Money Laundering Regulations

We are obliged by legislation to check the identity of our clients and indeed it is a criminal offence for us not to do so. It is a condition of accepting new instructions that clients provide the firm with evidence to verify their identity and the source of their funds. If insufficient evidence is provided to verify their identity and the source of their funds the firm may have no alternative but to refuse to act on your behalf.

We therefore, HAVE to obtain your date(s) of birth, your National Insurance Number(s) and 2 items of identification, before we can accept instructions. Please ensure that you CAN provide this in accordance with the list below, as we cannot act for you until this has been received. One item from list A and one different item from list B below, which we will photocopy and give you back the original.

If you are unable to bring these items to any of our offices, then you must provide us with photocopies that have been certified by an Accountant, Doctor, High Street Bank Manager or another solicitor. Their contact details must be clearly shown on the documents.


LIST A

• Current signed passport
• Current UK photo-card driving licence
• Current full UK driving licence (old style provisional will not be acceptable)
• Photographic registration card for people self employed in the construction industry (C1S4)
• Firearms or shotgun certificate
• National Identity card containing photograph

LIST B

• Confirmation from the Electoral Register that you live at your given address
• Recent utility bill or statement less than three months old (not mobile phone)
• Local Council Tax bill for the current year
• Current UK photo-card driving licence
• Bank, Building Society or Credit Union statement or
• Passbook containing current address
• Solicitor’s letter confirming recent house purchase or
• Land Registry confirmation of address
• Council rent book showing rent paid for the last three months
• Housing Association rent card or tenancy agreement
• Recent Inland Revenue Self Assessment statement or tax demand
• House or motor insurance certificate

WE MUST HAVE SATISFACTORY EVIDENCE OF IDENTITY BEFORE WE ARE ABLE TO COMMENCE WORK ON YOUR BEHALF

The contents of this article are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article.