Key Takeaways
- A remote solicitor for settlement agreement review in England and Wales provides the independent legal advice needed to make your agreement binding.
- Your employer typically pays all legal costs for settlement agreement advice, so our solicitor’s review and certification are free to you as the employee.
- Our solicitors offer same-day remote video appointments, letting you receive confidential advice and sign your settlement agreement from anywhere.
- Advice from our SRA regulated solicitors ensures your claims waiver is valid under section 203 of the Employment Rights Act 1996.
- You will need to share your draft settlement agreement, employment contract, and ID for a remote review, all uploaded securely online.
- Signing a settlement agreement without proper legal advice risks losing valuable claims for unfair dismissal, discrimination, or redundancy entitlements.
- Our solicitors clarify all terms including tax-free elements, ex gratia payments, and confidentiality clauses to help you avoid common pitfalls.
- Settlement Agreement Lawyers are rated Excellent with over 1,400 five-star reviews of our lawyers on platforms like Trustpilot and Google, giving you peace of mind.
Remote Solicitor for Settlement Agreement Review England and Wales
If you need a remote solicitor for settlement agreement review in England and Wales, you can get all the independent legal advice required by law without visiting a solicitor’s office. In almost all cases, your employer pays for the service in full. By law, a settlement agreement is only valid if you have received advice from an independent employment law solicitor. Without this, the agreement cannot bind you or your employer.
It is essential to act before signing, as a settlement agreement usually involves waiving your rights to bring claims for unfair dismissal, redundancy, discrimination, or employment disputes. Our solicitors will advise you on every aspect—including fairness of your payment, tax status, waivers of claims, and restrictive terms—all in confidence and at no cost to you.
In this article, you’ll learn how fast remote settlement agreement reviews work in England and Wales, the documents you’ll need, how we protect your interests, and how to book a secure online appointment. For immediate help, call our solicitors on 0800 054 1144 or book your settlement agreement advice online.
Booking early gives you the best chance to negotiate terms if anything is missing or needs amending—don’t leave your review until the last minute.
Remote solicitor for settlement agreement review England and Wales: Can you get fast, independent legal advice remotely?
Yes, you can receive fast, independent legal advice for your settlement agreement entirely remotely in England and Wales. Our SRA-regulated solicitors offer same-day remote reviews by video call, phone, or secure document sharing, fully meeting all legal requirements. This approach grants employees across England and Wales convenient access to expert advice, with no need to travel.
Remote settlement agreement reviews are now widely accepted and fully recognised by employment tribunals, employers, and legal authorities. Simply provide your draft agreement securely, and our solicitors deliver the independent advice and solicitor certificate you need. The process is efficient, confidential, and saves you stress and time.
Remote reviews are suitable for all types of settlement agreements, including redundancy, negotiated exits, disciplinary settlements, and more. Our service is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, giving you confidence in compliance and expertise.
A Cardiff-based employee facing redundancy received their settlement agreement late on a Friday. With a remote service, they sent the documents to our solicitors, had a same-day video consultation, and received our ILA certificate that afternoon—meeting their employer’s Monday deadline without any travel or hassle.
What is a settlement agreement and when do you need one?
A settlement agreement is a legally binding contract between you and your employer that ends your employment on agreed terms. It sets out final payments, tax arrangements, a waiver of future claims, confidentiality, and other conditions. Employers use them for redundancy, mutual exits, or to resolve disputes about dismissal, discrimination, or grievances.
You may need a settlement agreement if:
- You are being made redundant and offered an exit package.
- You wish to resolve a workplace dispute, such as unfair dismissal, discrimination, or harassment, without going to tribunal.
- Your employer seeks certainty that you will not bring claims in an employment tribunal.
- Both you and your employer agree on a mutual exit, sometimes after performance or disciplinary processes.
Settlement agreements are voluntary—you cannot be forced to sign. They only become legally binding once you have received independent legal advice from a solicitor. This protects both sides, ensuring you understand the rights being waived.
Always check your settlement offer covers all accrued entitlements, including untaken holiday pay and statutory notice. Employers must include these in the offer, and you do not have to give them up unless you agree clearly and in writing.
For more guidance, see our settlement agreement advice and redundancy pages, or view the Acas guide to settlement agreements.
Why independent legal advice is mandatory for settlement agreements under section 203 Employment Rights Act 1996
Under section 203 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, a settlement agreement is only enforceable if the employee has received independent legal advice (ILA) about the terms and implications of the agreement, especially the waiver of employment rights. If you do not receive this advice and a solicitor’s certificate, the agreement is invalid.
The law requires that your ILA comes from a qualified, insured solicitor who does not act for your employer. This guarantees you fully understand:
- Which statutory or contractual rights you are waiving (such as claims for unfair dismissal or discrimination).
- The true financial and tax effects of the settlement.
- Any further obligations you have, including non-compete clauses or confidentiality.
Our solicitor will issue the certificate confirming you received independent advice. Employers almost always cover the legal fee, and it should not reduce your final package.
An executive offered a six-figure exit package did not realise the agreement waived race discrimination claims. Through our ILA process, critical risks were flagged and more protective wording was negotiated before signing.
