Can Independent Legal Advice Be Given Over Video?

If a lender, solicitor or trustee has told you that you need independent legal advice (ILA), one of the first questions people ask is whether it has to happen face to face. The short answer is no. Independent legal advice can be given by secure video call, and for most people completing with a UK lender, that is now the normal way to get it. This guide explains why video ILA works, how identity is verified, when a wet-ink signature might still be needed, and what to expect from a remote appointment.

Is independent legal advice by video legally valid?

Yes. There is no general rule of English law that says independent legal advice must be given in person. What matters is the substance of the advice, not the room it is given in. A valid ILA appointment needs three things: the adviser must be genuinely independent of the other parties to the transaction, the advice must cover the nature and effect of the document you are signing and the risks you are taking on, and you must have a real opportunity to ask questions and show that you understand. All of that can be done just as well over a secure video call as across a desk — arguably better, because you can join from home with your paperwork in front of you and without the pressure of a formal office.

The courts have long emphasised (most famously in the case law on guarantees and third-party charges) that the point of independent advice is to make sure you enter the transaction with your eyes open. A video appointment achieves exactly that, and the adviser confirms it afterwards in a signed certificate of independent legal advice.

Do UK lenders accept video ILA?

In the vast majority of cases, yes. Remote legal appointments became mainstream across the UK property and lending market in 2020 and have stayed that way. Our certificates are prepared to satisfy standard lender requirements and are relied on by borrowers completing with major UK lenders. Some lenders issue their own certificate template or declaration form — if yours does, we simply complete the lender's form instead; just email it to info@ilahub.com before your appointment. You can read more about the process on our how it works page.

How a video ILA appointment works

1. Book online — choose a time that suits you, Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm.
2. Verify your ID — you upload photo ID securely before the appointment, so no time is wasted on the day.
3. Join the video call — a private, secure call with your legal adviser, usually 20-30 minutes. The adviser explains the document, the risks, and answers your questions. No one else from the transaction is on the call.
4. Receive your certificate — signed and emailed to you (and your solicitor or lender if you wish) the same working day.

How is my identity verified remotely?

Before the appointment you upload a photo of your passport or driving licence through a secure link. On the call, the adviser confirms you are the same person, face to camera. This mirrors the identity checks used across the UK conveyancing market for remote transactions, and it means there is nothing to print, post or notarise.

When might a wet-ink signature still be needed?

It is worth being clear about what the video call does and does not replace. The advice itself can always be given by video. Occasionally, though, the document you are signing — not the advice — has formalities of its own:

• Deeds that must be witnessed (such as some mortgage deeds, guarantees executed as deeds, or transfers) generally need your witness to be physically present when you sign, so you may still sign the deed on paper with a neighbour or colleague watching — separately from your video appointment.
• Lender-specific rules — a small number of lenders ask for a wet-ink certificate or their own form posted rather than emailed. If so, we follow the lender's instructions.
• Overseas elements — documents to be used abroad sometimes need notarisation, which is a separate service from ILA.

None of these prevent your ILA being done remotely — they only affect how the underlying document is signed afterwards. If you are unsure which applies to you, get in touch and we will tell you before you pay anything.

Why choose video ILA?

• Speed — appointments within 2-3 working days as standard, from the next working day on Fast Track, or the earliest available slot (including same day) on Priority Same-Day. Your certificate is emailed the same working day whichever option you choose.
• Convenience — join from home or work, anywhere in the UK, with nothing to print or post.
• Fixed fees — £150 per person for Standard, £250 for Fast Track, £350 for Priority Same-Day, for matters up to £2,000,000. Full details are on our pricing page.
• Certainty — a clear certificate your solicitor or lender can rely on, delivered the same working day as your appointment.

Ready to get your certificate?

Whether you need advice on an occupier consent, a personal guarantee, a transfer of equity or a less common document, video ILA is usually the quickest and least stressful route — and if your document does not fit a standard category, our other documents service covers it. You can book your appointment online in a few minutes, verify your ID from your phone, and have your signed certificate in your inbox the same working day. Nothing on this page is legal advice — that is exactly what your booked appointment is for.