Solicitors: conveyancing, wills and power of attorney
You will need a conveyancer for the sale and the purchase. Downsizing is also the natural moment to update your will and, if you have not already, to set up lasting powers of attorney.
Conveyancing
- Choose a firm that does plenty of later-life moves and will talk to you by phone or in person, not only through an online portal.
- If you are buying a retirement flat or a home in a retirement village, make sure they will explain the lease, the service charge and any event or exit fees in plain English before you commit.
- Ask for a fixed fee quote that includes searches and the Land Registry fee.
Wills
Moving changes what you own and what it is worth. If you are gifting money to family from the sale, a will review at the same time keeps everything fair and clear.
Power of attorney
A lasting power of attorney (in England and Wales) lets someone you trust deal with your money or your health and care decisions if you cannot. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own versions. They take weeks to register, so it is worth doing while life is calm.
Good to know
Lifetime Lawyers (formerly Solicitors for the Elderly) is a membership body of lawyers who specialise in later life, which is a useful place to start.
Find solicitors near you
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