The government’s official guidance on settlement agreements explains the legal requirements in further detail.
Is a remote settlement agreement review legally valid in England and Wales?
Remote settlement agreement reviews are fully legally valid in England and Wales, provided all statutory requirements under section 203 ERA 1996 are met. The law does not insist on in-person meetings. What matters is that the solicitor is qualified, acts independently, is insured, and provides you with direct advice.
Our solicitors offer remote reviews using secure digital tools: video calls, encrypted email, and e-signature platforms. Once you are fully advised and accept the terms, our independent solicitor’s certificate is e-signed and sent to both you and your employer. This process is accepted by employers, recognised by employment tribunals, and meets legal standards.
Remote advice is especially helpful if you live far from a city, face health or caring responsibilities, or have a tight deadline.
English law and ACAS guidance confirm electronic signatures and scanned documents are valid for settlement agreements—employers cannot unreasonably refuse them.
For more detail on legal validity, see Acas’s guidance on settlement agreements.
What documents are required for a remote settlement agreement solicitor review?
To complete a remote solicitor review of your settlement agreement, you’ll need to provide:
- The draft settlement agreement (from your employer or their representative).
- Recent payslips or your contract of employment, to verify pay and benefits.
- Documentation related to your exit—such as redundancy letters, grievance correspondence, or disciplinary records.
- Identification documents, such as a passport or driving licence, for client checks.
- Details of any additional claims, like expenses or bonuses due.
It’s essential to send these securely. We provide an encrypted upload portal and secure email, or you can share them during a live consultation. The review cannot proceed until all documents have been checked.
A retail worker sent the draft agreement, last three payslips, and a passport photo through our secure portal. Our solicitor discovered an underpayment in holiday pay and ensured it was corrected before signing.
If you’re unsure what to collect, our settlement agreement calculator guides you on which documents are needed for your review.
How to check if your settlement agreement is fair: reviewing the financial offer, redundancy pay, and negotiation
To check if your settlement agreement is fair, examine each financial element, especially redundancy pay, notice pay, compensation, commissions, and benefits. For redundancy, statutory minimums are set by law, but some agreements offer enhanced sums.
Steps to take:
- Calculate statutory redundancy using age, years of service, and weekly pay (with current statutory cap).
- Ensure your contractual notice period is paid, either as payment in lieu (PILON) or worked notice.
- Confirm untaken holiday is included.
- Check goodwill or ex gratia payments—these are often negotiable.
- Verify inclusion of bonuses, commissions, or unclaimed expenses.
If anything is missing or unclear, request supporting evidence. Employers may miss commission, enhanced redundancy, or share options—ask for these before signing.
| Component | Typical Entitlement | Tax Status (see next section) |
|---|---|---|
| Statutory redundancy | Based on age, service, pay | Usually tax-free up to £30,000 |
| Notice pay (PENP) | Contractual/statutory minimum | Taxable as earnings |
| Holiday pay | Accrued, untaken | Taxable as earnings |
| Ex gratia payment | Negotiable | Tax-free up to £30,000, then taxed |
Our redundancy calculator gives you a quick check on whether your employer’s calculations are correct—never rely solely on HR’s summaries.
For expert advice or help negotiating, you can call our solicitors on 0800 054 1144 or book your settlement agreement advice online for a same-day remote ILA appointment, fully employer-funded.
Tax implications of a settlement agreement: Is my settlement agreement tax free?
Settlement agreement payments must be detailed for tax purposes. The first £30,000 of genuine compensation for loss of employment (like redundancy pay or ex gratia payments) can be paid tax-free under HMRC rules. Any contractual payment—such as pay in lieu of notice (PENP), holiday pay, bonuses, or salary—is taxable as earnings and processed through payroll.
Employers must provide a payment breakdown in your agreement. Our solicitors check the tax treatment of each element and flag mistakes, as HMRC can reclaim incorrectly untaxed sums. If your notice period is not worked, PENP must be calculated by HMRC’s rules and is always taxable.
Avoid attempts to re-label contractual payments as tax-free—this can lead to HMRC penalties.
An IT specialist offered £40,000 as ‘compensation’ had £8,000 relating to notice pay. Our solicitor ensured the correct tax was paid on the notice sum, so only £30,000 was tax-free, protecting against any HMRC investigation.
Check official HMRC advice on tax on termination payments.
Key clauses and risks to watch for in your settlement agreement: confidentiality, restrictive covenants, references, and indemnities
Settlement agreements often include legal clauses that could limit your future employment or expose you to new risks, such as:
- Confidentiality: Stops you disclosing the agreement or related disputes, even to colleagues.
- Restrictive covenants: Prevent working for competitors or contacting clients or staff for a certain period.
- References: Many attach a ‘standard’ reference—ensure the wording is agreed if it’s important for future jobs.
- Indemnities: Require repayment if you breach the agreement or if HMRC seeks extra tax later.
Other risks include wavier of claims you may not recognise, like under the Equality Act 2010 or for whistleblowing.
