Probate in Ireland: The Complete Guide

Probate is often described as if it were one form.

It is not.

After someone dies, the person dealing with the estate may need to:

• establish whether there is a valid will;
• identify who is legally entitled to act;
• value assets and debts;
• file information with Revenue;
• apply for the correct Grant of Representation;
• answer Probate Office queries;
• collect or sell assets;
• pay debts and taxes;
• and finally distribute the estate.

That entire journey can take months.

This guide reflects Courts Service and Revenue information checked on 5 October 2026.

For making the will itself, read How to Make a Will in Ireland.

If there is no will, see What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Ireland?.

What is probate?

The Courts Service describes probate as a legal process that may be required after somebody dies.

The grant confirms who has legal authority to deal with the deceased person’s estate.

That can include authority to:

• access sole bank accounts;
• transfer or sell property;
• collect investments;
• deal with shares;
• settle debts;
• deal with tax;
• distribute the estate.

The umbrella term is a Grant of Representation.

“Probate” is often used casually for all grants, but technically the type of grant depends on the circumstances.

The three common grant types

Grant of Probate

Used where:

• there is a valid will; and
• an executor named in the will is applying.

The executor is the person appointed by the will to administer the estate. Our Executor of a Will in Ireland guide covers the role and duties in detail.

Grant of Administration Intestate

Used where the deceased died without a valid will.

The person applying is an administrator, not an executor.

The estate is distributed under the statutory intestacy rules.

Grant of Administration with Will Annexed

Used where:

• there is a valid will;
• but no executor is able or willing to take the grant.

The person entitled under the rules — commonly a residuary beneficiary after the executors have been cleared off — can apply.

The will still governs the distribution.

The difference is who receives authority to administer it.

Do you always need probate?

No.

The Courts Service gives examples where a formal grant may not be required.

Jointly owned assets

Certain jointly owned assets can pass directly to the surviving joint owner.

The Courts Service specifically notes that assets jointly owned between spouses can often pass without probate.

The legal form of ownership matters.

Small bank accounts

The Courts Service notes that where a sole bank account contains less than €20,000, the financial institution may not require a Grant of Representation.

That is not a universal legal threshold forcing every bank to release funds.

Each institution can have its own requirements.

Always ask the bank or investment provider what it needs.

When is a grant usually needed?

A Grant of Representation is commonly needed where the deceased owned significant assets in their sole name.

Examples include:

• a house or land in the deceased’s sole name;
• substantial bank deposits;
• investment accounts;
• shares;
• business interests;
• assets in Ireland belonging to somebody who died abroad.

If a house has to be sold or transferred from the deceased’s sole name, the grant will usually be central to the conveyancing process.

Step 1: find the will

If there may be a will, locate the original.

Potential places include:

• the deceased’s solicitor;
• home safe;
• bank safe custody;
• another professional storage arrangement.

Do not alter the original.

The Courts Service warns personal applicants not to:

• attach documents to it;
• remove staples;
• remove pins;
• remove fasteners;
• otherwise disturb its physical condition.

The condition of a will can matter during probate.

Step 2: identify who is entitled to apply

There is a will

Start with the executor or executors named in the will.

An executor can:

• apply;
• reserve rights in appropriate circumstances;
• renounce in appropriate circumstances.

If no executor can act, the application can become an Administration with Will Annexed case.

There is no will

The nearest next-of-kin priority applies.

The Courts Service currently summarises the order beginning with:

1. spouse or civil partner;
2. child;
3. children of a predeceased child;
4. parent;
5. brother or sister;
6. descendants of a predeceased sibling;
7. nieces and nephews;
8. grandparents;
9. uncles and aunts;
10. more remote next-of-kin.

The detailed rules come from succession law and the Rules of the Superior Courts.

Read Dying Without a Will in Ireland for the inheritance shares themselves.

Step 3: identify the estate

Before the formal probate application can be completed properly, the personal representative needs a clear picture of what the deceased owned and owed.

