Witness to TR1 form

Bigphil1474

What about their doctors or opticians, chemists, local newsagent, milkman etc. They should have at least one of them who they know well enough?

user1977

AskAsk said:

user1977 said:

Anybody can witness (assuming adults and not on the other side of the transaction), they can be people who have only just been introduced to you. What about their solicitors? Or the estate agents?

as said above, it states no one related to the transaction, so not the solicitors or estate agent.  i guess you could pay another solicitor to witness the signature.

Nonsense, it's perfectly normal for solicitors to witness their own clients' deeds (unless there's actually a conflict i.e. a Will appointing the solicitor as executor). If you don't believe me, suggest to your in-laws that they ask their solicitor.

Flugelhorn

AskAsk said:

Flugelhorn said:

Most solicitors get their receptionist to witness then signing 

my in-laws are up north, we are down south.  we are hundreds of miles from them, which is why they are moving down here.  we have instructed our local solicitors, with whom we have a relationship and who provides prompt service at reasonable price.  so the receptionist is a no go.  i was thinking the estate agent up there but that may be considered "connected".

estate agents  aren't connected and they may well be quite happy to help to get this moving along.  

EssexHebridean

AskAsk said:

user1977 said:

Anybody can witness (assuming adults and not on the other side of the transaction), they can be people who have only just been introduced to you. What about their solicitors? Or the estate agents?

as said above, it states no one related to the transaction, so not the solicitors or estate agent.  i guess you could pay another solicitor to witness the signature.

Many "other solicitors" won't witness a TR1 if they are not acting on the transaction. The reason for this is that there can be a presumption that advice has been given - call it a professional reluctance if you will. 

The stipulation usually give for witnessing a document is that "the witness should be a person of 18 years old or above, not related to the person who's signature they are witnessing". This rules out family members, or any party to the sale. Anyone else who has their marbles and can hold a pen is pretty much fair game though. 

The EA could well be worth an ask.