Me and my partner are purchasing our first property. The conveyancing practitioner has calledto enquire if we would like to purchase supplemental conveyancing searches. We are really unsure what's needed for conveyancing in Bishop Auckland

The extent of Bishop Auckland conveyancing searches should be dictated entirely on the property, the location, the likelihood of any of these risks, your knowledge of the region and risks, your general attitude to risk. What is important is that you adequately comprehend what information the searches could provide. You may then decide if you personally think you need that search. Where you are uncertain, ask your conveyancing practitioner to recommend.

I have justdiscovered that Wolstenholmes have been shut down. They carried out my conveyancing in Bishop Auckland for a purchase of a leasehold flat 18 months ago. How can I check that my home is not still registered in the name of the previous owner?

The quickest method to check if the property is registered to you, you can carry out a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of Bishop Auckland conveyancing specialists.

I was advised by a few selling agents in Bishop Auckland to get a quote from a conveyancer on your site. Is there a financial advantage for Estate Agents to offer your lawyers ahead of another?

We refuse to make any financial incentive for directing people our way. We found it would be just too difficult to pay a commission as a client could think, ‘Why is the agent getting a kickback? Why aren’t I receiving any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.

I am looking for a conveyancing solicitor in Bishop Auckland for my house move. Is it possible to review a solicitor's complaints history with the legal regulator?

You can review documented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) decisions resulting from investigations commenced on or after 1 January 2008. Visit Check a solicitor's record. To find information about the period before 1 January 2008, or to check a firm's history, call 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 any week day save for Tuesday when lines open at 9.30am. For non-uk callers, use +44 (0)121 329 6800. The regulator may recorded telephone calls for training purposes.

I'm purchasing a bungalow in Bishop Auckland. I can find my conveyancer's company on the Law Society's list, but I can't find my lawyer's name on the list. Is this a big problem?

Not all staff in the company must be listed by the regulator. Provided there is someone qualified to 'oversee' the work, the actual day-to-day activity can be undertaken by unlicensed staff.