Our solicitors review and negotiate terms where clauses are unfair, excessive, or ambiguous, acting in your best interests throughout.
Never sign a settlement agreement waiving ‘all claims’ or including broad restrictive covenants without our legal advice—these can seriously impact your rights and future work.
For more on workplace risks, see our guides on discrimination, unfair dismissal, and performance or disciplinary exits.
Step-by-step process: how does a remote settlement agreement review work in practice?
Here is the remote settlement agreement review process across England and Wales:
- Send your documents: Securely upload or email your draft agreement, payslips, and ID. We advise if anything is missing.
- Initial assessment: Our solicitor examines the agreement, payment sums, and legal risks.
- Consultation call: Arrange a same-day video or phone call. Our solicitor explains your rights and answers every question.
- Negotiation support: If you want, we handle correspondence with your employer for improved terms.
- Final advice and certificate: Once you agree, our solicitor issues and e-signs the ILA certificate, shared with you and your employer.
- Employer pays: Your employer pays our fixed fee directly—there is no charge to you.
| Remote Review Step | Time Required | What You Need |
|---|---|---|
| Document upload | 10 minutes | Draft agreement, payslips, ID |
| Solicitor review | Within 2–4 hours | No action needed; solicitor works in background |
| Video/phone consultation | 30–45 minutes | Private space, any questions you have |
| E-signing & ILA certificate | Immediate after call | Signed agreement and email access |
A schoolteacher in rural Devon uploaded their documents at 9am, had a lunchtime appointment, and signed with our certificate by 2pm—no travel or interruptions, just a fast and secure result.
For a rapid remote review, contact our solicitors at 0800 054 1144 or book your settlement agreement advice online. Your advice is always free, as your employer pays.
Why Choose Settlement Agreement Lawyers?
Our solicitors are settlement agreement specialists, SRA-regulated, and provide nationwide, rapid remote advice. We handle thousands of agreements annually, from straightforward redundancy cases to complex severance after dispute or discrimination.
Choose us for:
- Same-day appointments and fast turnaround on urgent deadlines.
- Seamless remote process—no office visit needed.
- Expert review of financial, legal, and tax aspects.
- Clear, fixed fees always within your employer’s contribution—free to you.
- Guidance on negotiation, tax pitfalls, restrictive covenants, and employment risk.
- Proof of success, as shown by our client stories.
You stay in control—our solicitors clearly explain every step, answer your questions, and act only on your instructions. Read more on our funding or see real client stories.
Never resign or accept an exit package before our solicitor has reviewed your draft agreement—you may have valuable claims or negotiating power you haven’t considered.
Frequently Asked Questions About Remote Solicitor Settlement Agreement Reviews
Can a settlement agreement be signed and reviewed entirely remotely in England and Wales?
Yes, a settlement agreement can be fully reviewed, advised on, and signed remotely anywhere in England and Wales. Legal advice via video or phone is valid so long as the solicitor is qualified and the ILA certificate is issued. Electronic signatures and scanned documents are standard and enforceable.
How quickly can I get a same-day remote review?
You can usually get a same-day remote settlement agreement review. If your documents are ready, our solicitors aim to review and consult within hours, with the ILA certificate provided the same day. Contact us as soon as you have your draft agreement for urgent cases.
Will my employer know what I discuss with my settlement agreement solicitor?
No. Your discussions with our solicitor are strictly confidential and legally privileged. Your employer or their solicitor will only receive a certificate confirming you received independent legal advice—not any details of your consultation.
Is remote advice from a solicitor legally binding for settlement agreements?
Yes. Independent legal advice from a remote solicitor is fully binding and satisfies the requirements under section 203 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, making your settlement agreement legally enforceable.
What happens if I sign without independent legal advice?
If you sign a settlement agreement without independent legal advice, it is not legally valid, and your employer cannot rely on the waiver. This means you could still bring statutory claims in an employment tribunal.
How do I securely share my documents for a remote review?
You can securely share your settlement documents using our encrypted upload portal, via secure email, or during a video or phone appointment. All data is managed in line with GDPR and SRA Client Care rules.
Will remote legal advice address tax on my settlement payments?
Yes, our remote advice covers all tax implications of redundancy, termination, and other settlement payments. Our solicitors check HMRC requirements, explain the tax treatment, and flag any errors in the agreement.
Can your solicitors help me negotiate a higher exit package remotely?
Yes, our solicitors frequently negotiate better settlement terms during remote reviews. This can include higher compensation, improved references, extended notice, or retention of benefits, depending on your situation.
A remote solicitor review ensures your settlement agreement in England and Wales is handled quickly, accurately, and with independent legal expertise. Our solicitors clarify your entitlements, check every detail, and spot negotiation opportunities so you can decide with confidence—wherever you are, without risk or travel.
Our remote service is SRA-regulated and costs you nothing, as your employer pays our fixed fee. Get genuine independent advice, same-day appointments, and comprehensive review—no hassle, no charge.
If you have a deadline or need instant help, call Settlement Agreement Lawyers on 0800 054 1144 or book your settlement agreement advice online for a same-day remote ILA appointment with our solicitors.
