What Your Solicitor Does  

                                                                                                                                                          When you are selling                                                    

Requests title deeds from deed holder 

Seeks all other relevant legal documentation from various parties connected with the transaction

Prepares a contract and gathers together all necessary legal information and forwards it to the purchasers solicitor

Liaises with the purchasers solicitor regarding boundaries, fixtures and fittings, and guarantees for works carried out on the property and answers any enquiries necessary

Liaises with the purchasers solicitor and estate agents regarding any negotiations which have arisen as a result of the surveyors recommendations or conditions on the purchaser’s mortgage offer

Receives deposit from the buyers solicitor

Approves the transfer deed

Asks you to sign the contract which has been approved by the purchaser’s solicitor

Forwards the settlement figure for completion required from the purchaser to their solicitor

Transfers funds to your mortgagor in order to repay your existing mortgage, pays your estate agent, subtracts legal fees including any costs for outstanding disbursements and forwards the balance to you along with your completion statement

Notifies land registry regarding change of ownership

When you are buying

Requests a copy of the title deeds from the sellers solicitor which confirms and provides legal ownership

Arranges searches to establish if there are any environmental or planning issues

Liaises with the vendor’s legal representative regarding boundaries, alterations, fixtures and fittings and relevant guarantees for work carried out on the property

Discusses with you the content of your survey report and mortgage offer and advises of any necessary action to take

Liaises with the lender regarding any recommendations or conditions on your mortgage offer and finalises the legalities of the lending

Checks the content of the contract and provided that it is satisfactory to all parties, asks you to sign it and requests that you provide the deposit

Creates a transfer and mortgage deed to legally confirm the sale and agrees the completion date with the seller’s solicitor

Applies for funds from the bank in good times so that they are ready to transfer to the vendor’s solicitor on the day of completion

Confirms necessary insurances are in place

Exchanges contracts

On completion, forwards the mortgage funds to the seller’s solicitor and receives the original title deeds.

Stamp duty will be paid, transfer deed sent to the land registry and the mortgage deed forwarded to the mortgage company

You will then be sent a final account statement