what we do
The practice deals mainly with residential conveyancing. We also deal with some commercial conveyancing, normally in relation to the sale or acquisition of businesses on the Island, and with auctions of properties or arranging tenders.
Our aim is to make buying and selling property as smooth and straight-forward as possible for our clients, whilst ensuring that behind the scenes we make careful and thorough enquiries. We keep our clients well-informed providing a detailed pre-contract report and are always happy to respond to enquiries as and when they arise. A bespoke computerised conveyancing management system enables us to get matters underway extremely efficiently and to respond instantly to most enquiries.
We have excellent relationships, built up over many years, with the estate agents, banks, local authorities and government officials involved in conveyancing.
Sometimes it may be necessary to prepare a Vesting Assent to pass the title to a property on death to the beneficiary or the trustees of an estate, or to prepare a Deed of Settlement or Deed of Gift.
We give advice on the different ways property can be owned and the implications, for example, a property can be jointly owned as joint tenants, where the principle of survivorship applies and the property will vest soley in the survivor on the first death, or as tenants in common where each joint owner can leave his or her share under his or her Will.
Land registration in the new Isle of Man Land Registry is now well underway replacing the old Deeds system. We have years of experience of the old procedures and have worked on the new system since its inception. On each first registration in the Land Registry it is necessary for an advocate to certify the title and file an “epitome of title”. This sometimes involves historical research at the Manx Museum and where experience and an insight into the history of land law in the Isle of Man is invaluable.