That usually means identifying:

Assets

• home;
• other property;
• land;
• bank accounts;
• credit union accounts;
• investments;
• shares;
• vehicles;
• business interests;
• valuable possessions;
• foreign assets;
• jointly held assets;
• nominated assets.

Liabilities

• mortgage;
• loans;
• credit cards;
• tax liabilities;
• unpaid bills;
• funeral expenses where relevant;
• other debts.

The value used in the probate process is not simply a guess.

Valuations may be required.

Date-of-death valuations

Revenue’s SA.2 requires details of the deceased person’s assets and liabilities.

That can mean obtaining valuations for:

• property;
• shares;
• investments;
• businesses;
• land;
• valuable assets.

The valuation work can be one of the reasons probate takes time before the application is even lodged.

Step 4: complete Revenue Form SA.2

For a person who died on or after 5 December 2001, Revenue’s current probate process uses the Statement of Affairs (Probate) Form SA.2.

Revenue states that it is the first step in applying for a Grant of Representation.

The SA.2 replaced the old CA24 Inland Revenue Affidavit for these modern estates.

What information goes into the SA.2?

Revenue says the form can require:

• applicant details;
• details of the deceased;
• deceased’s PPSN;
• beneficiary details;
• beneficiary PPSNs;
• values of benefits;
• solely owned assets;
• jointly owned assets;
• nominated assets;
• liabilities;
• the will and codicils where relevant.

That means the SA.2 should not be approached before the estate information has been gathered.

How is the SA.2 filed?

It can be filed electronically through:

• myAccount; or
• Revenue Online Service (ROS).

When submitted successfully, Revenue generates a Notice of Acknowledgement (Probate).

That Notice of Acknowledgement is then used in the Probate Office application.

Revenue states that the Probate Office will only accept the application where the required Notice of Acknowledgement is included.

Can a personal applicant file a paper SA.2?

Only in limited circumstances.

Revenue says personal applicants may request permission for paper filing where electronic filing is not reasonably possible because of issues such as:

• insufficient internet access;
• age;
• mental capacity;
• physical capacity.

Solicitors and other intermediaries are expected to use the electronic process.

Step 5: prepare the probate application

The exact documents depend on the grant type.

A typical application can involve items such as:

• application/notice form;
• original death certificate;
• original will and codicils where relevant;
• Revenue Notice of Acknowledgement;
• oath/bond or current portal equivalent;
• required affidavits in special circumstances;
• probate fee.

The Courts Service publishes separate document checklists for each grant type.

Do not assume the paperwork for an intestate estate is identical to a Grant of Probate.

Personal application versus solicitor application

You are not required to use a solicitor for every probate application.

Some people make a personal application.

But there is a major practical difference between:

• a simple estate with a clear will and uncomplicated assets;
• and an estate involving disputes, foreign assets, missing documents, business property, unusual family structures or title problems.

The second category can become technically difficult very quickly.

When a personal application may be realistic

A personal application may be more manageable where:

• the will is straightforward;
• executor is clearly identified;
• all beneficiaries are known;
• assets are easy to value;
• no foreign property;
• no family dispute;
• no uncertainty over capacity or execution;
• no complicated company/farm/trust issues.

Even then, the applicant must follow the Court and Revenue procedures carefully.

When a solicitor becomes particularly valuable

Consider professional probate advice where there is:

• contested will;
• disagreement between beneficiaries;
• missing original will;
• foreign assets;
• foreign domicile;
• farm or business;
• insolvent estate;
• complicated property title;
• renouncing executors;
• vulnerable beneficiaries;
• trust;
• Section 117 claim;
• cohabitant claim;
• unusual tax relief;
• large estate.

Errors can delay the grant considerably.

Personal applicants: current Dublin waiting time

The Courts Service’s processing-times page, updated 28 September 2026, states that there is currently a 10–12 week waiting time for personal-applicant appointments with the Dublin Probate Office.

That is an appointment wait.

It is not a promise that the entire estate will be administered within 10–12 weeks.

Solicitor applications: current processing

The Courts Service also publishes current lodgement dates being processed.

