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PUBLISHED ARTICLES
Wills and Inheritance Tax - Don't be an April Fool
South Downs Living - May 2008
Home Information
Packs (An Update)
South Downs Living - April 2008
Daffodils are
in bloom - What about the property market?
South Downs
Living - March 2008
Prenups...Worth the
paper they're written on?
South Downs Living - February 2008
Wills & Inheritance
Tax South Downs Living - January 2008
Whatever has
happened to HIPS?
South
Downs Living - December 2007
Your Business Lease South Downs Living - November 2007
Your new business South Downs Living - October 2007
Living Together? How safe are
you? South Downs
Living - September 2007
Looking after the elderly South Downs Living - August 2007
Is your relationship falling
apart? South Downs Living - July 2007
HIPS are here - What should I do?
South Downs Living - June 2007
Living Together? This
may affect you? South Downs Living - April 2007
First time buyer?
Consider this! South Downs Living - March 2007
Separating? See legal
advice! South Downs Living - January 2007
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THE CRIME OF MONEY LAUNDERING –
CASH PAYMENTS and IDENTIFICATION
Due to money
laundering regulations, all solicitors have had to make a policy
decision that they can no longer accept payments, however small, in
cash, including cash payments made into another bank to be
transferred to our account.
We realize that this
will cause inconvenience to some clients and for this we can only
apologies. The difficulty is that we can ourselves be prosecuted if
we receive cash, in however small an amount, where the money turns
out to come within money laundering regulations. Unfortunately, we
seldom have time, and are certainly not paid, to make the enquiries
needed to ensure that the money comes from a reputable source.
Very, very
occasionally, at our discretion, we may agree to accept cash
payments but only for small sums, for well established clients of
this or other firms, in emergencies, where we know the source of the
funds and where we have agreed beforehand to accept cash. These
circumstances will arise only very, very occasionally, particularly
as emergencies are usually foreseeable and can be planned for.
Please do not expect
our receptionist to accept cash. Her orders are not to do so, unless
this has been agreed beforehand by the person in charge of your
transaction. Please also do not expect that person to agree to
authorise our receptionist to receive cash, except for small sums
and in rare and exceptional circumstances.
Please also remember
that we must, if we have any doubt whatever about money
laundering - no discretion is allowed - refer the matter to the
National Criminal Intelligence Service. What is more, we are not
allowed, save after a suitable elapse of time to allow the NCIS to
respond and investigate, to give you any indication that we have
done this. If they choose to, the NCIS may even freeze all the
assets of the person who has been reported, so this is not a step we
wish to take, as it will almost inevitably damage the relationship
we have with you, our client. Payments in cash necessarily give rise
to suspicions, so please help us, and yourselves, by not asking us
to take cash.
Before undertaking
any work for you, or proceeding with a transaction on your behalf we
must have satisfactory identification. This is whether you
are an existing client, a new client, or the matter is a one-off
transaction. There is now a strict code in place and NO WORK CAN
BE CARRIED OUT until satisfactory identification is produced in
its original form to us. It is usual for this to be a current
passport, failing which, a driving license having both a photograph
and a signature. We also require a secondary document confirming
your address, which can include a current bank or building society
statement or current utility bill. We shall take copies that will be
placed on your file. If there is more than one client e.g. Mr and
Mrs or Partners we shall require evidence of both or all.
We do mention that
cash payments are not the only indicators of money laundering.
Changing instructions part way through a transaction, without full
explanation, is just one of a number of others we must consider.
We are governed in
this matter by Act of Parliament and therefore are obliged to follow
this procedure but we apologise for any inconvenience this may
cause. We do ask for your understanding and co-operation.
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ONLINE
FILECHASER
The headache of moving house or flat could be a thing of the past
thanks to a new internet conveyancing facility called 'Online
Filechaser' developed by the Sussex solicitors FitzPatricks.
Buyers and sellers can now visit a secure section of the
FitzPatricks' website and see real progress being made. This is a
huge stress saving element. One feature of moving house is that
pressure comes from others in chains who say things are not moving
fast enough.
With Online Filechaser, movers discover at once where the delays are
and can take immediate action rather than leaving things to run on
with all the usual frustrations.
Tom FitzPatrick, principal of FitzPatricks said, "Online Filechaser
eradicates delays that occur when a client cannot immediately speak
to the right person about their move and it gives the reassurance
that matters are dealt with promptly. Moves can be viewed from
beginning to end, at the touch of a button, at any time. Underlying
this facility is our own time-saving IT conveyancing program we have
been using since 1998 with impressive results".
The client has a password to log into the secure part of the website
and can trace the full history of the move right to the current
position. This information is constantly updated as things happen
and the most accurate details are always available. A feedback form
is included where clients can email questions direct to the firm.
With the consent of the client, estate agents also benefit from
using 'Online Filechaser'. They can even link sale and purchase
information and remove the need for unnecessary duplication of
correspondence and repeated telephone calls.
Mr FitzPatrick continued, "This system has been developed to put the
needs of clients first. We still value the face-to-face contact
that our clients want and this new system improves this personal
approach. Buying and selling properties are not just huge and
important financial transactions - they can be some of the most
stressful things a person can experience in a lifetime. Our aim is
to reduce this stress as much as possible."
FitzPatricks' conveyancing department is led by Mr Thomas
FitzPatrick, who said, "This system is way ahead of its time,
client friendly and ready for e-conveyancing when the government
gives the go-ahead".
NOTES TO EDITORS
To sample Online Filechaser, visit our website at
www.fitzpatricks-law.co.uk, click Online Filechaser and "give
Filechaser a go now".
Tom FitzPatrick was admitted as a solicitor in 1963 and following
City experience and a business management training, set up his own
practice in Burgess Hill in 1975.
In 1993, he decided that the future of the Law was in computers.
First, the firm's practice management was computerised and then case
management. Clients were becoming ever more exacting, regulations
affecting solicitors were becoming ever more arduous and, with these
growing pressures, it was becoming easier to make mistakes. While
every matter for each client was different, many of the procedures
were the same and these became the focus of the firm's programming.
The basic conveyancing program, developed in-house, has been used
since 1998 and went online in June 2001, when it was quietly
trialled prior to launch. The basic program has speeded procedures,
dramatically improved client contact and been a terrific asset in
terms of elimination of errors and therefore risk management. It is
intended that Online will be extended to commercial property and
business sales and purchases during 2002 and thereafter to other
areas of the practice.
FitzPatricks achieved both the Investors in People and the Law
Society's LEXCEL quality standards in 1999. Tom FitzPatrick is a
powerful advocate of the benefits of both standards for clients and
practices alike.
PRIZE DRAWER WINNER
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