Does a conveyancing solicitor have to be local?

A conveyancing solicitor is responsible for representing a buyer or seller during a property transaction and ensuring that their interests are protected.

Does a conveyancing solicitor need to be local?

There is no requirement in the modern world for a purchaser or vendor to hire a local solicitor with phone calls, emails and Zoom meetings ensuring that the transfer of ownership could be progressed by a solicitor based a considerable distance away from their client.

Working with a local solicitor brings a number of important advantages, however, and so remains the preferred option for many people.

Is it better to use a local solicitor for conveyancing?

A local solicitor can bring several benefits to the conveyancing process.

These include:

Personal touch

A lot of people find moving house a challenging experience but it can ease the strain if you have a warm and friendly relationship with your conveyancing solicitor – something which is usually easier to establish in a face-to-face meeting.

Peace of mind

There are many reasons a client may need to check up with their solicitor during the conveyancing process and it can be reassuring to know that you can call in for a personal chat rather than having to rely on the phone or email.

Local knowledge

A crucial advantage of using a local solicitor is that they are likely to have built up a wealth of useful information and contacts over the years. This can be used to enable the transaction to proceed as smoothly and speedily as possible.

Security

While the majority of housing transactions conducted remotely proceed without any security problems there have been instances of online fraud – for example, house buyers unwittingly paying the funds for their deposit into a bank account set up by criminals. Such scams are generally less likely to occur when arrangements are made in person.

How can Wilson Browne help with my conveyancing?

Wilson Browne has one of the largest conveyancing teams in the East Midlands with offices in Corby, Higham Ferrers and Rushden, Kettering, Leicester, Northampton and Wellingborough.

This network provides us with a comprehensive understanding of the local housing market enabling us to identify and avoid potential problems.

Our pricing structure is totally transparent with no hidden extras while we also belong to Lender Exchange which helps facilitate swift, cost-effective and secure financial transactions.

We have strong relationships with local lenders, surveyors, housing associations and fellow conveyancers enabling us to ensure things run smoothly.

Independent reviews consistently rate our service highly while our membership of the Lexcel and CQS quality assurance schemes reflects our commitment to the highest standards of professionalism.

Our all-round legal expertise also enables us to address any additional issues that arise during conveyancing (e.g. ownership disputes) and provide other services – such as drafting wills – that clients may require while completing a move.

For more information on how Wilson Browne can help you please call 0800 088 6004 or complete our online contact form.