How To Check If A Solicitor Is Registered

One of the first stages in the conveyancing process afterwards instructing your solicitor is to provide them with your ID; both photo and proof of address. Whereas historically this was required to be in original format solicitors are more than and more than using engineering to confirm who their client is - unremarkably known equally Know Your Customer (KYC).

The ID requirements for solicitors vary depending on the solicitor you instruct. In this article we examine:

Why is ID verification so important to the conveyancing procedure?
What ID your solicitor need?
How do solicitors do an online ID bank check?
When is a contiguous meeting required?

Why is the ID verification and so important to the conveyancing process?

The police force requires solicitors every bit well as banks, building societies and mortgage brokers, to obtain satisfactory evidence of the identity of their clients to meet with Money Laundering Regulations.

The risk of fraud is loftier when buying a abode every bit large sums of money are transferred between 3rd parties who accept never met. The key concern for the solicitor is to know who their customer is and where their money has come from. You can read more about - How to prove the source of your funds.

With over £three billion in mortgage fraud in 2017, the challenge is clear. Especially when the private solicitor business firm is liable for getting their ID incorrect in the event of a fraud merits. This is why each solicitor firm has its own ID procedure – and some are more than risk balky than others!

Who Regulates Solicitors regarding KYC and Anti-Money Laundering?

What ID does your solicitor need for the conveyancing process?

Photo ID

New driving licence with photo (non the paper version)
Current passport (not an out of date one)

If you use the online verification process then a fee is normally charged for doing this. Our fee is £15 INC VAT. However, when thinking about the price to send your original passport special delivery, or the risk for these being lost, most clients are using the online verification process to simplify the process.

Proof of Habitation Address

Your solicitor volition need to see 2 separate pieces of evidence to testify you reside at the accost you are living at. This is normally your chief residence where you are registered on the electoral whorl. The most common pieces of evidence to prove your habitation address are:

New driving licence with photo or the paper version (if you utilise the photograph driving licence for your photo ID so you can't employ it for your proof of address and will need to provide ii other forms)
Gas, h2o, electricity bill (no older than within the last 12 months)
Banking company statement including your domicile address (online download is suitable)
HMRC letter

How exercise solicitors do an online ID check?

This is the more forward thinking ID checking service where solicitors obtain photocopy prove of your ID and so bank check this via an online database. You'll need to provide your passport number, national insurance number, your total name and your current home address - remember you lot current domicile address is where you lot are registered on the electoral roll.

The online ID cheque reviews your name linked to the address you live at. If this passes then your solicitor should be satisfied. However, if it fails you should wait to accept to provide original documents or even have to visit your solicitor at their office. You are probable to fail if:

You haven't lived in your current address for longer than a year
You aren't on the electoral function
You don't pay United kingdom revenue enhancement
You live overseas

The online ID cheque usually has a charge – our solicitors accuse £viii Inc VAT per name checked still with other solicitors this tin vary then retrieve to inquire at the bespeak you lot get your quote.

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When tin yous not use an online ID check?

You cannot use the online ID checking service if yous are not a resident of England & Wales. If you lot live outside England & Wales, then you'll need to either provide original evidence of your photo ID or you can go the original documents copied and certified by a solicitor or local notary.

When is a face to face meeting required?

This is the 'old school' verification process and the one that offers the most amount of reassurance to the solicitor. If they come across you in person then your solicitor can check your ID in that location and so. For most this is unachievable as the distance to drive to go to their solicitors makes it as well hard. If you are instructing a solicitors' firm that isn't near y'all, which is common practise nowadays, brand certain they provide an ID checking service that doesn't force you to visit your solicitors' part.

Getting your ID verified at the earliest point is a requirement of the conveyancing procedure as your solicitor tin't first acting for y'all until they know who you are. Our communication is to become your ID set up and make certain yous ask the question upfront about which ID procedure is acceptable. We provide the simplest process for ID checking through the online ID check to support our clients and relieve them fourth dimension.

Need a great value quote for the conveyancing procedure?

Our specialist conveyancing solicitors check your ID by inspecting your scanned required documents sent via e-mail – which is the most efficient, speedy and coin-saving way possible – there'south never any demand to take time off piece of work to nourish your solicitor's offices.

Fixed Fee – No Sale No Fee – On all Mortgage Lender Panels