Declaration of Trust for Co-Owned Property

A declaration of trust for co-owned property in Ireland records who owns what share of a property and what happens if it is sold. When co-owners contribute unequal deposits or repayments, a declaration of trust records each owner’s share and what happens on sale, buy-out or death. In this service, a solicitor would draft the declaration to reflect your contributions and agreed shares so that it can be relied on later.

What’s included

• A professionally drafted declaration of trust for co-owned property
• Reflecting your contributions and agreed shares
• Covering what happens on sale, buy-out or death
• Self-complete template with guidance notes — you fill it in yourself
• Documents tailored to Irish law and your circumstances, delivered by email
• A written summary of the key points and anything you need to do afterwards

Who this is for

• Couples or friends who contributed unequal deposits
• Parents who contributed to a child’s home purchase and want their share recorded
• Co-owners who pay different shares of the mortgage
• Existing co-owners who want to formalise their shares

How it works

1. Find a solicitor through the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory and send them the basic details and any existing documents or correspondence.
2. Complete a short questionnaire about your circumstances.
3. A solicitor would then draft the declaration of trust to reflect your contributions and agreed shares.
4. The completed work is delivered to you by email, with plain-English notes on what to do next.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a declaration of trust cost in Ireland?

This page is a free guide — nothing on it is for sale. Solicitors set their own fees for this work and must give you a written costs estimate (a section 150 letter) before starting. Get quotes through the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory.

Why would co-owners need a declaration of trust?

Without one, it may be unclear how the proceeds of a sale should be divided where contributions were unequal. A declaration of trust records the agreed shares in writing.

Does a declaration of trust affect a mortgage?

The declaration records the arrangement between the co-owners. Where there is a mortgage, the lender’s rights generally take priority, and a solicitor would take this into account.

For more on buying, owning and using property, see our Property & Conveyancing in Ireland guide.

If you would like to be told when solicitor services are available again on this site, you can join our no-fee waiting list. To instruct a solicitor now, use the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory.