Will & Probate Fees Ireland

Fixed-Fee Pricing

Your matched solicitor charges fixed, all-inclusive fees for will drafting and Enduring Powers of Attorney. There are no hidden costs, no hourly billing surprises, and no extras. The price you are quoted is the price you pay — all inclusive of VAT at 23%.

All fees include VAT at 23%. DSS registration fees (charged directly by the Decision Support Service) are additional for EPA matters. Probate Office fees and third-party costs (valuations, Land Registry) are quoted separately.

What's Included in Your Will Fee

Your matched solicitor's fixed will fee is not a budget service — it is a comprehensive, professional service that covers:

• Free initial consultation (by phone or video) to discuss your circumstances, family situation, and wishes.
• Expert advice on executor selection, guardian appointments for minor children, trust provisions, and specific bequests.
• Professional drafting of your will to the highest legal standard, by a solicitor with 25+ years' experience.
• Review and revisions — your solicitor will send you a draft to review and will make any amendments you request.
• Signing guidance — full written and verbal instructions on how to sign and witness your will correctly at home, so it is legally valid without an office visit.
• Secure storage advice — your solicitor will advise you on where and how to store your will safely.
• No time limit — if your circumstances change and you need a new will, your solicitor's advice on when and how to update is always available.

Probate and Estate Administration Fees

Probate and estate administration fees are not fixed in the same way as will fees, because the complexity of estates varies enormously. Factors that affect the fee include:

• The value and complexity of the estate.
• The number and type of assets (particularly whether property needs to be transferred or sold).
• Whether it is a testate (with a will) or intestate estate.
• Whether any Revenue queries arise.
• Whether there are foreign assets requiring coordination with overseas lawyers.
• Whether any beneficiary disputes arise.

Your solicitor provides a clear, written fee quote before commencing any probate work. You are under no obligation to proceed after receiving a quote. The quote will set out:

• your solicitor's professional fee (inclusive of VAT).
• Probate Office filing fees (currently €200 for estates above €50,000).
• Any anticipated third-party costs such as property valuations, Land Registry fees, and stamp duty.

There are no hidden extras. If circumstances change and additional work is required beyond the original quote, your solicitor will notify you and agree a revised fee before proceeding.

Is a Solicitor's Will Worth the Cost?

Absolutely. Here is why the €150–€350 for a single will — less than many people spend on a single dinner out — is one of the best investments you will ever make:

The Risk of DIY Wills

Ireland does not register wills, and there is no official check on a will until probate is applied for — often years after the will was made. A DIY will that contains a technical defect may appear perfectly valid in a drawer at home, only to be challenged or rejected at probate. Common problems include:

• Invalid witnessing — a will witnessed by a beneficiary (or their spouse) is not void, but the gift to that witness/spouse is void under the Succession Act 1965. Many people do not know this.
• Marriage automatically revokes a will — if you made a will before marrying and forgot to update it, it is revoked in full. Your estate will pass under the intestacy rules, not your will.
• Ambiguous wording — unclear descriptions of beneficiaries or assets can lead to expensive court applications to interpret the will.
• Missing provisions — failure to appoint a guardian for minor children, failure to include a "residue" clause, or failure to name a substitute beneficiary can all cause problems.
• Online will templates — many are drafted for English law, not Irish law, and contain clauses that are inapplicable or misleading under the Succession Act 1965.

The cost of rectifying a defective will through the courts can run to thousands of euros — many times the cost of a professionally drafted will.

Charity Will Schemes

Free will schemes run by charities involve a solicitor drafting your will for free in exchange for you considering a charitable bequest. These schemes are legitimate and do produce valid wills, but they are not always the right choice. You may feel implicit pressure to include a charitable gift, the service may be transactional rather than personalised, and the solicitors involved may not be specialists in wills and probate law. At €150–€350, your matched solicitor's fixed fee is excellent value and leaves you entirely free to distribute your estate exactly as you wish.

Payment Options

Your solicitor accepts payment by bank transfer, cheque, or card. For will drafting, payment is made on completion of the work. For probate matters, a reasonable stage payment or deposit may be requested at the outset, with the balance on completion.

What Other Costs Arise?

Beyond your solicitor's professional fee, here is a summary of the third-party costs that commonly arise:

Your solicitor will set out all anticipated third-party costs in your written quote so you have a complete picture from the outset.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why is a solicitor's will better than a DIY will?

  A DIY will is far more likely to contain technical defects — invalid witnessing, ambiguous wording, or missing provisions — that can invalidate it entirely or cause costly disputes after your death. Online templates are often based on English law and may not comply with the Irish Succession Act 1965. Marriage revokes a prior will in Ireland, a fact many people are unaware of. At €150–€350, a solicitor-drafted will is exceptional value for the certainty and peace of mind it provides.

• Are there other costs beyond the solicitor's fee for a will?

  No — your solicitor's fixed fee for will drafting is all-inclusive. There are no government registration fees for wills in Ireland, and no other costs unless you later need certified copies (which is rare and very inexpensive). The fee covers everything from the initial consultation through to signing guidance and completion of your will.

• What does probate cost in Ireland?

  Probate fees depend on the complexity and value of the estate. Your solicitor provides a written quote before any work begins. In addition to solicitor's fees (which vary by estate), other costs include: Probate Office fees (€200 for estates over €50,000), property valuations (€150–€350), Land Registry fees for property transfers, copy grants (€4 each), and any stamp duty. Your solicitor will set out all of these in your quote so there are no surprises.

• Do charity will schemes give me a free will?

  Free will schemes run by charities produce valid wills but ask you to consider leaving a charitable bequest. For many people this is a good option. However, the service is often less personalised than a specialist wills practice, and you may feel some implicit pressure to include a charitable gift. At €150–€350, your matched solicitor's fixed fee is very competitive and leaves you completely free to leave your estate as you wish, with the benefit of 25+ years of specialist wills and probate expertise.

• Can I pay by instalments?

  For will drafting, the full fee is payable on completion of the work — typically when your final will is ready for signing. For probate and estate administration, your solicitor may request a reasonable deposit at the outset with the balance on completion of the work. Your solicitor accepts bank transfer, cheque, or card payment. If you have concerns about payment, please discuss this at your initial consultation — your solicitor aims to make his services accessible to everyone who needs them.