is seller required to go to solicitors office to sign contract?

brzone

Hi

I am selling a property and it is close to an end.
Solicitor has requested me to come to his office to sign the deed.

When I was purchasing I was never required to do so.
And the solicitor has requested to visit several times already - its 2 - 3 hours away and they keep me waiting for hours.

They said the witness needs to be made and if I am not coming they will have to bring a solicitor to witness for me.

Is it normal? I somehow think this is just to take money out of my pocket by adding hourly rate.

LittleMax

When we sold recently we used an online conveyancer and all documents that needed signing were posted out to us to sign and have witnessed (my colleague at work witnessed my signature).

The first property we bought ISTR we went to the conveyancer's office because it was local, but he fetched his secretary in to witness our signing. So as far as I can tell witness does not have to be a solicitor.

G_M

No. Though a solicitor does have to check the identity of their client, which usually requires a single visit with ID documents.

This can be done for around £5 however by another (local to you) solicitor who would inform the conveyancing solicitor.

Signing the contract can be done at home (in front of your chosen witness) and then posted back (provided the ID check above has been under-taken).

Multiple visits? Why?

Personally I prefer to use a local solicitor so that if I want I can go in and get explanations of things/discuss issues etc, or just drop off documents quickly, but that is different to the solictor requiring I attend.

ThePants999

I live in London, and used a solicitor in Middlesbrough. Suffice to say I never visited their office! ID check was by sending in my passport, contract was by posting it to me, getting me to sign it with a witness, posting it back.

dgtazzman

ThePants999 wrote: »

I live in London, and used a solicitor in Middlesbrough. Suffice to say I never visited their office! ID check was by sending in my passport, contract was by posting it to me, getting me to sign it with a witness, posting it back.

You can also give your sols power of attorney to sign any documents relating to the sale. Will cost a fee, mine charged me 100 pounds for it. Question of signing a form after you have done the initial ID checks and sending it back to them.

SmlSave

There is no need to actually visit the office to sign the documents.

Witnesses have to be adults, not family or involved in the transaction.

Most firms have a standard letter when sending the Contract and Transfer Deed to clients in the post by signed delivery normally.

I'd ring your solicitor tomorrow and say that if it's just signatures they need then they can post the docs.

P.s. think about it. We often deal with clients whom live abroad. The documents get emailed to them, they print, sign and FedEx them back as legally 'wet signatures' are required by law.

TBagpuss

It's not usual, and if you have already met with the solicitor they should have done all necessary ID checks already.

A witness doesn't need to be a solicitor, it can be anyone over 18 who is unrelated to you or the other party.

I'd suggest that you ask your conveyancer to e-mail you specifically explaining exactly why they are saying they cannot post the documents to you, and what the legal need for you to travel to their office is.

Vohamanah

The contract doesn't need to be witnessed anyway.

TR1 does, but there's no requirement for it to be witnessed by a solicitor, it should just be someone unconnected to the transaction (not a relative etc).

onlyroz

When we sold my husband's flat the solicitor asked to see him because I'd been dealing with the sale but he was the owner. I think he wanted reassurance that we weren't doing something dodgy. I don't think you *have* to see them in person though.

Kynthia

We got the midwife to witness my OH's signature as I was in labour when he got the contract in the post. 😄