As of 28 September 2026, the Dublin Probate Office said it was processing:

• new solicitor paper applications lodged on 29 June 2026;
• new personal applications lodged on 27 July 2026.

These are queue indicators, not guaranteed processing times for every case.

The Courts Portal

A newer online Probate Portal is available for certain solicitor applications.

Current eligibility is narrower than many people assume.

At present:

• only solicitor/legal-firm applications are supported;
• only Grants of Probate are supported;
• personal applications are not yet supported;
• foreign-domicile cases are not supported;
• the death must be on or after 5 December 2001;
• applicants must be adults with capacity and named executors in the will.

How fast is the Probate Portal?

The Courts Service says eligible portal applications are currently being processed in approximately 3–4 weeks from lodgement, provided no queries arise.

Its detailed Portal guidance says the Probate Office aims to assess an application within roughly 7–10 working days after receiving the original will and cover sheet, with the grant generally issuing within a further 7–10 working days where there are no problems.

That is substantially faster than some paper routes.

But it is not available for every estate.

Probate fees in Ireland

For a full breakdown of court fees, solicitor charges, valuations, conveyancing and worked estate examples, see Probate Costs & Fees in Ireland.

Court fees depend on the route and the net value of the estate.

Solicitor applications

Net estate value	Current court fee
Up to €100,000	€100
Up to €250,000	€200
Up to €500,000	€350
Up to €750,000	€500
Up to €1,000,000	€650
Each additional €500,000 or part above €1m	€400

These are Probate Office fees.

They are not the solicitor’s professional fee.

Personal applications

Net estate value	Current court fee
€1–€100,000	€200
€100,001–€250,000	€400
€250,001–€500,000	€700
€500,001–€750,000	€1,000
€750,001–€1,000,000	€1,300
Over €1m	€1,300 + €800 per €500,000 or part above €1m

A personal application therefore does not mean the court process is free.

Why are personal application court fees higher?

The Courts Service publishes separate fee schedules for personal applicants and solicitor applications.

The personal-applicant court fees are currently higher.

That is only one part of the cost comparison.

A solicitor application also includes professional legal fees charged by the solicitor.

So compare:

personal court fee

with:

solicitor court fee + professional fee

rather than only comparing the Probate Office fee table.

How much does a solicitor charge for probate?

There is no single national fixed solicitor fee for every estate.

Professional fees depend on matters such as:

• estate value;
• number of assets;
• property sales;
• tax work;
• beneficiaries;
• complexity;
• disputes;
• foreign elements.

Ask for a clear fee estimate and what work it covers.

Separate:

• probate application work;
• conveyancing;
• tax returns;
• litigation;
• estate administration;

where possible.

Is there a “probate tax”?

No single tax called “probate tax” applies simply because probate occurs.

People often mix together:

• Probate Office court fees;
• solicitor fees;
• Capital Acquisitions Tax;
• income tax;
• CGT arising during administration;
• stamp duty or conveyancing costs in particular transactions.

These are separate issues.

Inheritance tax

A beneficiary can owe Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) depending on:

• relationship to the deceased;
• amount inherited;
• prior taxable benefits;
• available reliefs/exemptions.

Probate establishes authority to administer the estate.

CAT determines tax on the inheritance.

Read Inheritance Tax in Ireland or use the calculator below.

What happens if the Probate Office raises a query?

Queries are common where documents do not line up.

Examples include:

• names differ between documents;
• addresses differ;
• will execution is unclear;
• estate values conflict;
• applicant’s entitlement is wrong;
• death details differ;
• original documents are missing;
• wrong grant type used.

A query pauses progress until the issue is resolved.

That is why accurate preparation matters.

What can cause a probate application to be delayed?

Common causes include:

Missing original will

A copy creates a different legal problem from an original.

Name discrepancies

For example:

• Michael Murphy;
• Michael J. Murphy;
• Mick Murphy.

The application may need to account for all names used.

Executor problems

An executor may have:

• died;
• renounced;
• lost capacity;
• moved abroad;
• become uncontactable.

