Solicitor / Conveyancer help.

MuddyFunster2

My Wife and I are splitting, amicably, and our house (our first) is currently for sale. 

I don't have any kind of legal types involved yet, and I'm clueless. 

We're selling, and both buying a place of our own. It's a bit complex as in we've got about £100k equity, half is going to settle debts, the rest split (almost) evenly as a deposit for the new places. Mortgage AIP are all sorted. 

Can we use the same Solicitor to sell, and buy, for both of us? I'm trying to make it as seamless, and cost effective as possible. 

Also, any recommendations?  We're based in Cardiff and looking for fast and cheap, or as close to as is practical. 

Thanks,

Brie

My opinion only of course but I'd say definitely when buying your new places as they are separate transactions it doesn't matter if you use the same solicitor.  They are separate transactions and so will both have bills to be paid.

Selling it's likely to be best to have only 1 solicitor as it will save confusion and delays as well as costs.  

But I would suggest there must be 2 separate solicitors, possibly including having different firms, to deal with the divorce so that there is one each looking out for your best interests.  

Not in that area so can't help on the practical side.

Albermarle

I would have thought having one conveyancing solicitor should be fine.

However normally when divorcing, it is better to have an agreed split of all assets, which can then be made a legal document. 
The house is usually just one asset amongst others, like pensions for example.

I know the temptation is to sell the house and sort out any other things later, especially if the split is amicable.
However it is not unheard of for disputes to arise years down the line, especially if new partners are around.
People claiming they were hard done by etc

A legal agreement stops any future problems. 

saajan_12

MuddyFunster2 said:

My Wife and I are splitting, amicably, and our house (our first) is currently for sale. 

I don't have any kind of legal types involved yet, and I'm clueless. 

We're selling, and both buying a place of our own. It's a bit complex as in we've got about £100k equity, half is going to settle debts, the rest split (almost) evenly as a deposit for the new places. Mortgage AIP are all sorted. 

Can we use the same Solicitor to sell, and buy, for both of us? I'm trying to make it as seamless, and cost effective as possible. 

Also, any recommendations?  We're based in Cardiff and looking for fast and cheap, or as close to as is practical. 

Thanks,

If you're going in with clear instructions on what you both want to do with the sale proceeds (what % gets paid to who) and the solicitor isn't mediating that or providing advice, then its fine. 

One solicitor for the sale will be almost essential, as they mostly have to answer the buyer's questions, so two people will be nigh on impossible. The two purchases are largely separate to eachother and the sale, other than tying in the dates and transferring money. There's no advice that really affects another transaction.