We are buying a brand new duplex in Blandford Forum and my solicitor is telling me that she has to the lender to reveal incentives from the seller. I am under pressure to exchange contracts and I have no desire to delay the conveyancing. Is my lawyer right?

You should not exchange unless you have been advised to do so by your lawyer. A precondition to being on a mortgage company panel is to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook specifications. The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.

Do lenders provide you with an approved list of Blandford Forum conveyancing solicitors? How do you know who is on the RBS conveyancing panel?

Blandford Forum conveyancing firms themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the RBS conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from RBS directly.

I have a decision in principle. The lender mentioned the loan came with free conveyancing. Is the implication that I have to appoint their panel lawyer as I would much rather instruct a local conveyancing solicitor in Blandford Forum?

You should check but the chances are that give you one of their panel solicitors should you accept the "fee-free" offer. Call the lender and see if they offer you a monetary alternative. In the past a few lenders offered a £250 cashback as an alternative in which case that money can go towards your preferred conveyancing solicitor in Blandford Forum.

The estate agent has sent us the confirmation of our purchase of a new build apartment in Blandford Forum. Conveyancing is necessary evil at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build legal work.

Set out below is a sample of a selection of leasehold new build enquiries that you can expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Blandford Forum

Please provide evidence that the form of Lease proposed has been approved by the Land Registry. If there are lifts in the building, please confirm that the owners of flats on the ground and basement floors will not be required to contribute towards the cost of maintenance and renewal. Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified. Forfeiture - bankruptcy or liquidation must not apply under this provision. Has the Lease plan been approved by the Land Registry and if not when will they be lodged for this purpose?

I happen to be an executor of my recently deceased mother’s Will, with a house in Blandford Forum which is to be sold. The house has never been registered at the Land Registry and I'm advised that some EAs will insist that it is completed before they'll proceed. What's the mechanism for this?

In the circumstances that you have set out it seems sensible to apply to register in the names of the personal representative(s) as named in the probate and in their capacity as PRs. The Land Registry’s online guidance explains how to register for the first time and what is required re the deeds and forms. You would need to include and certified copy of the probate as well and complete the form FR1 to refer to the PRs as the applicant.