Wills & Probate FAQ

A single professionally drafted will costs €150–€350 (incl. VAT). Couple's mirror wills are €250–€550 (incl. VAT). All fees are fixed and agreed before work begins — no hourly rates, no surprises. See our full pricing page.

No. Our entire service is remote — by phone, video call and post. You complete a short questionnaire, have a 30-minute consultation with your solicitor, review your draft will and sign it at home with two witnesses. No office visit is ever required, no matter where in Ireland you live.

A valid Irish will must: (1) be in writing; (2) be signed by you (the testator) in the presence of two witnesses; (3) be signed by both witnesses in your presence. Witnesses must be adults and cannot be beneficiaries of the will or married to a beneficiary. You must be 18 or over (or married) and have mental capacity.

The Succession Act 1965 governs intestate estates. Your spouse receives two-thirds; children share the remainder. Unmarried partners — regardless of how long you have been together — receive nothing. Stepchildren, close friends, siblings and charities also receive nothing unless specifically named in a will. A will is essential for anyone who is not married or who has complex family circumstances.

You can, but it carries legal risk. Under Section 117 of the Succession Act 1965, a child who feels they have not been adequately provided for can apply to court to have the will varied. The court considers the child's needs and the testator's means. Your solicitor advises on structuring wills to minimise the risk of a successful Section 117 claim.

Yes. A will can be revoked at any time while you have capacity. You can revoke a will by destroying it, by making a new will, or by marriage (marriage automatically revokes an existing will in Ireland). Divorce does not revoke a will. You should review your will after any major life event: marriage, divorce, birth of a child, significant change in assets.

A comprehensive will typically covers: appointment of executors; appointment of guardians for minor children; specific bequests (jewellery, sentimental items, vehicles); residue of the estate (who gets everything else); funeral wishes; advance health care directives. Your solicitor guides you through all of this during your consultation.

Probate is the legal process of administering a deceased person's estate. It involves obtaining a Grant of Probate (where there is a will) or Letters of Administration (intestate) from the Probate Office, which authorises the executor or administrator to deal with the estate. Probate is generally required when a person owns property in their sole name, has a bank account above a certain threshold, or has shares or other investments.

Typically 9–18 months. Simple estates with a clear will, one property and straightforward beneficiaries can sometimes complete in 8-10 months. Complex estates with multiple properties, foreign assets, disputed debts or CAT planning requirements take longer. Your solicitor handles all Revenue filings and communications with the Probate Office to minimise delays.

The Revenue Affidavit (Form CA24) is a sworn statement of the deceased's assets and liabilities at the date of death, filed with Revenue as part of the probate process. It includes all property, bank accounts, shares, life assurance policies and debts. Your solicitor prepares and files the CA24 on behalf of the executor.

Not always. Probate may not be required if: the estate consists mainly of jointly owned property (which passes automatically to the survivor); if all assets are below certain financial institution thresholds; or if the estate has already been dealt with informally among family. Your solicitor can advise whether probate is needed in your specific situation.

Where there is no will, the estate is distributed under the Succession Act 1965 (see above). Instead of a Grant of Probate, the administrator applies for Letters of Administration. The process is similar but takes longer as the next of kin must be identified and a bond may be required. Your solicitor handles intestate estates across all 26 counties.

An EPA lets you appoint a trusted person (your "attorney") to make legal, financial and personal decisions on your behalf if you lose mental capacity. Under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015, EPAs must be registered with the Decision Support Service (DSS). An EPA must be executed while you have full mental capacity.

A will only takes effect after you die. An EPA is effective during your lifetime if you lose capacity. Without an EPA, your family cannot legally manage your finances or make decisions about your care — they would need to apply to court for a Decision Support arrangement, which is expensive, slow and distressing. An EPA and a will together provide complete protection.

The Decision Support Service (DSS) is a statutory body established under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 to register and supervise EPAs and other decision support arrangements. All new EPAs must be registered with the DSS before they can be used. Your solicitor handles DSS registration as part of the EPA service.

An Enduring Power of Attorney costs €400–€700 (incl. VAT) at willsolicitor.ie. This includes preparation of the EPA document, consultation, DSS registration guidance and signing instructions. There may be a DSS registration fee in addition — your solicitor will advise on the current fee at the time of instruction.

Yes. All fees are fixed and documented in a written engagement letter before work begins. You will never receive an unexpected bill. For wills, the fixed fee includes drafting, one round of revisions, signing guidance and will storage. For probate, a fixed fee is agreed after your solicitor reviews the estate details.

Most clients complete the full process in 1–2 weeks. Your solicitor aims to provide a draft will within 3–5 working days of receiving your completed questionnaire. If you need a will urgently (for example, if you are going into hospital), your matched solicitor can prioritise your matter — just mention it in your request.

The quickest way is to submit a request. We'll match you with a local solicitor who will explain the process, answer your questions and give you a clear quote.