Client First Conveyancing & Property Litigation

We provide a wide range of property legal services to commercial and private clients in England and Wales. Our focus is ensuring efficient communication between both ourselves and our clients.

We believe that by putting you at the heart of everything we do, we can solve your problems, meet your goals and provide you with the best advice.

Client First Conveyancing & Property Litigation

Formerly known as Paragon Legals…

We provide a wide range of property legal services to commercial and private clients in UK. We are highly committed to the delivery of first class service.

We believe that by putting you at the heart of everything we do, we can solve your problems, meet your goals and provide you with the best advice.

Your property legal issues are our business.

Our experienced team offer expert advice on all

property transactions ranging in complexity.

Our services include:

Residential Conveyancing

Including the sale or purchase of freehold and leasehold properties. We understand how time-consuming and frustrating it can be to buy or sell a property, which is why we aim to make the process as streamline and hassle-free as possible with our professional conveyancing services.

Purchase Conveyancing Process and Timescales

STEP ONE – INSTRUCTION

Before we can commence any legal work, we must receive full instructions and satisfactory identification for each buyer and payment on account. We will send you the initial Client Care documentation to complete, sign and return to confirm we will represent you in your purchase, along with a link to complete your online ID verification and payment details for the initial payment on account. Part of the initial documentation is to provide your source of funds details; to comply with AML regulations we must have satisfactory evidence of how you are funding the purchase. It is important these forms are completed accurately and return with along with any supporting documentation within a timely manner to avoid any delays with the legal work.

STEP TWO – REPORTING

The seller’s conveyancer will prepare and send to us a draft Contract Pack. This pack will contain the property title documents, property information form, fixtures and fittings form, energy performance certificate, evidence of the seller’s ownership of the property and right to sell, along with any additional documents specific for the property such as warranties and guarantees. Your designated property lawyer will conduct a full review of the documentation and property title and issue a full report to you detailing the information; this is known as a Title Report or Report on Title.

Upon receiving the draft contract pack we will order the property searches; Local Authority, Water and Drainage and Environmental as standard, along with any additional searches required for your property such as mining. The search results may take 2-3 weeks to be returned to us and upon receipt your property lawyer will conduct a full review and issue a report to you detailing the information; this is known as a Search Report.

If you are purchasing with a mortgage, we will receive a copy of your mortgage offer from the lender. Your property lawyer will review the details of the offer and issue a full report to you outlining the facts; this is known as a Mortgage Report.

STEP THREE – ENQUIRIES

Upon reviewing the draft contract pack, your property lawyer will raise enquiries with the seller’s conveyancer to provide further information; they will also put forward any enquiries you may have in relation to the property.

Upon reviewing the search results, it may be necessary to raise additional enquires with the seller’s conveyancer.

The seller’s conveyancer will respond with replies to our enquiries; it is possible that to provide a satisfactory response they must consult with the seller which may take time. If the replies are not satisfactory, we will communicate with them until all enquiries are satisfied and there is nothing further, we or you wish to raise.

STEP FOUR – SIGNING OF DOCUMENTATION AND DEPOSIT PAYMENT

Once all enquiries are satisfied, we will send the necessary paperwork to you for signature. This will include the contract, transfer Deed and if you are obtaining a mortgage, the mortgage Deed. These are legal documents which must be signed correctly and returned to us in readiness for exchange and completion.

We will require the property deposit to be transferred to us (usually 10% of the purchase price) along with our costs prior to the exchange of contracts. Your property lawyer will issue a draft completion statement showing the amount required from yourself. The completion statement will show a breakdown of all our costs, the purchase costs and if you are obtaining a mortgage, any funds due in from the lender.

STEP FIVE – EXCHANGE

Once we are in receipt of your signed documentation and funds, a completion date will have been discussed with yourself and agreed with the seller’s conveyancer. We will exchange contracts with the seller’s conveyancer to make the transaction legally binding to complete on the agreed date. Although it is possible to exchange and complete simultaneously, there is usually an average of 5 days between exchange and completion taking place.