Property valuations

A house, land or business may need professional valuation.

Family-tree uncertainty

Especially in intestacy.

Foreign assets

Cross-border administration can involve another jurisdiction.

Tax

Revenue information can take time to assemble.

Disputes

A caveat or contentious probate dispute can stop an ordinary grant process.

Can probate be expedited because a house is being sold?

Do not rely on that.

The Courts Service specifically states that the Dublin Probate Office does not expedite applications simply to facilitate a property sale.

That means selling the house before the grant is ready can create timing risk.

If a property sale is likely, factor probate into the conveyancing timeline early.

What happens after the grant issues?

Receiving the grant is not the end.

It gives the personal representative the authority to administer the estate.

The representative may then need to:

1. collect bank and investment funds;
2. transfer or sell property;
3. settle debts;
4. deal with tax;
5. deal with specific gifts;
6. prepare estate accounts;
7. distribute residue.

A grant can issue months before the estate is fully wound up.

How long does probate take in Ireland?

There is no single honest answer.

There are at least three different clocks:

1. Preparation time

Before lodging:

• find will;
• identify beneficiaries;
• collect asset information;
• obtain valuations;
• file SA.2.

2. Probate Office processing time

Depends on:

• personal vs solicitor;
• paper vs eligible portal;
• queries;
• office workload.

3. Estate administration time

After the grant:

• property sale;
• debts;
• tax;
• disputes;
• beneficiary tracing;
• foreign assets.

So when somebody says:

“Probate takes six months”

ask which stage they mean.

Current 2026 timing snapshot

As of the Courts Service update on 28 September 2026:

• Dublin personal applicants: 10–12 week appointment wait;
• eligible solicitor Portal applications: roughly 3–4 weeks from lodgement if no queries arise;
• paper solicitor and personal queues were processing older lodgement dates.

These timings can change.

Check the Courts Service processing-times page when you are actually applying.

What if the deceased died more than two years ago?

Additional valuation requirements can arise.

Courts Service guidance states that for certain applications made more than two years after death, a Statement of Current Market Value may be required for property/estate values used in the oath.

This is another reason old estates can become more complicated.

Can you distribute money before probate?

Be cautious.

A personal representative has duties to:

• identify liabilities;
• pay debts;
• deal with tax;
• protect beneficiaries;
• distribute correctly.

Some assets can pass outside probate or financial institutions may release small balances.

But distributing the estate before liabilities are known can expose the representative to risk.

What if there is not enough money to pay the debts?

That is an insolvent-estate issue.

Do not pay beneficiaries first.

The order in which debts and expenses are paid becomes legally important.

Use professional advice before distributing anything from an estate that may be insolvent.

What if somebody challenges the will?

A probate dispute can involve:

• testamentary capacity;
• undue influence;
• improper execution;
• later will;
• missing will;
• fraud/forgery;
• Section 117;
• spouse/civil-partner rights.

A caveat can be used in relevant circumstances to prevent a grant issuing while the dispute is addressed.

Contentious probate is solicitor territory.

What is a caveat?

A caveat is a formal mechanism used to stop a grant issuing without notice to the person who lodged it.

The current Courts Service fee for lodging a caveat is €100.

It should not be used casually as leverage in a family disagreement.

If you are considering one, get probate advice.

Is probate public?

Once a grant has issued, wills and grants can generally become accessible through probate records and copy-request processes.

The Courts Service publishes fees for official and certified copies.

That is different from a private will sitting in storage during the testator’s lifetime.

Probate and jointly owned property

Jointly owned property needs to be analysed separately.

A jointly owned asset may pass by survivorship and never fall into the estate available for distribution.

A tenancy-in-common share, by contrast, can form part of the deceased’s estate.

The title documents matter.

Do not assume “joint name” always means the same legal result.

Probate and a mortgage

If the deceased owned a mortgaged property, the executor/administrator must establish:

• mortgage balance;
• mortgage protection cover;
• ownership structure;
• lender requirements;
• whether the property will transfer or be sold.

