Thursday 3 April 2014

Why Hire a Lawyer?

Not every legal matter requires the hiring of a lawyer, but just because a lawyer is not required does not mean that it’s not a great option to hire one, regardless of the magnitude of your legal woes. Whether you are fighting a ticket, filing for divorce, buying or selling your home, or fighting criminal charges; a lawyer is a great idea for you.

This article will explain the ten most important reasons why hiring a lawyer will save you money and give you the best chance for winning your case.

Ten ways hiring a lawyer is a great idea for you

1. Law is complicated- The law and everything to do with it is a complex and obfuscated area of society, not because it is meant to intentionally mislead but rather because it has grown more sophisticated and complex as we have as a society. Lawyers study the law in order to make it understandable and navigable for everyone else; without a lawyer you will be fumbling around in the dark, tripping over bureaucracy and red tape.

2. Lawyers Know how to challenge- In addition to being able to wade through all the red tape and documentation required to get your legal matter before the court in any kind of reasonable fashion, lawyers also know how to make challenges and not let opposing counsel get away with things that they might ordinarily try with a layman or laywoman. Think of it like a boxing match, lawyers are the heavyweights and laypeople featherweights, just one punch will send you to the floor, but having another heavyweight on your side will even the odds.

3. Having a lawyer will save you money- Hiring a lawyer will increase your odds of winning and therefore increase your chance of making back the money you spent and more.

4. Lawyers have a network- Lawyers have a network of contacts and a pool of resources to draw from that will aid in your case, no matter the issue. When hiring a lawyer not only are you getting expert legal advice, you’re also opening up a network of experts that your lawyer has access to for no extra cost.

5. Its free to try- Most lawyers will offer a free first time consultation and give you a fair assessment of the status of your case and whether they think you are a good chance of winning.

6. The other party already has a lawyer- If the other party already has a lawyer then you are at a distinct disadvantage before you even enter a courtroom. Even the odds and hire your own lawyer.

7. Because you want the best outcome- If you want the best outcome then you need a lawyer. Even for cases where you are clearly in the right and assured of a win, lawyers will ensure that you win bigger and get everything that you are owed.

8. Reduce your stress- Tackling legal matters is a stressful time in anyone’s life; take some of the pressure off by hiring a lawyer to deal with the finer points of your case.

9. Avoid mistakes- Lawyers are paid to be efficient and effective, avoid making potentially case breaking mistakes and give yourself the best chance of winning.

10. Support- The final point is this; lawyers will be in your corner every step of the way, offering you support, advice, and a person to confide in. One of the best things about having a lawyer is that they will always be there for you on your case.

McDonnell Schroder Solicitors and Conveyancers offer the people of Western Sydney the very best range of legal service and support, backed by over 50 years of experience and legal expertise. We offer our customers a free first time consultation and can provide our clients with a ‘No Win No Fee’ service basis. If you have a legal issue that you want to discuss then give the team of professionals at McDonnell Schroder Solicitors and Conveyancers a call today, and find out how we can help you get the best results for all of your legal matters.

What is conveyancing?

Buying or selling your home? Chances are you may want to hire the services of a professional conveyancing lawyer or conveyancing specialist to do the due diligence and ensure that your deal goes off without a hitch. But what exactly is a conveyancer? And what is conveyancing? This blog will outline exactly what conveyancing is, how a conveyancer can help smooth the process, and why it is such a good idea to hire a conveyancer for the conveyancing of your property deal.

Before we begin, here are some terms that will help you understand the conveyancing process;

Lien- In legal terms a lien is a right to keep possession of a property belonging to another person until a debt owed to the owner is paid. An example of a lien is a mortgage; mortgages are a lien against a property.

Encumbrance- A burden, impediment, or obstruction on a property that weakens its value or makes it less marketable.

Mortgage- A legal document by which the owner (i.e., the buyer) transfers to the lender an interest in real estate to secure the repayment of a debt, evidenced by a mortgage note.

What is conveyancing?

Conveyancing is the legal procedure of transferring ownership of legal title of land from one person or entity to another. This procedure is divided into three stages;

1. Before Contract- The buyer or buyer’s representative, typically a conveyancer, contacts the seller or seller’s representative with a first draft of a sales contract. Stage one finishes when both parties have an agreed upon contract and a completion date is set.

2. Before Completion- Signing and exchanging of contracts takes place in the before completion stage. Upon implementation of the contract a deposit is placed from the buyer to the seller. Transfer documents are exchanged and checks are completed.

3. After Completion- The transaction is finalised and completed.

What is a conveyancer?

A conveyancer is someone that is licensed and qualified to provide service, advice, and documentation to a person who is seeking to buy or sell a property, and other legal procedures like updating a title upon the event of a death. Conveyancers don’t have to be solicitors but many of the best conveyancers are solicitors.

What does a conveyancer do?

Typically a conveyancer can help you with the following processes that are encompassed by the three stages of conveyancing;

Prepare and clarify all legal documents
Represent you to your buyer/seller
Settle the property on your behalf
Offer advice on all legal requirements
Research and perform due diligence on all aspects of the deal

Why is it a great idea to hire a conveyancer for your deal?

Can you buy and sell property without a conveyancer? In New South Wales you can buy and sell property without the services of a conveyancer, but the real questions is should you buy and sell property without a conveyancer? The short answer is no, here is why.

Conveyancing is a confusing and delicate process at the best of times, let alone if one of the parties is trying to pull the wool over another person’s eyes and hide something about the property they don’t want discovered. Conveyancers are adept at performing due diligence for their clients and finding out everything that is relevant about a property so you’re not stuck with a legal hand grenade after you have dotted your I’s and crossed your T’s.

By hiring a conveyancer you are insuring that you are insulated against anything untoward and ensuring that everything is done to the proper standard and to the letter of the law. The little bit of money you spend on a qualified solicitor could end up saving you a lot of money and heartache in the future.

In conclusion

Conveyancing can be a murky area of the law that takes discipline and adroitness to fully understand. To ensure that your property deal goes off without a hitch, hire a professional conveyancer to take care of the leg work on your deal and get the very best outcome for you.

McDonnell Schroder Solicitors and Conveyancers offer the very best conveyancing services to our customers across the Western Suburbs of Sydney. We have over 50 years of experience providing our clients with the very best legal services across a wide range of specialities. If you have a query and would like to speak to a professional then get in touch with the team of experts from McDonnell Schroder Solicitors and Conveyancers at our Blacktown or Schofields offices or give us a call for a free consultation.