Buying, selling & remortgaging
Sales, purchases, new builds and remortgages, handled by an accredited team that keeps you informed from offer to keys.
Family-owned solicitors · Chelmsford & Leigh-on-Sea
Essex solicitors who’ve got your back.
Moving home, planning for the future, facing a problem at work or growing a business: our 65+ specialists give you straight answers, clear costs and real support from the first call to the final signature.
Trusted across Essex, London and beyond
- Conveyancing Quality Scheme Law Society accredited
- SRA regulated SRA number 533174
- Disability Confident employer
- Mortgage lender panels on all major panels
How we can help
Expert help for life’s big moments and your business’s.
Specialist teams for individuals, families and businesses, working together under one roof so you get the right expert first time.
Wills & Lasting Powers of Attorney
Protect the people you love with a properly drafted will and LPAs, with free storage of your will in our secure strong room.
Probate & estates
Calm, practical help after a bereavement, from obtaining the grant of probate to administering and settling the estate.
Problems at work
Dismissed, facing redundancy or been handed a settlement agreement? Find out where you stand and what you’re entitled to.
Property & personal disputes
Disagreements with a landlord, an ex-partner over a shared home, or about an inheritance, resolved with a clear strategy.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us what’s happening and we’ll put you in touch with the right specialist. Your first 30 minutes are free.
Book a free consultation or call 01245 893400Employment law & HR
Contracts and handbooks, disciplinaries, grievances, redundancies and tribunal defence: practical advice that protects your business and your people.
Corporate & commercial
Shareholder agreements, contracts and terms, company formation, mergers, acquisitions and management buyouts.
Commercial property
Buying, selling and leasing commercial premises, with clear advice on the true costs, risks and obligations.
Business disputes
Shareholder, supplier, customer and tenant disputes, injunctions and online defamation, handled decisively.
Debt recovery
Get paid what you’re owed and protect your cash flow, from a letter before claim through to court and enforcement.
Training & HR Hamper
Employment law training for managers and staff, plus HR Hamper: online training videos with quizzes and personalised certificates.
Why Backhouse
Serious legal expertise. Refreshingly human.
Visiting a solicitor shouldn’t feel daunting. Since 2005 we’ve built a firm around a simple idea: everyone deserves expert advice they can understand, from people who are genuinely on their side.
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01
Straight answers
Plain English, honest advice and clear next steps. We’ll tell you exactly where you stand, even when it isn’t what you hoped to hear.
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02
Clear, upfront costs
Published fees, all-inclusive quotes and fixed prices wherever we can. Your first 30 minutes with a specialist are free.
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03
People who pick up
You’ll always know who is handling your matter and how to reach them. It’s something our clients mention again and again in their reviews.
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04
Specialists under one roof
Property, private client, employment, commercial and disputes teams working together, so you’re covered whatever comes next.
65+legal experts and support staff
4.9/5average rating from 1,700+ online reviews
20+years as Backhouse, family-owned since 2005
1799roots, through Duffield Stunt Solicitors
- 1799
Duffields is founded, the oldest part of the history we carry today.
- 2005
Employment law specialist Minal Backhouse founds Backhouse Solicitors in Chelmsford.
- 2015
We join forces with Duffield Stunt Solicitors, bringing more than two centuries of legal heritage into the firm.
- 2024
We open in Leigh-on-Sea to serve clients across south Essex.
- 2026
Our new Leigh-on-Sea home opens at 105 Broadway, with 65+ people across two offices.
Getting started
Three simple steps to clear advice.
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Tell us what’s happening
Call, email or send a quick message. We’ll listen, then put you in touch with the right specialist.
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Your free 30-minute consultation
Talk it through with an expert, with no obligation. You’ll come away understanding your options and what happens next.
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A clear plan and a clear price
We’ll explain your options, the likely timescales and what it will cost before any work begins.
Client reviews
Don’t just take our word for it.
So helpful, friendly and patient it was like someone holding my hand…
Visit us
Two offices. One team.
Meet us in Chelmsford city centre or on Broadway in Leigh-on-Sea, helping clients across Essex, London and beyond.
Chelmsford
Head office- 17 Duke Street
Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1JU - 01245 893400
- Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6pm
Leigh-on-Sea
Now on Broadway- 105 Broadway
Leigh-on-Sea, Essex SS9 1PG - 01702 410880
- Appointments available, call to book
Charity of the Year 2026
Proud to support Farleigh Hospice
From golf days to the Walk for Life, our team fundraises all year round, and we take part in Farleigh’s annual Make a Will campaign.
Read the storyCareers
Build your career with us
From apprenticeships to qualified roles, join a 65+ strong team that invests in your development.
Insights
Practical guidance from our experts.
Free initial consultation
Tell us what’s happening. We’ll take it from there.
Ready to instruct us, or just want to understand your options? Your first 30 minutes with a specialist are free, with no obligation.
Phone lines open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6pm