Mortgage debt does not disappear because the owner died.

Insurance may clear some or all of it depending on the policy.

Probate and cohabiting couples

An unmarried partner can be particularly vulnerable.

A cohabitant is not automatically an executor.

They are also not automatically an intestacy beneficiary in the same way as a spouse/civil partner.

A qualifying cohabitant may have a statutory redress claim in certain circumstances.

Read What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Ireland?.

Probate checklist

Before applying, establish:

Authority

• Is there a will?
• Is it the original?
• Who are the executors?
• Is anybody renouncing?
• What grant type is needed?

Estate

• property;
• accounts;
• investments;
• pensions/death benefits;
• business interests;
• vehicles;
• foreign assets;
• joint assets;
• debts.

People

• beneficiaries;
• next-of-kin;
• PPSNs;
• addresses;
• possible claims.

Documents

• death certificate;
• will/codicils;
• valuations;
• Revenue SA.2;
• Notice of Acknowledgement;
• Probate Office forms;
• any special affidavits.

Common probate mistakes

Calling every grant “probate”

The correct grant type matters.

Filing the wrong grant application

Executor, administrator and will-annexed applicants have different legal titles.

Completing SA.2 before finding the assets

You need proper estate values.

Assuming a personal application is instant

Dublin personal-applicant appointments currently have a substantial wait.

Assuming the Portal is open to everybody

It currently supports only certain solicitor Grant-of-Probate applications.

Removing staples from the will

Do not disturb the physical original.

Treating the grant as the end

Estate administration continues afterwards.

Distributing before tax and liabilities are settled

That can create personal-representative risk.

Frequently asked questions

What is probate in Ireland?

Probate is the process through which the person legally entitled to administer a deceased person’s estate obtains authority to deal with relevant assets.

What is a Grant of Probate?

It is the usual grant where there is a valid will and an executor named in that will applies.

What happens if there is no will?

The usual grant is a Grant of Administration Intestate and the estate is distributed under the intestacy rules.

What is Form SA.2?

The Statement of Affairs (Probate) Form SA.2 is Revenue’s online probate statement for deaths on or after 5 December 2001. It is generally completed before the Probate Office application.

How much does probate cost?

Current Probate Office fees range according to estate value and are different for solicitor and personal applications. Solicitor professional fees are separate.

How long does probate take?

There is no fixed total. As of late September 2026, Dublin personal applicants faced a 10–12 week appointment wait, while eligible solicitor Portal applications were being processed in roughly 3–4 weeks if no queries arose. Estate administration can take much longer.

Can I apply for probate myself?

Yes in suitable cases. Personal applications remain available, but the online Courts Portal does not currently support personal applicants.

Do I need probate for a joint bank account?

Not necessarily. Certain jointly owned assets can pass directly to the surviving joint owner.

Do I need probate for a small bank account?

The Courts Service notes that an institution may release a sole account below €20,000 without a grant, but each financial institution sets its own requirements.

Is probate the same as inheritance tax?

No. Probate concerns authority to administer the estate. CAT concerns tax on gifts/inheritances received by beneficiaries.

The Compound wills, probate & inheritance cluster

Start with:

• How to Make a Will in Ireland
• What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Ireland?
• Probate in Ireland: Complete Guide — this page
• Inheritance Tax in Ireland

Next satellites should cover:

• Executor of a Will in Ireland: Duties & Responsibilities;
• Probate Costs & Fees in Ireland;
• How Long Probate Takes;
• Applying for Probate Yourself vs Using a Solicitor;
• Spouse & Civil Partner Legal Right Share;
• Children and Section 117 Claims;
• How to Find a Will / Search the Probate Register;
• Inheriting a House in Ireland.

The bottom line

Probate is easiest to understand as a sequence:

authority → valuation → Revenue SA.2 → grant application → grant → administration → distribution.

The most common mistake is focusing only on the day the grant issues.

The real job is administering the estate correctly from the date of death until every asset, liability, tax issue and beneficiary entitlement has been dealt with.