All solicitors’ firms are subject to strict legal obligations under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. These laws are designed to detect and prevent financial crime, including tax evasion and benefit fraud. As a result, we are required to verify the identity and residential address of all clients before we can act. We typically use an online identity verification service, which accesses data held by recognised credit reference agencies. This process often enhances security and may remove the need for certified copies of documents such as passports. A fee is payable for each individual verification and will be shown on your invoice; details of this administrative fee are confirmed in your Estimate of Fees.

If you are an existing client and we have already verified your identity and address, further checks may not be required.

All identification checks must be completed at the outset of the transaction. Until these checks are satisfactorily completed, we are unable to carry out any substantive work on your matter. In some cases, we may still need to inspect original documentation. This may include a valid passport and/or photocard driving licence, together with at least two additional documents such as recent utility bills, credit card statements, or mortgage statements (dated within the last three months). We will notify you if this is required.

Payment of Funds

In line with our internal policies, we are only able to accept cash payments up to £250.00. All other funds must be transferred to us via electronic bank transfer. Building society cheques, banker’s drafts, and personal cheques may be accepted, provided sufficient time is allowed for clearance.

Source of Funds and Termination

We are also legally required to establish the source of any funds used in, or arising from, your transaction. This may involve asking you questions about your financial arrangements. If a client or third party refuses to provide the required information, we reserve the right to terminate our engagement. In such circumstances, you will remain liable for all fees and expenses incurred up to the date of termination.

Reporting Obligations

If we know or suspect that our services are being used for money laundering purposes (including the movement of proceeds of criminal activity through our client account), we are legally required to make a report to the National Crime Agency (NCA). The NCA may share this information with other authorities, such as HM Revenue & Customs, and an investigation may take place at any time.

To the extent necessary to comply with these legal obligations, you agree to waive confidentiality and privilege rights with us. We are prohibited by law from informing you if a report has been made, and once a report is submitted, we may be unable to continue acting or communicate further until clearance is received from the NCA. This process can take up to 36 days, and permission to proceed may ultimately be refused. Such circumstances may delay or prevent completion of your transaction and could result in the loss of a property, deposit, or exposure to contractual penalties, as well as potential criminal investigation.

Important Advisory Notice

If you have any concerns about irregularities in your financial position, we strongly recommend that you seek independent specialist advice (such as from an accountant or welfare benefits adviser) to resolve those issues before instructing us. Please note that accountants are also subject to similar legal reporting obligations.