For a Galway purchase, give a prospective solicitor the property details and any known planning, access or alteration questions before comparing quotes. Establish whether the relevant planning records are held by Galway City or Galway County Council.
Start with the correct planning authority
Galway City and Galway County have separate planning-search services. Use the appropriate official portal to collect reference numbers and documents for the property. A search result is a starting point for questions; it is not a legal opinion that the building and its present use comply with every requirement.
If an extension, attic conversion or changed access appears in the listing, note the description, the documents supplied and anything you cannot match. Ask the solicitor which records and professional reports are needed. Do not replace that enquiry with an assumption that a building is compliant because it has been occupied for years.
Send a short property brief
| Include in the brief | Ask the solicitor |
|---|---|
| Address and sale particulars | Which authority and title records need checking? |
| Alterations mentioned by the seller | What evidence is needed before signing? |
| Access or shared driveway | How will rights and obligations be verified? |
| Mortgage and proposed timetable | What lender-related work is included? |
Compare the legal service, not a county-wide price
Use the Law Society search to check the firm, request an itemised estimate and identify who handles the file. Explain your property questions when requesting the quote so extra work is not hidden behind an unexplained standard fee. Keep written answers with the engagement terms; this guide does not rank or endorse Galway firms.
An access-and-services brief for a rural purchase
| Focus | Action or question |
|---|---|
| Access | Describe the road and any shared route or maintenance arrangement. |
| Services | List private water, wastewater and service connections needing document review. |
| Responsibility | Ask the solicitor which matters belong to title enquiries and which require an engineer or surveyor. |
Your next step
Compare an itemised solicitor quote