Maria Christine Richards

Maria Christine Richards Consultant Chartered Legal Executive

Maria is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and has over 20 years of experience practising in the largest firms in the Southwest.  Before joining Setfords she was a partner, Head of the Later Living Conveyancing team and a member of The Equity Release Council and subsequently became Head of Department. 

Maria also is also a senior examiner for the National Association of Licensed Paralegals, writes and moderates examinations and assignments and was the training manager for many years at her former firm.  Maria’s teaching experience extends from legal secretary courses to graduate and postgraduate levels in all areas of law and she is proud to have assisted over 7000 students in gaining a legal qualification of various levels over the past 15 years. 

Maria prides herself on communication with clients, referrers and agents and other professionals to ensure these close working relationships result in a smooth transaction for all involved. 

In Maria’s spare time, she enjoys various hobbies including cake decorating, baking, walking and going in the sea. She loves exploring Cornwall and all its hidden gems. 

Specialist Areas:

  • Sale and purchase of freehold and leasehold properties 
  • Equity Release 
  • Re-mortgages 
  • Co-ownership transfers 
  • Rights of way 
  • Land Registry voluntary registrations 
  • Auctions - sales and purchases 
  • Council Care Homes Deferred Charge Schemes 
  • Right to Buy - council or social housing 
  • Creation of Easements 
  • Transfers of Part 

Testimonials:

Please accept our thanks Maria for your very efficient handling of our sale and purchase.  We’ll definitely be recommending your services to others.
- Mr & Mrs A -

Thank you for all you have done for me, during this hard time of losing my wife. It is most appreciated. Setford Solicitors are lucky to have you in their team, and I was lucky to find you.
- Mr F -

I will be sure to recommend your services to people I know who are looking for a good solicitor!
- Miss T -

Accreditations & Awards

CQS logo
Trustpilot Stars Verified

Excellent from start to finish! Highly recommend!

Trustpilot Stars Verified

Superb! I was kept informed at every stage of the sale of my house. Extremely happy with this company. Couldn’t recommend them more highly!! Thank you!

Trustpilot Stars Verified

Setfords was very helpful, kept me updated all the time, and took the time to explan everything. Nothing was to much trouble for them. Highly recommended. The staff are so friendly, couldn't done...

Trustpilot Stars Verified

There’s no amount of superlatives I can give Maria and her team. Maria and Petra in particular I know went above and beyond and kept pushing and pulling to make sure we got our completion date....

Trustpilot Stars Verified

Maria was awesome from start to finish explaining any terms and issues we didn't understand and reassuring us at every step. Our sale and purchase seemed to take an age, but not due to Maria and her...

Trustpilot Stars Verified

They kept us up to date with progress and helped us by explaining any terms and issues we didn't understand. Our sale and purchase seemed to take an age, but not due to Maria and her team, their...

Trustpilot Stars Verified

I had the absolute joy of working with Maria and Petra in the Newquay branch in Cornwall. Both were prompt, knowledgeable, and clear about the process. As a first time buyer, no question was too...

Trustpilot Stars Verified

We used Setfords Solicitors for our conveyancing work and they were absolutely brilliant from start to finish. The whole team were down to earth, highly efficient, and consistently professional, ...

Trustpilot Stars Verified

Great comms, professional but friendly, good team & patient in tyring circumstances

Trustpilot Stars Verified

Maria and team handled our purchase amazingly fast ..clear explanations throughout the whole journey .

Trustpilot Stars Verified

Very fast to respond, provided lots of easy-to-understand information, just overall incredible to work with

Trustpilot Stars Verified

Maria and Petra have been absolutely outstanding throughout the very stressful sales process. It has been one of the most difficult property sales I have experienced due to inadequate legal...

Trustpilot Stars Verified

Hi a big thanks to the setfords team many thanks to Petra and Clair they are excellent at their job Jo helped me with some paper work to thanks it is nice to pick up the phone and talk to...

Trustpilot Stars Verified

Setfords were really efficient, professional and very timely with all communication. I cannot recommend them highly enough. If we ever move again, we will use them!

Trustpilot Stars Verified

I was recommended to use Setfords for conveyancing by my local independent estate agent - Maria's team based in Newquay went above and beyond to help me through selling the property in a very...

Trustpilot Stars Verified

We have had such a good experience with our recent sale and purchase, using Setfords for conveyancing. Their team was always quick to respond, made everything really clear, and nothing seemed too...

Trustpilot Stars Verified

Maria Richards at Setfords is the best conveyancing solicitor that we have ever used and we thoroughly recommend her and her efficient team. Extremely competent; organised; prompt; knowledgeable;...

Trustpilot Stars Verified

Maria Richards and her team were friendly, professional and highly efficient from first contact to completion. Whenever we phoned or emailed with a question, it was answered instantly, and we never...

Trustpilot Stars Verified

Professional, quick, efficient and thorough service. We have instructed Maria Richards in every sale and purchase we have made. I would not use any other solicitor. Maria and her team , Petra to name...

Trustpilot Stars Verified

The girls could not have done more for me, in what was a tricky, drawn out sale and purchase. I cannot praise them enough for the above and beyond service they gave me.

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