Money Laundering – The need for ID.

Foreman Laws is bound to verify the identity of all new clients. If it not possible to verify your identity, then by law we are not able to provide or continue to provide you with our services.

With this in mind the following forms of identification are required depending on the category of client.

1.     Individuals and sole traders

To prove your identity we need to meet with you and see one original document from each of the two following categories. If you are unable to attend at our offices then "certified copies" from a lawyer, banker or accountant are acceptable. Certified copies must be dated and signed "original seen". The full name and address of the certifier must be clearly shown.

Evidence of name and date of birth

• Current valid full passport;
• National Identity Card or residents permit;
• Current photo card driving licence (cannot then be used as evidence of address);
• Tax notification from revenue authorities

Evidence of address

• confirmation from an electoral register search;
• recent utility or local authority bill (must be within last 6 months);
• recent bank or building society statement bearing current address (dated within last 6 months);
• recent mortgage statement from a recognised lender (within last 6 months);
• current driving licence (but cannot also be used to give evidence of name).

We will take photocopies of any original documents supplied and return originals directly back to you at the time they are produced.

2.    Companies

In the case of corporate clients, we are required to establish that the company exists and that we are dealing with that company. We require:-

• Copy of the Certificate of Incorporation, company registration number, list of directors and shareholders, some of which we can obtain on your behalf from Companies House;
• Where the directors of the company are not already known to us, then we need to prove the identity of at least two of the directors as is required for individuals above.

• evidence of identity of all shareholders holding atleast 25% of the shares (or beneficially interested in 25% or more).

3.     Unincorporated businesses and partnerships

If the partnership is regulated by an independent public body, then please supply details so that we can verify the existence of the partnership by evidence from that body.

Alternatively, we will need identification evidence of the individuals, representatives or partners by whom we are instructed.

Lastly, please supply evidence of the trading address and nature of the business. If this available from a directory, please let us have details.

4.    Trusts, nominees and fiduciaries

If the organisation is an established trust regulated by an independent public body, then please refer us to the appropriate official source so that we can verify the identity of the trust/ trustee.

Alternatively, please provide a copy of the trust deed and the information necessary to verify the identity of the trustees in the same way as noted for individuals above.

We also need to verify the identity of the beneficiaries in the same way as noted for  individuals above.