solicitor fees advice

JohnnyBravo30

Hi all,

Im new here so please be gentle!
Just after a bit of advice re solicitor fees for buying a property. My sister and I are now administrators of my parents estate. I currently live in the property with my girlfriend and have decided to buy out my sister and also release some cash from the mortgage to do the place up.

We are about to agree to a mortgage with the Halifax and they have told us we should start to involve solicitors. I've never used a solicitor before so I was hoping somebody could give me some pointers as to what i would need from them? and how much the average cost would be? Also, would my sister need a solicitor or once everything is signed up, could our solicitor just transfer the funds to her?

many thanks to you all in advance :T

Jonathan

G_M

Your solicitor cannot act for your sister - this would be a conflict of interest. She either needs her own solicitor to sell to you, or she will need to DIY the conveyancing.

When looking for a solicitor, consider whether to use a cheaper large firm, perhaps internet based, but bear in mind you may be dealing with a call centre.

A local firm has the advantage you can pop in to see/sign documents easily, or to discuss things you don't understand.

When comparing prices, always look for hidden extras. See here.

DVardysShadow

If you are administrators of the estate, there are 2 choices.

• To transfer the house to the inheritors and the inheritors to sell the property to each other
• For the estate to sell the house and to share the proceeds between the inheritors

Usually it is best to do the first, I believe, but you and your sister need to take legal advice first as administrators of the estate.

Remember in this that you will be wearing 2 hats as yourself and as administrator. This in itself is a conflict of interest for you - you must be clear about which hat you are wearing whenever you do anything - and be very diligent to keep the other administrator fully involved in the sale to yourself.

G_M

Sorry - DV is right.

I believe you should have your own solicior for your purchase and to act for your mortgage lender.

And the 'Estate' (ie you and sister) should have a solicitor to manage the sale.