Frequently asked questions relating to the Scottish Widows Solicitor Panel from members of the public
My IFA has asked me for my solicitor’s panel member for the Scottish Widows conveyancing panel. Can you suggest how I discover this. I have called my local Scottish Widows office but they don't know it.
the sensible thing to do is ask for this information from your solicitor. A law firm is likely to keep a file or database of lender panel information which would include, if applicable their conveyancing panel details for Scottish Widows.
Expecting to complete my purchase next Thursday. My conveyancing lawyer has asked me to provide him with a copy of the building insurance for the house as he says that he has to check this in has capacity as lawyer for Scottish Widows. What does the insurance need to cover?
All property lawyers 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.
Having used your search tool I can't find the lawyer I was hoping to instruct as being on the Scottish Widows conveyancing panel. My lawyer has said that they are on the Scottish Widows approved panel. How can I be sure given that they are not listed on your directory?
Not all firms are yet listed on our lender panel search tool which is still relatively new. Law firms are listing on a daily basis and it is probably the case that your lawyer is on the Scottish Widows conveyancing lawyer and you should probably take them at their word. Please do feel free to suggest that they completing their listing on our site as it would only cost them £1 a month to list themselves as being on the Scottish Widows solicitor panel.
We're in Wales, FTBs purchasing with a mortgage (lender is Scottish Widows , but our lawyer is on the Scottish Widows conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?
The fact that your lawyer is on the Scottish Widows conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no conveyancer should guarantee a time-frame for your conveyancing due to third parties outside of our control such as delays caused by lenders,conveyancing search providers or by the other side’s solicitors. The time taken is often determined by the number of parties in a chain
Is there a list of Scottish Widows panel solicitors on the Council of Mortgage Lender’s Website?
No. There is no such tool on the Council of Mortgage Lenders or Building Society Association websites. Very few lenders make their panel listings available online.
Is it the case that all solicitor firms on the Scottish Widows conveyancing panel regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority?
As solicitors, in order to be on the Scottish Widows conveyancing panel they would need to be regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. Many lenders do allow licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such firms would be regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).
Scottish Widows have agreed my mortgage in principle, my offer on house has been accepted, now what?
The estate agent will want to know who your solicitors are (make sure these solicitors are on the lenders panel). Call up Scottish Widows or your broker and complete any relevant paperwork. Scottish Widows will tell you what documents they want. Scottish Widows will instruct a valuer. The valuer will get in touch with the estate agent or seller to book an appointment. Once conducted (assuming no problems) it takes about week to get a mortgage offer. Scottish Widows will issue the offer to you and your lawyer. The transaction will then take it’s course according the nature and complexity of the conveyancing.
