You’ll Be Hearing From My Solicitor!
Okay, so that heading was a shameless ploy to get your attention. It’s a line beloved of dramatists when, usually rather over-starched, people get themselves into some kind of difficulty. But, in the same way as a dog isn’t just for Christmas, solicitors aren’t just for the bad things in life. You don’t need to be involved in a court case in order to need one.
Safe as Houses
Property is an area where solicitors often come into our lives. Most of us will encounter a solicitor when buying or selling a house as they handle the conveyancing process. This is the transfer of the legal title of the property from one person to another and the filing of all the paperwork associated with it.
The conveyancing process usually takes several weeks though the exact time can vary depending on a number of legal, personal and financial issues. The sale contract isn’t legally binding until contracts are exchanged.
Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way
The other area where solicitors come into people’s lives is wills and inheritances. It’s possible of course to write your own will, but solicitors have the experience to write it in such a way that you ensure your wishes are carried out. Solicitors can also help with the administration of your estate when you pass away and planning for inheritance tax. They can also store your will safely for you so that your relatives know where to find it.
Business Management
If you run a business then you’ll probably need to be involved with a solicitor for that too. Again they can help with property transactions, although a solicitor can also make sure you’re on the right track with other contracts too.
You may require help drawing up shareholder agreements or partnerships for example. Or you may need to draw up contracts for mergers or buy outs. If you’re buying a franchise or carrying out some form of intellectual property transaction then you’ll probably need a solicitor to help you with that too.
Using a solicitor to help you draw up employment contracts can ensure that you avoid disputes later. Getting the legal issues right is particularly important when it comes to things like redundancies and dismissals. Getting the advice of an employment lawyer early in the process helps ensure there won’t be problems in future.
Finding a Solicitor
When it comes to finding a reputable firm of solicitors, try to find one that specialises in the area of law that you need. The Law Society’s website lets you search for local solicitors and the areas they specialise in.
It’s important to find out about the fees that will be charged before you approach a solicitor. Many firms will offer a free or low-cost initial interview to allow them to find out your requirements and help you to decide if you want them to work for you.
It’s important to be clear when briefing your solicitor and to keep copies of all relevant paperwork. If you need to send documents through the post, make sure you use a secure method like recorded delivery to ensure that they arrive safely.
Whatever you need a solicitor for; you should be able to find a firm in your locality. There’s nothing to stop you shopping around a few different firms to ensure you find one that you’re comfortable working with and that is able to meet your needs.
Paula Whately is a writer who understands that a solicitor can be an important person to seek help from in many situations. If you are looking for reputable solicitors, Camberley experts can guide you in finding one which suits your personality and needs
