Never met solicitor - about to Exchange

w00519772

I will be exchanging contracts very soon. I still do not have an official date. All my conversations with the solicitor so far were through telephone or email. I have to transfer 10% of the value of the property to the solicitors holding account as a deposit.

I do not know the solicitor and he does not have a website (NBLaw: http://www.yell.com/biz/nb-law-lincoln-5918851/). The company is not registered at Companies house so it must not be: Limited.

The solicitor is on the Post Offices' panel though. My question is: should I ask to meet him first at his office? Should I ask him to witness me signing the contract?

Am I perhaps being overcautious?

Nick_C

I think you are being over cautious. He is listed with the Law Society and is SRA regulated.

http://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/office/470529/nb-law

It looks like a very small practice, and I expect he keeps costs down by operating by phone and e-mail.

I sold my last property through an on line solicitor, whom I never met. It went through fine.

davidmcn

w00519772 wrote: »

I do not know the solicitor and he does not have a website (NBLaw: http://www.yell.com/biz/nb-law-lincoln-5918851/). The company is not registered at Companies house so it must not be: Limited.

No, because most law firms aren't limited companies. They are all registered with the Law Society though.

Am I perhaps being overcautious?

Probably, given that the firm is on your lender's panel (so they've already checked them out), and the vendor's solicitors ought also to have checked that they're dealing with a bona fide solicitor. Ask to meet him if you like though.

browneyedbazzi

As above, very few solicitors will be limited companies -many firms are limited liability partnerships (which gives their personal assets some protection - which is what the 'Limited' means- but doesn't require the same audited accounts etc as being a Ltd company) and small (one man bands) can simply be sole traders. That is perfectly normal for the sector and nothing to be concerned about.

bris

You don't need to meet your solicitor, just knowing he is legit is enough to offer you full protection.

agrinnall

What was your basis for choosing the solicitor in the first place if you are now concerned that you've never met him? Why didn't you arrange a meeting before deciding to go with him if it's that much of an issue for you?

Yorkie1

w00519772 wrote: »

Am I perhaps being overcautious?

OP, you've been over-cautious and worried yourself to the point of paranoia in many of your threads through your house-buying process.

The others are right. You are being over-cautious (understatement of the year) again.

G_M

Yes you are being over-cautious - but surely the time for caution, and a meeting, was before you instructed him........

No he does not need to witness you signing the contract.

Kynthia

My solicitor is a small local firm and we were called in for a meeting once we were ready to exchange contracts. He then explained all of the searches, discussed anything we had concerns about, had us sign the contracts and then gave us our copy of all the paperwork. Perhaps your solicitor is going to do this, and if not then ask for a meeting if you'd like one.