The safest way to send documents to your solicitor

You've found a solicitor, booked a call, and now they want ID, three months of bank statements and your payslips. The obvious move is to attach them all to an email to the address on their website.

It works. It's also the least safe of the options you have.

What's the best way to send documents to a solicitor?

The best way is the one your solicitor asks for. Many firms have a portal or send you a secure upload link, and using it means your documents go straight to them rather than through two inboxes.

If they haven't told you, ask before you send anything. "How would you like me to send my documents?" is a normal question, and a good firm will have an answer.

Why email attachments are risky

An email with your passport attached doesn't disappear once it's read. It stays in your sent folder, their inbox, and any backup either of you has, for years. If either account is ever compromised, so is your passport.

Email is also easy to misaddress. One wrong letter in a firm's domain and your documents go to a stranger.

Check the bank details by phone, not by email

Solicitors handle money, and that makes them a target for fraud. The Solicitors Regulation Authority has guidance on scams aimed at clients.

The habit that protects you most is simple. If you get an email telling you where to send money, or that bank details have changed, phone the firm on a number you found yourself and check before you pay.

There are safer ways than an attachment

A firm's own client portal is usually the best option, because the documents go straight into the system that holds your file.

An upload link is the next best. Your solicitor sends you a link, you open it, choose your files and upload. You don't need an account, and nothing sits in your email.

With TinyX, firms set these up on our Pro and Max plans, and you can read how they work in upload links: a file inbox anyone can send to.

If neither is offered, a password-protected link that expires is better than an attachment. Send the link by email and the password by text or phone, so one intercepted message isn't enough.

If you're sending documents yourself

TinyX lets anyone send a file on a link with a password and an expiry, including on the free plan. Files up to 150 MB fit on Free, which covers scans and PDFs comfortably.

Set the expiry to a few days, or a download limit of one or two. When it's reached, the file is deleted and the link shows a dead page.

Then tell your solicitor the link is coming and send the password separately.

A few habits to drop

Don't post originals unless you've been asked to, and keep copies of anything you send. Don't send documents through social media messages or to a personal email address someone gives you over the phone.

And don't share a cloud folder set to "anyone with the link". Those links don't expire on their own, as we explain in Google Drive will expire a named share. "Anyone with the link" will not.

If you're the firm, the fix is on your side

If clients still email you their ID, the fix is on your side. Send every new client an upload link with their engagement letter. Our posts on secure file sharing for law firms and the ShareFile alternative cover the options.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to email documents to my solicitor?

It's common, but it leaves copies in both inboxes and can be misaddressed. Use the firm's portal or upload link if it has one.

What documents does my solicitor need?

That depends on your matter and the firm's checks, so ask them.

Can I send documents to a solicitor by WhatsApp?

Only if the firm asks for it. Most firms will prefer their own portal or an upload link.

How do I know an email from my solicitor is genuine?

If it asks for money or changes bank details, phone the firm on a number you found yourself before acting.

If your solicitor hasn't offered a secure route, you can send a password-protected, expiring link from the free plan.