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House Buying - who to use as witness for signing the contracts?

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Comments

  • LadyGMadameToThee
    LadyGMadameToThee Posts: 55 Forumite
    edited 27 May 2017 at 1:18AM
    What a strange and bizarre situation. I thought the solicitors took care of this anyway? Why would anyone want their colleagues, neighbours or friends to know the financial details of these kinds of transactions? Is NoTHnG kept private anymore?
    :DLady G:eek::mad::rotfl:


    Life is too short to be serious all of the time. So, if you can't laugh at yourself, call me - and I'll laugh at you!:money::money:
  • Cliveman_Pieman
    Cliveman_Pieman Posts: 85 Forumite
    LadyGMadameToThee wrote: »
    What a strange and bizarre situation. I thought the solicitors took care of this anyway? Why would anyone want their colleagues, neighbours or friends to know the financial details of these kinds of transactions? Is NoTHnG kept private anymore?

    The witness wouldn't have a clue about the financial details, unless you told them. They watch you sign a piece of paper, they don't audit the contract.
  • Mardle
    Mardle Posts: 518 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper
    We asked the Postie. She was a regular on the round so knew us by name and was happy to witness our signatures.
  • seven-day-weekend
    seven-day-weekend Posts: 36,755 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 27 May 2017 at 8:24AM
    I agree that I don't see the problem. We have just asked people who are 'handy', like neighbours or colleagues, or on one occasion, our lodger.

    They don't need to know anything about the document. All they are putting their name to is to say, 'I saw Mr/s X sign this document '.

    What do they think they will be 'taking responsibility' for?
    (AKA HRH_MUngo)
    Member #10 of £2 savers club
    Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology: Terry Eagleton
  • Davesnave
    Davesnave Posts: 34,741 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    It's possible the OP hasn't explained the situation in a way that reassures others they're not becoming some kind of guarantor.
  • seven-day-weekend
    seven-day-weekend Posts: 36,755 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Davesnave wrote: »
    It's possible the OP hasn't explained the situation in a way that reassures others they're not becoming some kind of guarantor.
    Yes, I wondered that too. Or whether they thought they were witnessing that all the details were correct, or something like that.

    I repeat, it is ONLY witnessing that they saw you sign the document.
    (AKA HRH_MUngo)
    Member #10 of £2 savers club
    Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology: Terry Eagleton
  • agrinnall
    agrinnall Posts: 23,344 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I hate to think what'll happen if the OP wants to apply for a first passport!
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