Independent Legal Advice, explained
Plain-English guides to every situation where you are required to get independent legal advice, from lender-required ILA certificates to employer settlement agreements: what it is, why it is required, what it costs, and how to get it without missing your deadline.
Independent Legal Advice for a Personal Guarantee
Why lenders require an ILA certificate before you sign a personal guarantee on a limited company mortgage, what the solicitor meeting involves, what it costs, and how to get one quickly.
Read the guideIndependent Legal Advice for JBSP Mortgages
Joint borrower sole proprietor mortgages require the non-owning borrower to get independent legal advice. What the ILA covers, why lenders require it, cost and turnaround.
Read the guideOccupier Consent Forms and Independent Legal Advice
What an occupier consent or waiver form is, why mortgage lenders require adult occupiers to sign one, when independent legal advice is needed, and what it costs.
Read the guideIndependent Legal Advice for a Transfer of Equity
When adding or removing someone from a property title requires independent legal advice, why lenders and conveyancers insist on it, and what the ILA costs.
Read the guideIndependent Legal Advice for a Gifted Deposit
When a mortgage lender requires the person gifting a deposit to obtain independent legal advice, what the solicitor confirms, and what the ILA certificate costs.
Read the guideIndependent Legal Advice for Bridging Loans
Bridging lenders almost always require independent legal advice on personal guarantees and security documents, on timescales of days. What the ILA involves and how to get it fast.
Read the guideIndependent Legal Advice for Second Charge Loans
When a second charge mortgage or secured business loan requires independent legal advice, who needs the certificate (borrowers, spouses, guarantors), and what it costs.
Read the guideIndependent Legal Advice for a Settlement Agreement
A settlement agreement is only legally binding once you have taken independent legal advice on it. Why the law requires a solicitor's sign-off, who pays, what it costs and how fast it can be done.
Read the guideIndependent Legal Advice for Equity Release
Every equity release plan meeting Equity Release Council standards requires independent legal advice, including at least one face-to-face meeting with your solicitor. What the solicitor checks, what it costs and how the certificate works.
Read the guideIndependent Legal Advice for a Business Loan or Lease Guarantee
Lenders and commercial landlords routinely require directors to get independent legal advice before signing a personal guarantee on a business loan, asset finance or lease. Why, what the appointment covers, and what it costs.
Read the guideIndependent Legal Advice for a Third-Party Charge or Deed of Postponement
If your property secures someone else's borrowing, or you are asked to postpone your own loan or interest behind a new lender, independent legal advice is almost always required. What the documents do and what the ILA costs.
Read the guideIndependent Legal Advice for a Barclays JBSP Mortgage
Barclays requires every supporting borrower on a joint borrower sole proprietor mortgage to get independent legal advice. How the Barclays ILA process works step by step, what it costs, and how to book a solicitor without delaying completion.
Read the guideIndependent Legal Advice for a Santander JBSP Mortgage
Santander requires the supporting borrower on a joint borrower sole proprietor mortgage to get independent legal advice before signing its JBSP consent form. How the process works, what it costs, and how to get the certificate without delaying completion.
Read the guideIndependent Legal Advice for an Accord JBSP Mortgage
Accord Mortgages requires every non-owner borrower on a JBSP mortgage to get independent legal advice, recorded on its prescribed ACC2488 certificate. What the certificate requires, how the process works, and how to arrange the advice without delaying completion.
Read the guideThese guides are general information, not legal advice. For advice on your own situation, speak to an SRA-regulated solicitor - you can compare ILA solicitors here.