We're in Oakwood, First timers purchasing with a mortgage (lender is Principality , and our solicitor is on the Principality conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?

The fact that your lawyer is on the Principality conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no conveyancer should guarantee a timeframe for your conveyancing, due to third parties outside of your 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.

The deeds to our house can not be found. The solicitors who dealt with the conveyancing in Oakwood 10 years ago no longer exist. What do I do?

Assuming you have a registered title the details of your proprietorship will be recorded by the Land Registry under a Title Number. It is easy to carry out a search at the Land Registry, locate your house and get up to date copies of the property title for less than a fiver. Where the property is Leasehold then the Land Registry will also normally retain a file duplicate of the Registered Lease and again, a copy can be retrieved for twenty pounds.

I have been on the look out for a ground for flat up to £245,000 and identified one round the corner in Oakwood I like with open areas and station in the vicinity, however it's only got 61 years on the lease. There is not much else in Oakwood for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake acquiring a lease with such few years left?

Should you need a mortgage that many years will likely be problematic. Discount the price by the expected lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the current proprietor has owned the premises for a minimum of 2 years you can ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing solicitor regarding this.

I need to retain a conveyancing solicitor for freehold conveyancing in Oakwood. I've stumble across a site which appears to be the ideal offering If it is possible to get all formalities completed via phone that would be ideal. Should I be concerned? What are the potential pitfalls?

As usual with these online conveyancers you need to read ALL the small print - did you notice the extra charge for dealing with the mortgage?

I am purchasing a house and cash is in place. I have provided solicitor with 2 distinct evidence of photographic ID, bank statement, numerous utility bills. Now he requires a copy from a probate lawyer advising that the funds are legitimate and that it has come from inheritance and not selling fake watches.

For some years now requires conveyancing solicitors as well as banks, building societies and other financial institutes to obtain satisfactory evidence of the identity of the client. This is because solicitors who deal with money and property on behalf of their clients can be used by criminals wishing to launder money. In order to comply with the law of money laundering, your Oakwood conveyancing lawyer will need to obtain evidence of your identity as as well as make sure that your funds are legitimate.