You can get independent advice on a settlement agreement entirely online. You send the documents by email, your solicitor reviews them and advises you by video, and you sign the agreement while your solicitor signs the adviser's certificate, electronically or by post. It works the same wherever you are in England and Wales.
This guide sets out each step, what to have ready and how long it usually takes.
Why location does not matter
The rules on settlement agreements, mainly section 203 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 and the Acas Code of Practice, apply across England and Wales. Your adviser must be a qualified lawyer, insured, independent of your employer and named in the agreement. Nothing requires you to meet in person.
The steps
1. First contact and conflict check
Give the solicitor your employer's name and the deadline you have been given. The solicitor checks that they do not act for your employer or have any other conflict. Do not send the agreement until this is done.
2. Scope and fee confirmed in writing
Before any work starts, you should receive a short engagement letter: what is included, the fee, and how your employer's contribution will be used. See who pays for settlement agreement advice.
As a solicitor I also need to check your identity. This is done online, usually with a photo of your passport or driving licence and a short video check.
3. Send the documents
Usually by email:
- the draft settlement agreement and any covering letter;
- your contract of employment;
- recent payslips;
- letters or emails about your exit; and
- details of any bonus, commission, shares or benefits.
The full list is in what to prepare for independent advice.
4. Review
Your solicitor reads the agreement against your contract and pay details: whether the payments are correct, how they are taxed, what claims you are giving up, and whether any terms are unusual. See settlement agreement tax.
5. Advice meeting by video
Usually 30 to 60 minutes. Your solicitor explains the terms and their effect, including the effect on your ability to bring a tribunal claim, and answers your questions. Many solicitors confirm the key points in writing afterwards.
6. Clarifications
If drafting points need to be raised, such as a payment date, an agreed reference or the wording of a confidentiality clause, your solicitor raises them with your employer or its lawyers. A standard review usually includes one round of clarification. Negotiating better terms is separate work.
7. Signing
When the terms are final, you sign the agreement and your solicitor signs the adviser's certificate, which confirms that you have been advised and that the adviser is insured. Many employers accept electronic signatures. Otherwise the documents are printed, signed and returned by post or scan.
8. Payment
Your employer pays the agreed sums, usually within a set number of days of receiving the signed documents. It pays your solicitor's fee contribution directly.
How long does it take?
A straightforward review is often completed within a few working days of receiving the documents. Delays usually come from waiting for documents, a revised draft from the employer, or negotiation.
The Acas Code says you should usually be given at least 10 calendar days to consider the written terms and take advice, unless both sides agree otherwise. If your deadline is shorter, tell your solicitor at the start.
Tribunal time limits keep running
Considering a settlement offer does not stop the clock on tribunal claims. Since 1 October 2026, most employment tribunal claims must be brought within six months, and you usually have to contact Acas for early conciliation first. If you think you have a claim, raise it early.
Next step
I advise employees across England and Wales online, and in most cases the fee is paid by the employer. See the settlement agreement service page or send me your employer's name and your deadline through the enquiry form. If your agreement is part of a redundancy, see what to check before you sign.
Questions people often ask
Does my solicitor need to be local to me?
No. Settlement agreement law is the same across England and Wales, and the advice can be given by video. What matters is that your adviser is a qualified, insured, independent lawyer, such as a solicitor of England and Wales.
Can the adviser's certificate be signed electronically?
Often, yes. Many employers accept electronic signatures for the agreement and the certificate. Some still ask for a wet-ink signature, in which case the documents are signed and posted or scanned. Check what your employer requires.
How long does it take?
A straightforward review can often be completed within a few working days of receiving the documents, depending on your employer's timetable and how quickly any clarifications are answered.
Sources
This page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. It reflects the law in England and Wales as at 30 October 2026. Reading it, or sending an enquiry, does not create a solicitor–client relationship.