ]
}

Data currency: Advisor serves the text of titles that the Federal Register of Legislation records as in force. It does not return the text of a repealed, ceased or sunset title, for any date.

• A title or a served provision carries a status block (status, or in_force in a list) with in_force, frl_status and confirmed_with_frl_at: when Advisor last confirmed the status with the Federal Register.
• Served text and search hits carry a compilation block with register_id, compilation_no, check_date and state. state is one of four values:
  • current: the Federal Register's latest list names the compilation the text comes from.
  • not_current: the Federal Register lists a newer compilation. Tell the user, and use the frl_link in the response.
  • pending_compilation: amendments have commenced that are not yet compiled, so the text does not include them.
  • not_confirmed: the Federal Register lists no current compilation, or Advisor holds no record of one. Treat it as unknown.
• TITLE_NOT_IN_FORCE and COMPILATION_NOT_CURRENT are answers, not failures. Show the user the Federal Register link in the response and do not fill the gap from another source.

Errors

Related tools

• search_legislation
• get_legislation