Applying for probate

Step 3 - The personal application form

To submit a personal application form to either the Probate Office or the relevant District Probate Registry, you must complete the Notice of Application for Personal Applicants and include the following:

1. Notice of Acknowledgement (Probate) form - you will have received this from Revenue
2. Original death certificate (or a Coroner's interim certificate if the death certificate has not been issued yet)
3. A photocopy of the will and any codicils. Do not send the original - we will get this from you later in the process.

If the person who died was living outside of Ireland, you may require the following from the Probate Office in the country of residency:

1. A sealed and certified copy of the grant of representation issued in the deceased's country of domicile at the date of death
2. A sealed and certified copy of the will (if any)

The Probate official dealing with your application in Ireland will let you know if this is needed.

Tips for completing a personal application form

For detailed guidance on completing the personal application form, refer to the guidance note for completing the personal application form

1. All sections (including Sections A - D) of the application form must be completed in all cases.
2. Include the full name of the person who died and any variations of the name on all documents.
3. Indicate the domicile of the person who died .
4. Include the names of all applicants in the personal application form.
5. Include only a photocopy of the will and any codicils.
6. Do not attach anything to the original will or codicils or remove any staples, pins, fasteners or binding when photocopying.
7. Include the original death certificate.
   
8. Ensure the Notice of Acknowledgement contains the details of all of the applicants that are listed in section C of the Personal Application Form.
9. Ensure all applicants have signed both the Notice of Acknowledgement and the Personal Application Form.
10. Include the last residential address of the person who died as well as the address in the will (if different).
11. Include the last residential address of the person who died, as well as the address in the will if different, at Section D of the application form, and include any other relevant former addresses of the deceased.

Submitting your application

You should send your completed application form and accompanying documents by post to the relevant office.

The probate office you need to use depends on where the person who died lived at the date of death.

• If the person who died lived in counties Dublin, Kildare, Meath or Wicklow: you must send your completed application to the Dublin Probate Office.

• If the person who died 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 person who died lived outside of the Republic of Ireland: you must submit your completed application to the Dublin Probate Office. In this case you may need to engage a solicitor. Please read Step 1 - Before You Start to confirm that you can proceed with a personal application.

This list has contact details for all offices as well as the counties that each office covers:

Find the appropriate Probate Registry