Probate Offices.

The Probate Office.

The Probate Office deals only with what is termed the 'non-contentious' probate jurisdiction of the High Court.

The main functions of the office are:

The admission of wills to proof.

The issuing of grants of probate and administration.

The preservation of probate records for inspection and the provision of certified copies of probate documents.

The processing of court applications to the probate judge.

Role of the Probate Officer and Assistant Probate Officer.

The Probate Officer and Assistant Probate Officer have the power to;

Prove and condemn wills
Issue Grants of Probate and Administration
Issue citations and subpoenas
Make Orders and Rulings pursuant to the Rules of the Superior Court 1986.

Decisions and orders of the Probate Officer, Assistant Probate Officer or Deputy Probate Officer can be set aside only by order of the court.

The Probate Office comprises four public offices.

The General Office:

Responsible for maintaining records of all grants of representation which have issued and for providing copies of probate documents. Requests received by post for copies of probate documents. Contact the general office at probategeneraloffice@courts.ie

The Seat Office:

Assessing applications for grants of probate or administration lodged by solicitors and their agents. Solicitors may contact the Seat Office in regard to probate applications at ProbateSeatOffice@courts.ie

The Rules Office:

Responsible for searching records to ensure that there is no impediment to the issuing of grant of representation. Filing and issuing of citations, caveats, subpoenas, court motions and Probate Office motions. Issuing of court orders from the Probate Court list, Probate Officer's orders and Side Bar orders made pursuant to the Rules of Court.

The Probate Personal Applicants Section:

Applicants for grants of probate or administration may apply personally through the Personal Applicants section of the office which operates pursuant to order 79 rule 74 to 80 of the Rules of the Superior Courts. Enquiries in regard to personal applications may be made by email to probatepersonalapplications@courts.ie.

District Probate Registries.

In addition to the Probate Office there are fourteen District Probate Registries located outside Dublin.

These registries are attached to Circuit Court Offices under the control of County Registrars.

They have authority to issue grants of representation where the deceased, at the time of his/her death, had a fixed place of abode within the area of jurisdiction of the District Registry.

For example, if the person died having a place of abode in Co. Clare, the application for a grant of probate may be made to the District Probate Registry at Limerick.

The application may be made in person or through a solicitor.

This page updated: 25 June 2009