Making a Will in Ireland: The 2026 Guide That Actually Helps
Making a will in Ireland is one of the simplest and most important pieces of legal admin you will ever do — and most people in Ireland still die without one. This 2026 plain-English guide explains who needs a will, what it costs, what happens if you die without one, and how to make one that actually works.
Quick answer: Making a will in Ireland costs from around €150 for a straightforward single will and €250–€400 for a couple’s mirror wills. To be valid under the Succession Act 1965, your will must be in writing, signed by you in front of two witnesses (who must not be beneficiaries), and made while you have full mental capacity. Without a will, your estate is divided by fixed legal rules — not by your wishes — and your children, partner, or charities of choice may get nothing.
Do I need a will in Ireland?
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Get your will done online from €99: Online Will Drafting Service · pair it with an Enduring Power of Attorney.
Almost certainly, yes. If you own property, have savings, have children under 18, have a long-term partner you are not married to, run a business, or simply want a say in who inherits what — you need a will. The default intestacy rules in the Succession Act 1965 distribute your estate by fixed shares regardless of what you would have wanted.
What happens if you die without a will in Ireland?
If you die intestate (without a will), the Succession Act 1965 sets the shares as follows:
- Spouse / civil partner only (no children): spouse takes everything
- Spouse and children: spouse takes two-thirds, children share one-third
- Children only (no spouse): children share everything equally
- No spouse, no children: parents, then siblings, then nieces/nephews, then more distant relatives
- No relatives at all: the estate passes to the State
Crucially, an unmarried partner — no matter how long you have lived together — gets nothing under intestacy. Stepchildren you have not adopted also receive nothing. This is the single biggest reason cohabiting couples in Ireland need wills.
What can you put in your will?
A will can do far more than divide assets. A properly drafted Irish will can:
- Appoint executors to administer your estate (see our executor of a will guide)
- Appoint guardians for your children under 18
- Leave specific gifts (a piece of jewellery, a sum of money, a car) to named people
- Leave the residue (everything else) to one or more beneficiaries
- Set up a trust — for example, for a child until they reach 21 or 25
- Make a charitable bequest to a cause you care about
- Express funeral wishes (these are not legally binding but are usually followed)
How to make a will in Ireland — the legal requirements
Under the Succession Act 1965, a will is only valid if:
- It is in writing (typed or handwritten — handwritten “holograph” wills are valid but error-prone)
- You are over 18 (or married, if younger)
- You have testamentary capacity — broadly, you understand you are making a will, what assets you have, and who you might be expected to provide for
- You sign at the end of the document
- Two witnesses both watch you sign, and then sign themselves in your presence
- Neither witness — nor their spouse — is a beneficiary in the will. If a beneficiary witnesses your will, the gift to them fails.
What does it cost to make a will in Ireland?
Solicitors’ fees for wills in Ireland vary, but typical fixed fees in 2026 are:
- Single will: €150–€250
- Mirror wills for a married couple or civil partners: €250–€400 for the pair
- Will with trusts or business assets: €400 and up
You can technically write a will yourself for free using a template, but we generally do not recommend it. The most common reasons home-made wills fail are: witnessing errors, ambiguous wording, missing the residuary clause, and outdated assumptions about who owns what. The cost of a properly drafted will is small compared with the cost of contested probate.
The Section 117 rule — leaving children out
Irish law does not give children an automatic right to inherit, but Section 117 of the Succession Act 1965 allows a child to apply to court if the parent has “failed in their moral duty” to make proper provision. If you intend to leave one child more than another (or nothing to a particular child), get legal advice — there are ways to structure this that reduce the risk of a successful challenge.
Updating your will — when and how
You should review your will after any major life event: marriage, divorce, having children, the death of a beneficiary or executor, buying or selling property, or any large change in your assets. Marriage automatically revokes a previous will in Ireland (unless the will was specifically made in contemplation of that marriage), so newly-weds often need to rewrite.
You update a will either by writing a fresh one (the simpler option) or by adding a “codicil” — a short signed and witnessed amendment. Never try to change a will by writing on it or sticking notes to it.
Where to store your will
The original will is the only one that has legal effect on death. Common storage options in Ireland are: with the drafting solicitor (usually free), in a bank safety deposit box, or at home in a fireproof safe. Tell your executor where the original is — many estates have been delayed for months because nobody could find the will.
Making a will when you have assets abroad
If you own property in another country, an Irish will may not cover those assets, or may conflict with local forced-heirship rules (common in France, Spain, and Italy). Get advice on whether you need a separate will for each jurisdiction, or whether an EU Succession Regulation election should be included.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to make a will in Ireland?
A straightforward single will from an Irish solicitor typically costs €150–€250 in 2026. Mirror wills for a couple are €250–€400 for the pair. More complex wills involving trusts, businesses, or assets abroad cost more.
Is a handwritten will valid in Ireland?
Yes — a handwritten (holograph) will can be valid if it meets the Succession Act 1965 requirements: signed by the testator at the end and witnessed by two independent witnesses. The risks are practical: ambiguous wording, missing residuary clauses, or witnessing errors. Most challenged wills in Ireland are home-made.
Can I disinherit my spouse in Ireland?
Not entirely. A spouse or civil partner has a “legal right share” — one-third of the estate if there are children, one-half if there are no children — which they can claim regardless of what the will says. Children have no automatic share but can apply under Section 117 of the Succession Act 1965 if the parent failed in their moral duty.
Does marriage cancel my will in Ireland?
Yes. Marriage or civil partnership automatically revokes any earlier will, unless the will was expressly stated to be made in contemplation of that marriage. Always make a new will after marrying.
Can I leave a gift to charity in my Irish will?
Yes — charitable bequests are common and can reduce the inheritance tax bill on the rest of the estate. Use the charity’s exact registered name and charity number to avoid ambiguity.
Get a fixed-fee will from an Irish solicitor
Making a will in Ireland is one of the most useful pieces of legal admin you can do — and the cost is far less than people expect. If you want a clear, fixed-fee quote with a qualified Irish solicitor, book a consultation. We will tell you what we will do, what it will cost, and how long it will take, before you commit.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Every situation is different. For advice on your specific circumstances, please consult a qualified Irish solicitor. Online Legal Services is regulated by the Law Society of Ireland.
Need help with this? Fixed-fee help from regulated Irish solicitors: Fixed-Fee Conveyancing · Talk to a Property Solicitor.
How to Write a Will: Making a Valid Last Will and Testament in Ireland
Your last will and testament only works if it is legally valid. Under the Succession Act 1965, a valid Irish will must meet all of these requirements: you must be 18 or over (or married) and of sound disposing mind; the will must be in writing; you must sign it at the end in the presence of two witnesses present at the same time; and both witnesses must then sign in your presence. A witness (or a witness’s spouse) cannot inherit under the will — the will stays valid, but their gift fails, which is one of the most common and costly DIY mistakes.
How to Write a Will: Step by Step
- List your assets — property, accounts, pensions, life policies, digital assets.
- Decide who benefits, remembering the legal right share of a spouse or civil partner.
- Appoint an executor (and a substitute) you trust to carry out the will.
- Name guardians and consider trusts if you have children under 18.
- Sign and witness it correctly — this is where most homemade wills fail.
- Store it safely and tell your executor where it is.
- Review it after major life events. Marriage automatically revokes a will (unless it was made in contemplation of that marriage); divorce does not.
A solicitor-drafted will removes the validity risk for less than the cost of a night out — our solicitor-drafted will service starts at €59.
