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Probate

Probate: is it needed,
and how long.

Not every estate needs a grant. Joint accounts usually pass to the survivor, nominations and policies with named beneficiaries pass outside the will, and banks release small balances under their own procedures. Three questions for a first read, then five more for a realistic timeline.

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Part one

Is a grant needed at all?

Is there property or land in their sole name?
Roughly how much sits in accounts in their sole name?
Were the main accounts held jointly with a spouse or partner?
First read

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Joint accounts pass to the surviving holder in most cases. Credit union balances covered by a nomination pass up to €27,000, and up to €18,000 can be released under the small payments provision where there is no nomination. Life policies with a named beneficiary pass outside the estate. Each bank sets its own small estate threshold, and they vary.

Part two

How long will it take?

The honest answer is a range, and it depends on the estate. Five questions for a realistic picture.

Is there a will?
Is there property in the estate?
Where are the accounts and assets?
Anything outside Ireland?
Are the beneficiaries agreed and easy to reach?
Estimated timeline
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From the paperwork starting to the estate distributed.

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One flag worth raising early

Disagreements, or beneficiaries who are hard to trace, can add months and sometimes far more. It is exactly the situation to bring to us early, quietly, before positions harden.

An estimate for guidance, not a commitment. Every estate is different, and Probate Office times change through the year. Ranges reflect Courts Service processing times, reviewed July 2026.

Bring us the list
Worth knowing

Where the time goes, and what moves it.

Gathering takes longest

Valuations, account balances at the date of death, pension and policy letters. Then the Revenue Statement of Affairs, the Probate Office queue, and collecting and distributing. A property sale adds the most.

Complete paperwork moves fastest

The Probate Office returns applications with unanswered queries to the back of the queue. A tidy application through a solicitor is the reliable route, not the slow one.

If a grant is not needed, we say so

Ten minutes with the account names and rough balances, and we will tell you straight whether a grant is needed. Institutions apply their own procedures; this page is a first read, not a determination.

Dealing with an estate?

Bring the death certificate and whatever paperwork you have. We take it from there, and we keep you posted at every stage.

Ring the office Read the probate guide