Documents after completion?

rvts

I called my Solicitor this morning to let him know when he wanted the cheque paying. I also asked if when i payed the check could i have a copy of the contract, just so i have it for future use. My solicitor told me that he doesn't have it, because he gives it to vendor when contracts are exchanged?? He told me that if i need to prove anything in the future, then i could just contact him and he can write me a letter/confimation etc!

I though after completion i would be given a copy of the contract as without that how do i prove i have bought it?

Also going back to my previous post of leasehold/freehold, i contacted my solicitor just to confirm that it was freehold. This was last week when my solicitor was on holiday, his secretary took the call and said that she would check the contract and let m know. She called me back to confirm that it was freehold! But this was after exchange, so if what my solicitor is saying is true, then how could the secretary have checked contract (did she just guess?!!!)

Thanks for any help

distilled

Its quite sad that you feel the need to ask these questions on here. At the end of your purchase, your sol is going to present you with a large bill so make him work for it!

Too many purchasers seem afraid to ask their sol for answers to questions and far too many sols don't explain the buying process to their clients.

Just to set your mind at rest, your purchase is recorded at HM Land Registry and your name will be on the deeds to the property, this is your proof of purchase.

Good Luck!

safesound

I totally agree with distilled. I badgered heck out of my sol when buying my house, so much so that her secretary stopped putting me through (I know this because my boyf *always* got through or a call back whereas after a certain point I *never* did.)
To be fair she performed brilliantly though, everything went through first time, she didnt drag her feet at any point, and there were no problems at all. We were even registered with the land registry within a week or so.
Call them, be persistant, and ask anything and everything, after all they are the expert.

Ellie2005

The contract is not proof of purchase, as previously said you will get Official Copies from the Land Registry once the property has been registered in your name.
There are two contracts one that you have signed and one that the seller has signed. Until the contracts are exchanged the buyer and seller are no bound to go through with the transaction. exchange is basically where the solicitors swap the signed contracts so your solicitor will now have a contract in his file signed by the seller.
the secretary could have either looked at this or the Official Copies or other docs on the file.

If you don't understand any of the process I'm sure your solicitor or secretary will explain it to you so just ask.

Bossyboots

It is the transfer document that is lodged with the Land Registry which proves the purchase and thus invokes the change of ownership on the register.