Independent Legal Advice for Other Matters

What counts as an "other matter"?

Most requests for independent legal advice (ILA) fall into familiar categories — occupier consents, personal guarantees, transfers of equity and the like. But lenders, solicitors and other parties regularly ask for an ILA certificate on documents that don't fit a neat label: a deed of postponement, a declaration of trust, a loan between family members, a settlement agreement condition, a deed of waiver, or a bespoke document drafted for one particular transaction. If you've been told you need independent legal advice on a document you can't find listed on our services page, this is the service for you.

The common thread is always the same: you're being asked to sign something with real legal or financial consequences, and someone in the transaction wants written confirmation that a qualified legal adviser has explained it to you first.

Why is independent legal advice required?

When you sign a document that benefits another party — a lender, a company, a family member — there's a risk you could later say you didn't understand what you were agreeing to, or that you signed under pressure. If that happened, the document might be challenged and become difficult to enforce.

An ILA certificate protects everyone against that risk. It confirms that an adviser with no stake in the transaction met with you privately, explained the document and its consequences, checked you were signing freely, and verified your identity. That's why lenders and solicitors insist on it — and why the advice must come from someone entirely independent of the deal.

The main risks, in plain English

Every document is different, but the kinds of consequences an adviser will walk you through typically include:

• Personal liability — some documents make you personally responsible for a debt or obligation, which could reach your income, savings or home.
• Giving up rights — you may be waiving, postponing or subordinating rights you would otherwise have, such as an interest in a property or a claim against another party.
• Binding commitments — once signed, most deeds and agreements are very hard to unwind, even if your circumstances change.
• Consequences for your home — where a property is involved, signing may affect your right to live there or your share of its value.
• Obligations that outlast the deal — some commitments continue even after the loan is repaid or the transaction completes, unless the document says otherwise.

Who typically needs this?

People come to us with unlisted documents in all sorts of situations: family members supporting a relative's purchase or business, directors and shareholders signing deal-specific deeds, homeowners asked to postpone or waive an interest, parties to private loans, and anyone whose solicitor or lender has simply said "you'll need independent legal advice on this before we can proceed". If you're not sure whether your document qualifies, email info@ilahub.com with a copy or a short description and we'll confirm before you book.

How ILA Hub's process works

Everything is done remotely, UK-wide — nothing to print or post. You book online, upload your document, and verify your ID online before the appointment. You then meet your legal adviser by secure video call (Monday to Friday, 9am–7pm). The adviser explains the document, answers your questions, and confirms you're signing freely.

Your certificate is emailed the same working day as your appointment, on every tier. Fees are fixed per person: Standard £150 with an appointment within 2–3 working days, Fast Track £250 from the next working day, or Priority Same-Day £350 for the earliest available slot including same day — the higher fees buy an earlier appointment, never a faster certificate. See our pricing for full details. Fees apply to matters up to £2,000,000; larger matters are arranged individually.

Certificates are prepared to satisfy standard lender requirements, and if your lender or solicitor has its own certificate form, we'll complete that instead at no extra cost — just email it to info@ilahub.com. Ready to get started? Book your appointment in a couple of minutes, or read more about how it works.