Personal Injury and House Buying Solicitors in Ireland

How long personal legal services takes

A simple will can be drafted and signed within a week or two of instructions. Probate in a straightforward estate often takes several months from the date the papers are complete, because the Probate Office processes applications in turn. A separation agreement negotiated between two solicitors may take weeks or months depending on how much is agreed and how quickly both sides respond. Conveyancing-linked legal work runs alongside the property transaction and is paced by queries, searches, and the other side's solicitor. What stretches a timeline is missing documentation, an executor or family member who delays signing, a dispute about capacity or undue influence, a court list that is busy, or a client who does not return calls. Ask at the outset for a realistic estimate in weeks, not a best case, and ask what single thing most often delays a matter like yours.

What to ask before you hire

1. 01Ask which Irish professional body the person belongs to and for a letter of engagement before any work starts.
2. 02If the person is a solicitor, you can check the Law Society's roll to confirm their standing.
3. 03Ask whether the practice holds professional indemnity cover and for how much.
4. 04Ask who will actually handle the file day to day, and whether any part of the work will be sent to a barrister or another firm.
5. 05Ask how the fee will be calculated, what is excluded, and how often you will receive an update.
6. 06Ask what documents they need from you and in what form.
7. 07Ask what happens if you wish to change solicitor mid-matter.
8. 08Keep the letter of engagement, all correspondence, and every invoice in one place; if a dispute arises later, that file is your evidence.