Finding a Conveyancing Solicitor willing to go through Anti-Money Laundering checks

[Matt1990]

Hi,

This is my first ever post on this forum and I apologise in advance if it's not in the right place/format.

I have a question which is not strictly legal but more legal/practical. My partner and I are looking to buy a house in the UK (we are both UK residents; I have citizenship and she has been living here for a few years on a Visa). Her father told us that he would be willing to contribute a substantial sum of money towards our house purchase as it would be our first home (around 50% of the value of the property).

The problem we're having is that solicitors are refusing to take us on as clients because the money comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (that's where my partner and her family are from). Apparently this is a high risk jurisdiction for money laundering and they won't let us use the money towards a house purchase.

Any advice on finding help would be appreciated.

Thank you!

Matt

[atticus]

where is the money now? Can your bank help you?

[Matt1990]

where is the money now? Can your bank help you?

Hi,

The bank has no problem clearing the funds - we have received large sums from there (the DRC) before because my partner studies here as an international student (as did one of her siblings) which is not cheap.

As I said the bank receives the money but we would need a solicitor for a property purchase. Every time a solicitor hears from us that the money is from abroad and from the DRC specifically they simply tell us they're not able to take us on as a client.

[atticus]

When I asked if your bank can help you, I was wondering if it can assist you in explaining the source of funds to lawyers.

[Matt1990]

When I asked if your bank can help you, I was wondering if it can assist you in explaining the source of funds to lawyers.

Thanks for the reply. The solicitors are aware the funds come from within the family, we have told them this. I don't know if banks have different vetting requirements than property solicitors, maybe they (solicitors) need to establish how the family got the money? We have proof that the money comes from legitimate (fully legal) business activity. Like I said the bank has never questioned this.
It just seems as soon as lawyers realise the money is not from a UK/EU source they don't want to know anything further.

[dslippy]

Money laundering is a real evil. I can see that the solicitors would have to take extra care, and particularly also as the funds are being donated. There should be a way through this but you are asking a firm to go out on a limb for you.