Blog
Document verification, party identity and pre-signing review.
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How to set up and manage a client retainer at the start of a matter
How to decide the amount, when to ask, and how to document and manage a client retainer from the first day of a matter.
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How to check that the stated consideration matches across all transaction documents
How to spot inconsistencies in the purchase price or consideration across linked transaction documents before completion, and what to do when the figures don't align.
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How to review signature blocks in a contract before it goes out for execution
A structured approach to checking signature blocks before a deed or contract goes to the parties — what to verify, in what order, and where errors most commonly appear.
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How to set and communicate a fee estimate at the start of a matter
How to write a clear fee estimate at the outset of a matter, what to include, when to revise it, and how to communicate changes without creating billing disputes.
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What to check before a company signs a deed
How to verify a company's authority and representation before a deed is signed: which documents to check and in what order.
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What to check when a contract or deed arrives with handwritten corrections before signing
A pre-completion review process for deeds and contracts that carry handwritten corrections or interlineations, with notes on recording your findings in the matter file.
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How to check that conditions precedent have been met before completion
Before you confirm a completion date, verify that every condition precedent in the contract has been satisfied. A practical guide for solicitors and conveyancers.
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What to do when a client pays only part of a fee invoice and leaves a balance outstanding
How to record a partial payment, write to the client about the balance, and decide whether to keep the matter progressing.
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How to check a deed of rectification before it is signed
What to verify in a rectification or correction deed before completion, so it actually fixes the error in the original document.
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How to check the details of a prior deed or contract referenced in a new document
How to verify the number, date, parties, and scope of a prior deed before incorporating the reference into a new instrument.
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How to charge for a matter that collapses before completion
How to document and recover your fees when a transaction falls through before signing — and what your file needs before you raise the invoice.
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How to raise a document discrepancy with a client without stalling the transaction
How to tell a client their documents don't match without alarming them or causing delays. Three parts to a conversation that keeps the matter moving.
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How to handle last-minute changes to a contract before completion
How to run a structured review when amendments are introduced to a contract or deed shortly before completion — so nothing slips through unnoticed.
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What to check when one party signs in two different capacities in the same deed
How to run a dual-capacity check when the same signatory appears in a deed as an individual and as a company representative.
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How to build a pre-completion review checklist tailored to each transaction type
How to build a pre-completion review checklist for each transaction type — transfer of land, commercial lease, and power of attorney.
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What to check in a preliminary contract before completing the final deed
Which fields in a preliminary contract need to match the final deed, and why catching mismatches before completion saves you from costly corrections later.
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Setting internal document deadlines before completion day
How to set document delivery deadlines ahead of deed completion so every review gets done without last-minute pressure.
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What to do when a client's name on their ID doesn't match the name in the deed
How to handle name discrepancies between a client's identity document and the deed — which differences matter, which don't, and what goes in the matter file.
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How to check that dates are consistent across documents before completion
Birth dates, ID issue and expiry dates, and the deed's effective date all need to tally. A systematic check before completion prevents delays.
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What to check on a document before handing it back after signing
The review that happens after execution and before the document leaves your office — what to check so the matter file closes without it coming back open.
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How to record which fee earner checked what before completion
How to document which member of your team verified each piece of information in the matter file, so pre-completion checks are traceable and auditable.
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How to manage cash flow when client fees come in after the work is done
How solicitors and conveyancers can track expected fee receipts and avoid cash flow gaps when billing cycles don't match the pace of the work.
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How to manage your workload when multiple matters complete on the same day
A practical approach to document review and file preparation when two or more matters are set to complete on the same day, without letting any one slip.
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How to sequence your document review when a matter involves multiple linked instruments
When completion involves instruments that depend on each other, review order matters. Here's how to structure your checks so nothing falls through the gaps.
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How to check a power of attorney before a deed completes
Four checks to run on a power of attorney before an attorney signs on completion day: identity, scope, validity, and recording it in the matter file.
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How to close a matter file at the end of a transaction without leaving loose ends
Closing a matter file isn't finished when the deed completes. The steps to review, invoice and archive before a matter is properly shut.
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What to do when a document changes on the day of completion
When a deed or contract is amended on the day of signing, your earlier checks no longer apply. The process for staying on top of it.
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How to manage document versions before a deed completes
How to identify which version of a contract is current, and organise your matter file so you don't review the wrong draft before completion.
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How a name discrepancy in a client document can delay completion — and how to catch it first
When and how to compare client ID names against deed names before completion, and what to do if a discrepancy is already in the document.
