Generate an Irish Will

A will is legally valid in Ireland if it meets the requirements of Section 78 of the Succession Act 1965: it must be in writing, signed by the testator (the person making the will) at the end, and the signature must be made or acknowledged in the presence of two witnesses who also sign. Our tool generates the document content. You must then print it, sign it in the presence of two witnesses, and have both witnesses sign. The witnesses must not be beneficiaries named in the will, or married to beneficiaries.

You cannot disinherit your spouse or civil partner. Under Section 111 of the Succession Act 1965, your surviving spouse is entitled to a legal right share: one-third of your estate if you have children, or one-half if you have no children. This applies regardless of what your will says. Children do not have an automatic right to inherit, but under Section 117, a child can challenge your will within 6 months if they believe you failed in your moral duty to make proper provision for them.

In 2026, Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) is 33% on inheritances above the threshold. Group A (parent to child): EUR 400,000. Group B (sibling, niece, nephew, grandchild): EUR 40,000. Group C (everyone else): EUR 20,000. Transfers between spouses and civil partners are fully exempt. Reliefs including Dwelling House Exemption, Agricultural Relief (90%), and Business Relief (90%) may reduce the tax.

Yes. Under Section 85 of the Succession Act 1965, marriage automatically revokes any existing will unless the will was made in contemplation of that specific marriage. If you get married or enter a civil partnership, you should make a new will. Divorce and judicial separation can also affect certain provisions in an existing will.

We recommend a solicitor if your estate involves business assets, foreign property, a blended family with children from previous relationships, trusts, complex tax planning, or if your estate significantly exceeds the CAT thresholds. For straightforward estates where you want to leave your assets to your spouse, children, or other named beneficiaries, our tool produces a fully compliant document. You can find a solicitor on SolicitorCompare.ie.