A quick checklist of tasks for the seller's solicitor in Northern Ireland are:

• examination of ownership documents.
• preparing and sending a sale contract with the ownership documents on loan to the buyer's solicitor.
• helping the seller complete detailed disclosure questionnaires.
• applying for property certificates from the Department of the Environment and local council.
• applying for Bankruptcy and Court Judgement searches against the seller.
• applying to the Land Registers for searches against the seller to make sure all outstanding mortgages or registered debts are taken into account.
• having the seller complete and settle detailed lists of fixtures, fittings and contents included or excluded from the deal.
• ensuring the seller has an Energy Performance Certificate for the property.
• obtaining exact financial details of debts owned to the lender, estate agent, ground landlord and others in preparation for discharge on completion.
• considering any amendments to the contract after the buyer has signed once the contract has been received back from the buyer's solicitor and settling any problems which have arisen.
• having the contract countersigned by the seller and put into legal effect by faxing a copy of the contract to the buyer's solicitor.
• having the seller sign transfer documents in preparation for completion.
• on completion day paying off all mortgages and charges against the property and applying for release documentation.
• informing the Rates Office of the buyer's name and forwarding any refund to the seller.
• accounting to the seller for the net proceeds of the sale after debts and expenses are paid off.
• completing the registration of release documentation to free the property from previous debts.
• closing the solicitor's file and storing it for twelve years in case of future disputes.

Legal content supplied by Wilson Nesbitt Solicitors.