Solicitor's application process

Step 1 of 4: Compile documents

Before beginning the application process, you must gather all the necessary documentation.

A critical first step is to provide information to Revenue about the deceased’s assets. Ensure you complete the Revenue online Statement of Affairs (SA.2) or the Inland Revenue Affidavit (further details below).

For older deaths — for example, estates from the 1970s to the 1990s — Revenue may require older Inland Revenue forms such as Form AX or Form D1 instead of Form CA24. These forms must be requested directly from Revenue. If you are unsure which form applies for the year of death, contact Revenue’s CAT (Capital Acquisitions Tax) Section for guidance.

It’s crucial to submit a complete set of documents. Incomplete applications will not be accepted and will be returned by the Probate Office or District Probate Registry.

Application checklists

Use the checklist that matches the type of grant you are applying for. These checklists set out the documents you will need and the most common issues to check before you lodge your application.

• Grant of probate
• Grant of administration intestate
• Grant of administration with will annexed
  • Titles for will annexed applications (examples)
• De bonis non grants
• Foreign domicile applications
• Ad litem grants
• Trust corporations

Ad colligenda bona applications

For ad colligenda bona applications, the Notice of Application form sets out the documents required. The summary below highlights the most common items. Requirements can vary depending on the relief granted in the court order.

Read the Notice of Application form for ad colligenda bona (main checklist)

• Oath: generally follows the format set out in SI 590 of 2020 (Oath of Administrator), with suitable amendments (for example, stating whether the deceased died testate or intestate). The type of grant applied for can depend on the relief granted in the court order.
• Original death certificate: must be lodged, or if not yet available, the Coroner’s certificate. Copies are not acceptable.
• Court fee: set fee of €100 (balance of payment for the full estate is payable when the full grant is applied for in the Probate Office).
• Bond: a bond is required.
• Revenue form: Notice of Acknowledgment (Probate). If the deceased died prior to 5 December 2001, the appropriate stamped Revenue Affidavit form is required, along with the original High Court certificate.
• Current market valuation: required if property forms part of the estate.

Step 2 of 4: Submit application

Applications by solicitors can be either hand-delivered to the Probate Office or sent by Tracked DX/Registered Post. The Probate Office you need to use depends on where the deceased lived at the date of death.

• If the deceased lived in counties Dublin, Kildare, Meath or Wicklow: you must send your completed application to the Dublin Probate Office.
• If the deceased lived in any other county within the Republic of Ireland: you can either send your completed application to the Dublin Probate Office or to the District Probate Registry for the county where the deceased lived.
• If the deceased lived outside the Republic of Ireland: you must submit your completed application to the Dublin Probate Office.

The required fee and the Notice of Acknowledgement form from Revenue must be included in all applications delivered to the Probate Office or District Probate Registry.

Important: Fees must be stamped on the Notice of Application. We cannot accept payment by fee sheet.

Step 3 of 4: Application processing

The latest information on current waiting times is always displayed on our probate home page. If you need to request expedited processing of your application, you must contact the office where you lodged the application. Expedited processing will only be considered in exceptional circumstances. The sale of a property will not be accepted as justification to expedite an application assessment.

The application processing steps are:

1. Application assessment: If queries need to be raised on the application, these will be sent by post or email.
2. Drafting the grant: If no queries need to be raised, the grant is drafted and sent to the Probate Officer for final approval.
3. Re-checking queried applications: Queried applications are re-checked once any queries have been dealt with by the solicitor and papers have been re-submitted. If all is in order, the grant is drafted as per step 2.
4. Final check and approval: Final check and approval by the Probate Officer.
5. Preparing the grant: The grant is prepared for issue.
6. Final impediments check: Final check for impediments on the day of issue (caveats, rival applications).
7. Signing the grant: Original Grant of Representation is signed by the Probate Officer.
8. Updating ROS: Application details on ROS are updated with the date of issue of the grant.
9. Posting the grant: The original grant is posted to the solicitor.

Step 4 of 4: Issuing of a grant

Once an application has gone through all assessments, the Probate Office or District Probate Registry will issue the grant of representation, provided that there are no impediments to the grant issuing.

The original grant of representation will be sent to the solicitor's office by post.