Lawyer Checker is a tool which is becoming more commonly used by solicitors to help prevent fraud. There have been cases where fake solicitor firms have been set up, seeking to steal client money during conveyancing transactions.
Lawyer checker is a way of EHL verifying the other firm’s financial details such as the sort code, account number and post code. This allows a check to be undertaken against the solicitor firm next up the chain and their bank account which will then return either a “frequent result” or “infrequent result”.
A “frequent” result indicates that this particular solicitor’s bank account is known and trusted. An “infrequent” result will trigger further investigations – it may be a firm that does not typically conduct conveyancing services, or may be a new bank account. If there is any cause for concern at this stage this will be discussed with the client.
The Solicitors Regulatory Authority recommends that Lawyer Checker be used in all conveyancing transactions, and provides a valuable protection for clients sending large amounts of money. At EHL we include this cost within all conveyancing fee quotes (it shows as a separate item on the quote) so that you can be confident that your funds are going to a safe recipient.
If you are purchasing a property check that the solicitors firm you are using undertakes a Lawyer Checker search before completion as it is better to be safe than sorry.
The information provided in all of our blogs reflects only a narrative of some elements to consider on the topic. The blogs do not contain considered legal advice and should not be relied upon as advice. Please see our website terms and conditions for full details of our disclaimer. If you are interested in obtaining advice, please contact one of our lawyers who will be happy and able to advise you on your own particular circumstances.
The National Minimum Wage (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2024 will come into effect on 01 April 2024. This amendments will be the largest increase to the minimum wage.But what does this mean for employees who currently earn minimum wage in England and Wales?
‘Probate’ is the legal process in which a deceased persons estate is administered. This process is also known as Estate Administration, but usually requires a Grant of Probate, which is where the name ‘Probate’ arises from. This article tells you you more about the process.
It is often said buying a house can be a stressful event. 2021 sees that potentially compounded with buyers...