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approved by Scottish Widows
Ready to buy a new home? Failing to check that a lawyer is on the Scottish Widows list of approved solicitors can put your transaction at risk of delay or failure.
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How does my firm apply to be on the Scottish Widows Bank plc Conveyancing Panel? How can my firm be reinstated onto the Scottish Widows Bank plc Conveyancing Panel?Find an Approved Solicitor on the Scottish Widows Bank plc Conveyancing Panel
Q and A’s regarding the Scottish Widows Solicitor Panel
Much to my surprise I have been told by my mortgage broker that my lawyer is not on the Scottish Widows Conveyancing panel. How can I be certain that this is indeed the case?
The first thing you need to do is to contact your conveyancer. It is reasonable to expect your lawyer to advise you of the situation. If they are not on the panel they may recommend you to a firm that is on the the approved Scottish Widows solicitor panel.
I am due to move into my new home next Thursday. I have now been asked to send a copy of my building insurance schedule by my solicitor as as he informs me that he is duty bound to validate that it is in order for Scottish Widows. What does the insurance need to cover?
Any lawyer on the Scottish Widows conveyancing panel would need to check that the following risks are covered fire; lightning; aircraft; explosion; earthquake; storm; flood; escape of water or oil; riot; malicious damage; theft or attempted theft; falling trees and branches and aerials; subsidence; heave;landslip;collision;accidental damage to underground services;professional fees, demolition and site clearance costs; and public liability to anyone else. There are some other issues such as the level of excess that are set out in Scottish Widows’s Part 2 requirements of the CML Handbook (last updated on Scottish Widows). Being on the Scottish Widows conveyancing panel your lawyer is expect to follow these instructions.
Are there any apps to help find a local solicitor on the Scottish Widows conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel up to 10 miles to meet the solicitor.
You can use the find a conveyancing panel tool on this page. Please choose the lender and your location and you will see a number of lawyer located nearest you. Alternatively you can type in the name of your proposed law firm and see if they are listed as being on the Scottish Widows solicitor panel.
I am selling my house. Does my solicitor have to be on the Scottish Widows conveyancing panel in order to deal with redeeming my mortgage?
Ordinarily, even if your lawyer is not on the Scottish Widows conveyancing panel they can still act for you on your sale. it might be that the lender will not release the original deeds (if applicable and increasingly irrelevant) until after the mortgage is paid off. You should speak to your lawyer directly before you start the process though to ensure that there is no problem as lenders are changing their requirements fairly frequently at the moment.
Is it the case that all solicitor firms on the Scottish Widows conveyancing panel overseen by the SRA?
As a firm of solicitors, in order to be on the Scottish Widows conveyancing panel they would need to be regulated by the SRA. Many lenders do allow licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such firms would be regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).
We were going to get a DIP from Scottish Widows this week so we know how much we could potentially offer as otherwise we are dependent on web based calculators (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc).Do the Scottish Widows recommend a solicitor on the Scottish Widows conveyancing panel, or is it better to find our own lawyer
You will need to appoint solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the Scottish Widows conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and the Scottish Widows through the process.
Can I register a complaint to Scottish Widows about the lawyers being on the Scottish Widows conveyancing panel?
Complaining to Scottish Widows about their conveyancing panel is unlikely to yield much of a response. Every solicitor firm and conveyancer must have a complaints procedure. You can get information from the solicitor’s or conveyancer’s website or ask at their office. They must tell you about it if you ask.
The Legal Ombudsman will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the solicitor. It can also advise you how to complain.
If a licensed conveyancer does not have a complaints procedure or will not tell you about it, contact the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), which will make sure that your complaint is properly dealt with by the conveyancer. Please see below for more information.
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Transfer of Equity for Scottish WidowsPlease note that Lexsure Ltd is in no way associated with nor affiliated with Lexsure Solicitors