STEP SIX – COMPLETE

On the day of completion, we will send the full funds to the seller’s conveyancers. If you are obtaining a mortgage, the advance along with any funds outstanding from yourself will have been obtained prior to the day of completion.

The seller’s solicitor will confirm receipt of the funds and advise that completion has taken place. We will inform you of the same and you will now be able to collect the keys to your new property.

STEP SEVEN – POST COMPLETION

After completion, we will complete any necessary tax returns to HMRC or WRA and register the property in your name with HM Land Registry. This process can take several months to complete. Once we receive the updated title documents listing you as the new owner, we will forward these onto you. If you purchased with a mortgage, we would also send a copy onto your lender as this will show their registered charge over the property.

 

The average timescale for a freehold conveyance is 12 weeks.

The average timescale for a leasehold comveyance is 16 weeks.

Sale Conveyancing Process and Timescales

STEP ONE – INSTRUCTION

Before we can commence any legal work, we must receive full instructions and satisfactory identification for each seller and payment on account. We will send you the initial Client Care documentation to complete, sign and return to confirm we will represent you in your sale, along with a link to complete your online ID verification and payment details for the initial payment on account. It is important these forms are completed accurately and return with along with any supporting documentation within a timely manner to avoid any delays with the legal work.

STEP TWO – REPORTING

We will draft the contract pack and issue this to the buyer’s conveyancer. This pack will contain the property title documents, property information form, fixtures and fittings form, energy performance certificate, evidence of your ownership of the property and right to sell, along with any additional documents specific for the property such as warranties and guarantees. If the property is leasehold there will be additional documents required and third parties to correspond with. The buyer’s conveyancer will conduct a full review of the documentation and property title and issue a full report to the buyer detailing the information; this is known as a Title Report or Report on Title.

Upon receiving the draft contract pack they will order the property searches; Local Authority, Water and Drainage and Environmental as standard, along with any additional searches required for the property such as mining. The search results may take 2-3 weeks to be returned to them and upon receipt the buyer’s conveyancer will conduct a full review and issue a report to the buyer detailing the information; this is known as a Search Report.

If the buyers are purchasing with a mortgage, their conveyancer will receive a copy of their mortgage offer from the lender. The conveyancer will review the details of the offer and issue a full report to the buyer outlining the facts; this is known as a Mortgage Report.

STEP THREE – ENQUIRIES

Upon reviewing the draft contract pack, the buyer’s property lawyer will raise enquiries with us to provide further information; they will also put forward any enquiries the buyer may have in relation to the property.

Upon reviewing the search results, the buyer’s conveyancer may raise additional enquires with the us.

We will respond with our replies to our enquiries; it is possible that to provide a satisfactory response we must consult with the you which may take time. If the replies are not satisfactory, they will communicate with us until all enquiries are satisfied and there is nothing further, they or the buyer wish to raise.

STEP FOUR – SIGNING OF DOCUMENTATION

Once all enquiries are satisfied, we will send the necessary paperwork to you for signature. This will include the contract and transfer Deed. These are legal documents which must be signed correctly and returned to us in readiness for exchange and completion.

Your property lawyer will issue a draft completion statement showing a breakdown of all our costs, the sale costs, and the remaining balance due to you upon completion.

STEP FIVE – EXCHANGE

Once we are in receipt of your signed documentation, a completion date will have been discussed with yourself and agreed with the buyer’s conveyancer. We will exchange contracts with the buyer’s conveyancer to make the transaction legally binding to complete on the agreed date. Although it is possible to exchange and complete simultaneously, there is usually an average of 5 days between exchange and completion taking place.

STEP SIX – COMPLETE

On the day of completion, we will receive the funds from the buyer’s conveyancer.

Upon confirming receipt of the fund, completion takes place. We will inform you of the same and you will now hand over the keys to the selling agent or direct to the buyer.

STEP SEVEN – POST COMPLETION

After completion, we will send your signed transfer Deed to the buyer’s conveyancer for them to register the property with HM Land Registry and change the ownership on the title documents from yourself to the buyers’.

 

The average timescale for a freehold conveyance is 12 weeks.

The average timescale for a leasehold comveyance is 16 weeks.

