Money Laundering Regulations - Suitable Evidence of Identity 

Solicitors firms along with Banks, Building Societies and other financial institutions have to comply with strict requirements to obtain evidence as to identity of their clients and customers in order to prevent these institutions being used to launder the proceeds of crime. 

The requirements have to be complied with even for existing clients, apart from in very limited circumstances.  Once we have taken and recorded evidence of your identity then if you ask us to undertake further work for you it may be necessary for us to repeat the identification procedure.

In respect of new work which you ask us to undertake we have to ask you to supply original documents to confirm your identity and address. The documents which we can accept are set out below. Normally we can accept just one document for personal identity and one document for personal address, but the same document cannot be used for both. We shall take a copy of the documents supplied, certify them as true copies of the original and then return the original documents to you. This would normally be done at the first interview, but it has to be done as soon as possible after the receipt of instructions and if not done then we are forbidden from carrying on with your transaction.

A failure to comply with these regulations may result in your solicitor facing prosecution and imprisonment so you will understand that we shall be scrupulous in requiring identification!

Individual : Evidence of Personal Identity
• Current signed passport
• Current photocard driving licence
• Current full driving licence
• Benefit book
• Photographic registration card for self-employed individual in the construction industry
• Firearms or shotgun certificate
• National ID card with photo
• HM Forces identity card
• Certificates of birth / adoption / marriage
• An entry in a local or national telephone directory confirming name and address
• UK Bank’s cheque in the client’s name

Documentary evidence of address
• Recent utility bill or statement or certificate from a utility supplier confirming an arrangement to pay for services on pre-payment terms (mobile phones not acceptable)
• Local Council Tax bill for the current year
• Current full UK driving licence
• Bank, Building Society or credit statement or passbook containing current address
• A recent original mortgage statement from a recognised lender
• Solicitor’s letter confirming recent house purchase or Land Registry confirmation of address
• Local Council Housing Association rent card or tenancy agreement
• Benefit book
• Inland Revenue self-assessment statement or tax demand
• House or motor insurance certificate
• Electoral register search
• Entry confirming name and address in a local or national telephone directory
• Solicitor’s record of home visit