I am under pressure from the executor of a property in Bourne End to sign contracts within four weeks. What can be done to hasten the conveyancing process?

In a situation where you are under time constraints for your conveyancing it is advisable to make sure that your lawyer is familiar with the location as they will benefit local contacts and insight. It is even conceivable that they may have transacted otherhomes in the same street. You would be best advised to use a Bourne End conveyancing lawyer. Second, make sure that the conveyancing firm is on the member panel. It is claimed that just under twenty per cent of Bourne End conveyancing deals are held up or jeopardised after finding out that a purchaser’s lawyer was not on their mortgage lender’s panel. In many cases this discovery resulted in the conveyancing being delayed by as much as 21 days. It is understood that this issue affects approximately one hundred thousand home moves every year. Almost all Bourne End conveyancing firms can not represent certain lenders so do check as early as possible.

What does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Bourne End? What am I being asked for?

In order to comply with Money Laundering Regulations any Bourne End conveyancing firm will require proof of identity in all conveyancing matters. This is normally satisfied by provision of a passport and an original bank statement or utility account showing where you reside.

In accordance with Money Laundering Regulations, conveyancers are obliged by law to validate not simply the ID of conveyancing clients but also the origin of monies that they receive in respect of any matter. Refusal to disclose this will result in your lawyer cancelling their relationship with you, as clearly this will cause a conflict between the set Regulations and a refusal to disclose.

Your conveyancers are duty bound to notify the relevant authorities should they consider that any amounts received by them may contravene the Money Laundering Regulations.

The Bourne End conveyancing firm that I appointed last week on my purchase in Bourne End have without warning shut down. I only went with them because I had to have a solicitor on the conveyancing panel and my previous Bourne End lawyer was not. I cut them a cheque for £250 in advance. What should be my next steps?

If you have an estate agent involved then let them know immediately so that they advise the vendors that there may be a slight delay due to reasons beyond your control. Most sellers would be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You will need to appoint new lawyers that are on the conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money, it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new solicitors may be able to help.

I used Stirling Law a few years past for my conveyancing in Bourne End. I now require my papers however the law firm has closed. What do I do?

You should call the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracing your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Bourne End of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously retained, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

How does conveyancing in Bourne End differ for newly converted properties?

Most buyers of new build property in Bourne End approach us having been asked by the developer to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the residence is completed. This is because developers in Bourne End tend to purchase the land, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancing solicitors as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are accustomed to new build conveyancing in Bourne End or who has acted in the same development.