Commercial Conveyancing
Commercial conveyancing can be complex, and our team have the required skills to provide full commercial conveyancing services for all types of property transactions and leases.
Auction Properties
Our team can help you with the legal work required to buy and sell at auction.

When purchasing at auction, it is prudent to have the auction pack reviewed by a legal advisor prior to bidding. We pride ourselves on being able to offer a comprehensive and efficient review of the legal pack to assist you with making an informed decision. Upon your successful bid, we will work to ensure you reach completion within the time frame stated within the special conditions of the contract.

When selling at auction, you will be required to provide a legal pack which we will create, ensuring all legal documentation is included for your potential buyer to review.

New Build Properties

Our team has extensive knowledge and specialises in new build transactions, both in buying and selling for large developers and individual clients

Transfer of Equity
The transfer of equity is the addition or removal of a party from title deeds of a property. Transfer of equity can take place for multiple reasons and our highly experienced team are dedicated to making the transfer as simple and stress-free as possible.
Re-mortgages
Whether your current mortgage is coming to an end, or you’re looking to release equity from a property, we have extensive experience working with banks, building societies and other specialist mortgage lenders, enabling us to complete your re-mortgage transaction swiftly
Lease Extensions

Our team is experienced in assisting tenants with lease extensions, both voluntary and statutory. You may want to extend your lease as it is becoming close to the marriage period (around 80 years) and it would become significantly harder to sell or obtain a mortgage on the property. There are two key routes for this, the informal route which is direct negotiations with the landlord or the statutory option. We can discuss the options and decide the best approach.

Lease Variations

In some circumstances it may be necessary to alter the existing lease, for example if your ground rent clause is unacceptable to lenders. The way this is done is by a formal deed of variation, our team have a wealth of experience in drafting and approving these.

Rent-to-Buy/Lease Option

This route grants a lease for 3-7 years in which the renter will pay a premium and continue to rent the property during the lease period. In return they have the option to exercise the right to purchase the property, either during or at the end of the agreed lease, for a fixed market value. Our team can draft and review the option agreement to ensure its adequacy.

Private Investor Finance
Whether you are obtaining or providing private investment, we can draft and approve agreements and ensure that adequate security is registered against the property, protecting all parties.
Title Division

Separating the title to a plot of land can be complex, our team are knowledgeable and have the expertise to ensure the plots divided have all the necessary rights to enable a successful development to take place on the land

Deed of Trust

If you are buying with a partner, however not providing equal contributions to either the purchase price or the ongoing maintenance of the property. You may wish to consider having a document that establishes the amounts/percentage of any equity on sale of the property. Our team can ensure this is correctly drafted and registered with HM Land Registry, protecting all parties involved.

Smith Benedict & co.

About Us

Smith Benedict provides first-class legal services to business and individual clients across England and Wales. We empower our people to deliver outstanding advice that enables our clients to achieve their goals, allowing us all to thrive.

We strive to provide our clients with the highest level of service. Combining the flexibility to serve the needs of all our clients and drawing from our extensive high-quality legal expertise. We invest in the very best talent and enable the team, through our structure, modernised approach, and supporting technology, to focus on our client’s needs. Thus, enabling us to build stronger, longstanding, and growing relationships with our clients. This approach is at the heart of our vision to build the leading, full-service legal practice.

OUR TEAM

Daniel Bates – Director & CLC Conveyancing Lawyer – 10 years experience

Samantha Winstanley – CLC Conveyancing Lawyer – 19 years experience

Baris Ozturk – Dispute Resolution Solicitor – 8 years experience

Musti Uras – Paralegal – LLB Hons – Graduated 2024

Yagmur Demir – Paralegal – LLB Hons – Graduated 2024

Caroleanne Harrison – Legal Cashier 

Holly Thomson – Head of Operations

Danielle Hipwell – Operations Executive

 

 

 

Get in touch with us

Call us on: 01302 986 504

Synergy House, Heavens Walk, Doncaster DN4 5HZ

Open Mon-Fri from 9am – 5:30pm

This Firm does not accept service of documents by Email or Fax.

Smith Benedict & Co Ltd (Company Registration Number 08656557) authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority SRA No. 613376