Solicitor wanting photo ID in person

EconomicsGirl

Trying to buy property quickly (due to ideally wanting school places by September and just preferring quick) not selling atm.

Husband took fees to solicitors plus proof of address and his passport, they are saying they will not start without me and my original passport in person. Trouble is we have just sent my passport off for renewal which could take up to 3 weeks. No driving licence. Solicitor can't speak to me until tomorrow, have e-mailed copy of old passport which is still valid. Solicitors is an hour away. Any great ideas on solutions? Thanks. EA just took the photocopy. Passports do seem currently to just be taking a week but no guarantees with that.

G_M

What do you expect us to say?


You are (presumably) a joint owner so he needs tto know

a) you agree to the sale and
b) you are who you say you are


Always advisable to use a local solicitor folks- God I bang on about this often enough!


Ask him what other ID he'll accept, or whether he'll start work on the promise of ID confirmation in a week.

KL0001

Our solicitor wanted to see ID in person. If you’ve not got anything else, you’ll just have to wait.

davidmcn

It's up to the solicitors what they'll accept, so you'll need to ask them.

DigForVictory

Most have a list of acceptable possible documentation - so phone & ask for it.
After all, it is not a requirement to have a passport. Or a driving licence. (Indeed, many places have accepted a Costco card, but I can see a solicitor might not.)
Have patience, a pinch of guile & courage!

sheepy21

My husband had to take an afternoon off just to do the ID bit, it is what it is unfortunately. Can you not get a driving licence sorted?

EconomicsGirl

Thanks. We are buying not selling but yes in joint names.

Solicitor is an hour away and have used her for previous two transactions albeit when she worked for a different firm. She's on holiday back tomorrow. When pushed the assistant after telling husband no solution to this other than wait said to me they may agree to photocopy plus video call but obviously she can't sanction that. I've sent photocopy over anyway and I am hoping they can start and then we can go in once get passport back if needed. Firm is buy husband's work and where we are buying. I went for a local one as its thatched and grade II listed and as I've used her before and she's great.


I don't remember being asked for this before but maybe I've forgotten. Online it suggests some solicitors use an online check with just passport number. I looked at getting provisional licence (have an old one but wrong address and photo 20 years old) but looks like that takes 2 weeks so probably passport will be back then. No other photo ID unfortunately. Hopefully will find solution tomorrow.

eddddy

Once you have your passport, ask your solicitor if they will accept a certified copy of it.

That involves going to a nearby solicitor in person with your passport. The solicitor will check that you're the person in the photo, make a photocopy of the passport, and sign and stamp the copy to say it's a true copy.

Then you post the certified copy to your conveyancing solicitor.

Phone around local solicitors first - as not all will do it. But all the ones I've used only charge £5 per certified copy.

Clutterfree

eddddy wrote: »

Once you have your passport, ask your solicitor if they will accept a certified copy of it.

That involves going to a nearby solicitor in person with your passport. The solicitor will check that you're the person in the photo, make a photocopy of the passport, and sign and stamp the copy to say it's a true copy.

Then you post the certified copy to your conveyancing solicitor.

Phone around local solicitors first - as not all will do it. But all the ones I've used only charge £5 per certified copy.

I was about to suggest this.
I've been an executor to both step parents wills and neither were local.
I went to my local solicitor who certified a copy for me which I then sent on. I was charged £10 but I know when my brother went to his it was only £5.
You'll still have to wait for your passport to be returned but at least it would save you a journey.

EconomicsGirl

Thanks very much. Good news solicitor said she will take 2 address proofs instead and that should be approved as long as they are originals and not online or copies. I offered to take passport in when get in too and she said that would help but she can start work as soon as we get 2 address details to her. Phew.