If you find yourself needing the services of a solicitor, you may be surprised that before any advice can be given, they will ask you to provide some kind of ID. They will need to confirm that you are who you say you are by checking some kind of photo ID such as a photo driving licence or a passport, along with a document which confirms your address such as a utility bill or a bank statement.
Notary Services
If you are providing certified copies of documents, you may need notary services London or other cities across the UK. You will be able to find a notary using the Notaries Society website There, you will find practitioners such as https://bridgelawsolicitors.co.uk/notary-services-for-individuals/london/ who offer a range of notary services.
You may well still be curious as to why solicitors should be so strict when it comes to confirming your identity, but there are good reasons. It is particularly important if you are involved in a property transaction, in light of the extent of property fraud in the UK.
Property fraud is when someone tries to gain ownership by pretending to be the registered owner. They then sell or remortgage the property and steal the proceeds. Consequently, anyone providing instructions on a property sale will be required to provide adequate ID to confirm their identity.
Money Laundering
Another reason for the checks is that solicitors are required to comply with Anti-Money Laundering regulations. They must be in compliance with The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 at all times.
These regulations were brought in to prevent money raised from criminal activity from being channelled through legitimate businesses or legal transactions to legitimise the funds. They are also designed to protect against the funding of terrorist and proscribed organisations.
To comply with the Anti-Money Laundering Regulations, the ID documents you provide to your solicitor will have to be certified as true copies of the original documents. Your identification document will also need to be certified as a true likeness.