I am buying a property for cash in Maryland. I have been residing for the last 20 years in Maryland. Conveyancing searches are exorbitant. Given that I know the area and road very well must I have all the conveyancing searches?

If you not getting a home loan, then all but one or two of the Maryland conveyancing searches are optional. Your solicitor will try and sway you, perhaps strongly, that you should have searches done, but he is duty bound to take that path of guidance. One thing to consider; if you are likely to dispose of the house in the future, it will be of relevance to your future purchaser what the searches determine. Sometimes houses with no practical issues can still reveal unexpected search results. A competent conveyancing solicitor in Maryland should be able to give you some constructive advice in this regard.

As someone unfamiliar with the Maryland conveyancing process what’s the number one tip you can give me concerning the legal transfer of property in Maryland

You may not hear this from too many lawyers but conveyancing in Maryland or throughout London is an adversarial experience. In other words, when it comes to conveyancing there is an abundance of opportunity for confrontation between you and other parties involved in the legal transfer of property. For example, the seller, estate agent and on occasion the bank. Choosing a solicitor for your conveyancing in Maryland is a critical decision as your conveyancer is your adviser, and is the ONE person in the process whose responsibility is to look after your best interests and to keep you safe.

Every so often a potential adversary will try and persuade you that you should follow their advice. As an example, the property agent may claim to be helping by claiming that your lawyer is slow. Or your mortgage broker may tell you to do take action that is contrary to your lawyers recommendation. You should always trust your lawyer above all other parties in the conveyancing process.

My brother-in-law has suggested I instruct a conveyancing solicitor in Maryland. I need to find out if they are accepted on the Skipton Building Society approved list of lawyers. Could you assist?

You should call your lawyer and enquire whether they can act for the bank. Otherwise you can call Skipton Building Society who may be able to assist.

I have been told that property searches are a common cause of stalling in Maryland conveyancing transactions. Is there any truth in this?

The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) has noted the determinations of a review by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not feature amongst the common causes of hindrances in the conveyancing process. Local searches are not likely to be the root cause of delay in conveyancing in Maryland.

Me and my brother own a semi-detached Edwardian house in Maryland. Conveyancing lawyer acted for me and Nottingham Building Society. I did a free Land Registry search last week and there are a couple of entries: the first freehold, another for leasehold with the matching address. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?

You need to assess the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Maryland and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they remortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with mortgage companies. You can also question the situation with your conveyancing practitioner who conducted the purchase.