Independent legal advice for NatWest
NatWest lends to homeowners and businesses across the UK. If NatWest has asked you to get independent legal advice, whether to guarantee a business facility, charge your home or sign an occupier's consent, an SRA-regulated solicitor can explain the documents and sign your certificate, often the same day.
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- 70+ lenders
- SRA-regulated solicitors
- Video, or in person in London
Live availability
Free 10-minute consultation
ILA from £140 + VAT per person · fee confirmed on the call
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We're currently experiencing a high level of demand, so wait times are an estimated 24–48 hours.
Why NatWest customers need independent legal advice
NatWest is part of NatWest Group, which also includes Royal Bank of Scotland. RBS was the lender in Royal Bank of Scotland v Etridge (No 2), the 2001 House of Lords case that set out how lenders should deal with guarantees and charges given for someone else’s debts. That case is the reason most lenders, NatWest included, ask for a solicitor’s certificate.
Business customers are the largest group we see: directors, partners and family members guaranteeing company borrowing, often with a debenture or charge alongside. We also help with family-supported mortgages and occupier’s consent forms.
What your solicitor will do
Your solicitor reviews the NatWest documents, explains how the guarantee, charge or consent affects you, and checks you’re making your own decision. If you go ahead, they complete the certificate in NatWest’s wording.
When you might need independent legal advice
Business guarantees
Directors and their families guaranteeing company loans and overdrafts.
Debentures and charges
Security packages for business lending, sometimes including a charge over a home.
Occupier's consent
Adults living in a mortgaged property who aren't borrowers.
Family support for a mortgage
Relatives joining or supporting a mortgage, where advice is required.
Not sure what you're signing? Ask a solicitor free.
Before your appointment
- Ask your broker or conveyancer for NatWest's ILA certificate template and any instructions to the advising solicitor
- Have the final versions of the documents you're being asked to sign
- Photo ID (passport or driving licence) and proof of address dated within the last three months
- Check whether NatWest accepts advice by video, or needs a face-to-face meeting
- Know your completion or drawdown date, so we can book you in time
How it works
- 1
Book a free consultation
Pick a time above. It takes under a minute.
- 2
Speak to your solicitor
An SRA-regulated solicitor explains the risks in plain English, by video or in person in London.
- 3
Certificate sent to your lender
Your signed ILA certificate and documents are dispatched, usually the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Etridge case about NatWest?
It involved Royal Bank of Scotland, which is part of NatWest Group. The case set the rules that most UK lenders follow for independent legal advice.
Do I need to use NatWest's own certificate?
If NatWest has given you a certificate or form for the solicitor to sign, use it. Send it to us before your appointment so your solicitor can complete it in the right wording.
Does NatWest accept independent legal advice by video?
Many lenders now accept video advice, but requirements change and can differ between products. Check NatWest's instructions, or ask your broker. If a face-to-face meeting is needed, we can arrange one in London.
Are you connected to NatWest?
No. My Online Lawyer is independent of NatWest. We connect you with an SRA-regulated solicitor who acts only for you.
My Online Lawyer is not affiliated with, endorsed by or acting for NatWest. We use the name only to describe documents our clients have been asked to sign. Always follow your lender’s own instructions, and check its requirements with your broker or the lender if you’re unsure.
Reviewed by Saba Rehman, Solicitor
SRA-regulated · Last reviewed 9 October 2026