I am in the process of refinancing my flat in Morpeth, does my lawyer need to be on the Aldermore Solicitor panel?

There is nothing to stop you using your solicitor, but Aldermore will insist on their interests being represented by a firm on their conveyancing panel. There is much more potential for delays and confusion with an additional lawyer added to the mix, and it will undoubtedly be more expensive too.

I know that there are debates on Chancel Insurance on online forums. Am I compelled to take this when purchasing a residence in Morpeth? or I am told that there is a law dating back centuries that could mean that house owners living in a parish church boundary may be liable to pay for repairs to the chancel within the church. Is this applicable for conveyancing in Morpeth?

Unless a prior acquisition of the property took place after 12 October 2013 you may expect lawyers delivering conveyancing in Morpeth to remain recommending a chancel search and or chancel repair liability policy.

I used Arc property Solicitors several years ago for my conveyancing in Morpeth. I now require my file but the law firm is no longer operating. 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 Morpeth 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.

I was pointed in your direction by numerous estate agents in Morpeth to choose a property lawyer on your site. What’s the financial advantage for Estate Agents to recommend your services rather than alternative conveyancing organisations?

We don’t give any financial incentive for directing people to this site. We thought it would be too underhand to pay a commission as home movers will think, ‘How come the agent getting a kickback? Why am I not receiving any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.

I have noted on numerous online forums that before selecting a conveyancing firm they need approved by your bank. It happens to be my first house move but I have an AIP with Birmingham Midhshires and I already have a bricks and morter conveyancing lawyer in Morpeth in place. Will Santander insist on an approved conveyancer to be selected? Does a list of panel conveyancers even exist so I can appoint a conveyancing lawyer in Morpeth?

You need to instruct a solicitor that is on the Santander panel. Simply ring your chosen Morpeth conveyancing lawyer to check if they are on the Santander panel. If they are not on the panel you have numerous options available to you here:

• Carry on with your preferred Morpeth conveyancing practitioner but Santander will need to instruct a conveyancing practitioner on their approved list. The net result is additional fees and probable frustration.
• Appoint a fresh solicitor to conduct the conveyancing, making sure they are on the Santander conveyancing panel.
• Convince your property lawyer to pull out all the stops to get listed on the Santander panel of solicitors.