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What to do when a client disputes your fee invoice
A practical guide for solicitors and conveyancers on handling fee disputes: how to respond clearly, protect legitimate charges, and close matters without damaging client relationships.
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How to make sure client disbursements don't fall through the cracks
How solicitors and conveyancers can track client disbursements through the matter file so nothing is missed when billing closes.
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How to record your document checks in the matter file before completion
How to document your pre-completion checks so the matter file shows what was verified, when, and by whom — and why it matters.
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What to check before a party signs under a power of attorney
How to verify a power of attorney before completing a deed: currency, scope of authority, the attorney's identity, and consistency with the matter file.
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What to do when the file is incomplete on the day of completion
How to handle a missing document on completion day: categorising the gap, when to postpone, and how to record what is outstanding before the deed proceeds.
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How to set up the billing side of a client matter file from day one
What to record in the matter file when you open a new client matter so fees, disbursements and billing stay manageable throughout.
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How to Write a Fee Invoice That Clients Understand Without Explanation
Five elements that make a solicitor or conveyancer's fee invoice clear at a glance — no follow-up calls, no confusion about what they owe or why.
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How to manage your fees when a matter runs longer than expected
Practical steps for solicitors and conveyancers to protect their fees when a matter overruns — from scope changes to interim billing.
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When to take a client retainer and how to record it in the matter file
A practical guide to timing the retainer request and documenting it in the matter file so your billing stays clear from instruction to completion.
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What to do when a party's name doesn't match exactly across the documents in a matter
How solicitors and conveyancers handle name discrepancies between a client's ID, the title register, and the deed — and when a mismatch stops completion.
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How to track client disbursements in a matter file
A practical method for logging and reconciling client disbursements in each matter, keeping them separate from your own fees.
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What to do when a deed references documents that aren't in the file
How to handle a pre-completion review when a deed refers to plans, prior deeds, or powers of attorney that haven't been provided.
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How to structure a document review when a deed involves more than two parties
A practical approach to cross-checking identities and details in deeds with multiple parties — so no party is missed and no discrepancy slips through.
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How to track outstanding fees across open matters without letting any slip through
A practical approach to keeping outstanding fees visible across all open matters in a legal or conveyancing practice — without relying on memory or scattered notes.
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What documents confirm that a company representative has authority to sign a deed?
Which documents to request and cross-check when a party to a deed or contract is a company and someone signs on its behalf.
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Checking property descriptions across documents before a conveyancing deed completes
How to cross-check the title number, area, and address across all conveyancing documents before a deed is signed — and what to do when they don't match.
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When should you ask for a retainer: before work starts, at engagement sign-off, or by milestone?
Three points in a matter to collect a retainer, with the practical advantages and risks of each — for solicitors and conveyancers.
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What to do when a party's name in a deed doesn't match their identity document
How to handle a name discrepancy between a deed or contract and a party's identity document before signing, and what to record in the matter file.
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Which documents should you have in hand before starting a pre-completion review?
The four document groups to assemble before opening the engrossment, and why starting with an incomplete file is the most reliable way to miss a discrepancy.
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What to do when a party's details appear differently in two places in the same deed
How to spot and resolve an internal inconsistency in a deed or contract before execution — when a name, number, or date contradicts itself within the same document.
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What to do when an ID number in a contract doesn't match the client's document
How to handle a mismatch between an ID number in a deed or contract and the number on the client's identity document before signing.
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Which dates in your documents need checking before a deed completes?
The dates in your conveyancing documents that most often cause problems at completion, and how to check them systematically before your client signs.
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What to check when a party acts under a power of attorney
The four checks for a power of attorney before a deed or contract is signed by an attorney on behalf of the donor, and what to record in the file.
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What to do when a party's ID has expired before signing
How to handle an expired passport or driving licence at a deed signing, and what to record in the file to protect the transaction.
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What documents should you check when a company is party to a deed?
The four details to verify across a company's documents before a deed is signed, and the sequence that catches errors earliest.
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How to manage document checks when multiple parties are signing the same deed
Batch reviewing in multi-party transactions is where errors begin. How to structure checks by party so nothing slips through before completion.
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What to check when someone signs as a representative
How to review authority documents when a representative signs on behalf of another party, and which details to match before a deed or contract is signed.
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What to do when a client's name on their ID doesn't match the contract
How to handle a name discrepancy between a client's identity document and a contract or deed before signing — without stopping the transaction.
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Check your documents before you sign.
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