What happens at an independent legal advice appointment?

Before the appointment

Once you’ve booked, your solicitor will ask you to send:

• the documents you’ve been asked to sign
• the lender’s ILA certificate template and instructions, if any
• photo ID (passport or driving licence)
• proof of address dated in the last three months

Your solicitor reviews the documents before the meeting, so they can spot anything unusual and keep the appointment focused.

During the appointment

1. Identity and independence

The solicitor confirms who you are and that they’re acting only for you. They’ll check that nobody else is in the room. If you’re on a video call, they may ask you to show the room.

2. The documents, in plain English

They explain what each document does, what you’re agreeing to, and what could happen in the worst case. For a guarantee, that might be paying the whole debt. For a charge, it might be losing your home.

3. Your circumstances

Expect questions about your relationship with the borrower, why you’ve been asked to sign, whether you’ve contributed money, and whether you feel any pressure. These are routine and help the solicitor make sure the advice fits your situation.

4. Your options

The solicitor will make clear that the decision is yours. Where it makes sense, they’ll explain options such as asking for a cap or time limit, or not signing.

5. Questions

Ask anything. There are no silly questions, and a good solicitor would rather you ask than sign something you don’t understand.

Signing

If you decide to go ahead, the solicitor completes the certificate. How you sign depends on the documents:

• Simple documents may be signed electronically, if the lender accepts that.
• Deeds, such as charges and many guarantees, normally need your signature to be witnessed by someone physically present. Your solicitor will explain who can act as witness, and the lender may have its own rules.

The solicitor then sends the certificate and any signed documents to the lender, broker or conveyancer, as instructed.

How long it takes

Most appointments take 30 to 60 minutes. Simple occupier’s consent forms can be quicker, and complex business guarantees can take longer. See how long ILA takes from start to finish.

If you’re not ready to decide

You don’t have to sign at the end of the meeting. If you need time to think, or want to go back to the lender with questions, that’s fine. Your solicitor can sign the certificate when you’re ready.