Learn Hardcore Japanese: zyuuminhyou no kouhu ni sakidatte, siyakusyo ga sinseisyo wo kakuninsuru. - Prior to issuing the resident record, city hall checks the application form.

Breakdown of juuminhyou no koufu ni sakidatte, shiyakusho ga shinseisho o kakuninsuru.

What does に先立って mean in this sentence?

に先立って means before, prior to, or in advance of.

So:

住民票の交付に先立って = before issuing the resident record / prior to the issuance of the resident record

This expression is more formal than 前に. It often appears in official, written, or procedural language.

Compare:

住民票の交付に先立って、市役所が申請書を確認する。
= Before issuing the resident record, city hall checks the application form.
住民票を交付する前に、市役所が申請書を確認する。
= A less formal way to say almost the same thing.

Why is there a の in 住民票の交付?

Here, の connects two nouns:

So 住民票の交付 means the issuance of the resident record.

This is a very common noun-linking pattern in Japanese:

In English, this often corresponds to of.

Why is 交付 a noun here instead of a verb?