Losing someone is hard enough without having to work out, on your own, whether you need a solicitor, a tax advisor, or simply some reassurance. theprobate.ie exists to take that first uncertain step off your plate — to tell you, plainly, what your estate involves and where help is worth having.
This page explains exactly how that works, with nothing hidden. It sits within our wider guide on DIY probate versus using a solicitor in Ireland, which compares the two routes on cost, time, and risk in more detail.
We are a coordination platform, not a solicitor firm. We do not do the legal work ourselves. What we do is help you understand the shape of the estate and, where it is the right call, connect you with a qualified solicitor, our tax specialist, or a valuer — so you are not left managing three relationships at once.
How the assessment works, step by step
Three steps, starting with a free online assessment. There is no obligation at any point, and you can stop, save, or call us instead whenever you like.
You answer a few questions about the estate
The free assessment asks plain-English questions about the person who died and what they left behind — whether there was a will, the main assets, who the beneficiaries are, and whether there is any property, business interest, or foreign element. There are no legal terms to decode and nothing to upload.
It takes a few minutes, and you can save your progress and come back later. Nothing you enter commits you to anything.
We show you what your estate is likely to involve
Based on your answers, the assessment gives you a plain reading of your situation: whether the estate looks straightforward enough for a personal application, where the likely complications are, and which tasks — valuations, tax filings, the grant application — are usually involved.
This is guidance, not advice. It is designed to help you understand the shape of the work ahead so you can make an informed decision about how much help you want.
We match you with the right professional — only where you need one
Where your estate needs professional help, we connect you with a vetted probate solicitor and, if tax is in play, our tax specialist. Where it does not, we will tell you that too — pointing you toward the personal application route rather than selling you something you do not need.
You stay in control. There is no obligation to proceed with anyone we suggest, and you can talk things through with us first if you would prefer.
What theprobate.ie is — and what it is not
theprobate.ie is a probate coordination platform. Our job is to help you see clearly what an estate needs and to bring the right professionals together around it. We are deliberately upfront about the boundaries of that role, because trust on something this important comes from honesty, not reassurance.
Is theprobate.ie a solicitor firm?
No. We are a coordination platform. We do not provide legal or tax advice ourselves.
Do you charge for the assessment?
No. The online assessment is free and carries no obligation to go further.
Who actually does the legal work?
A qualified solicitor we match you with. Tax questions go to our tax specialist.
Do I have to use the professional you suggest?
No. The assessment gives you a picture of your estate. What you do next is entirely your choice.
Can you help if I have already started myself?
Yes. The assessment works just as well part-way through, and a solicitor can take over from where you are.
What theprobate.ie does and does not do. We coordinate; qualified professionals handle the legal and tax work.
| Common question | The honest answer |
|---|---|
| Is theprobate.ie a solicitor firm? | No. We are a coordination platform. We do not provide legal or tax advice ourselves. |
| Do you charge for the assessment? | No. The online assessment is free and carries no obligation to go further. |
| Who actually does the legal work? | A qualified solicitor we match you with. Tax questions go to our tax specialist. |
| Do I have to use the professional you suggest? | No. The assessment gives you a picture of your estate. What you do next is entirely your choice. |
| Can you help if I have already started myself? | Yes. The assessment works just as well part-way through, and a solicitor can take over from where you are. |
The legal work is done by a qualified solicitor we match you with. Tax questions — a common place where DIY estates run into difficulty — go to our tax specialist. We coordinate; the professionals advise and act.
Why start with an assessment rather than a phone call to a solicitor
Many people do not yet know whether their situation is simple or complicated — and that single question shapes everything that follows. Booking a solicitor before you know can mean paying for advice you may not need; doing nothing can mean missing something that matters. The assessment is a low-pressure way to find out first.
There is a real choice to make. The Probate Office accepts personal applications from executors and next of kin in many cases, so a genuinely straightforward estate can often be handled without a solicitor. A solicitor is required in specific situations — for example, where the will is contested or lost, or where the applicant is under 18.
Tax is the other half of the picture. Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) is the tax someone who inherits may have to pay. It is charged at 33% on anything they inherit above their tax-free threshold. The threshold depends on their relationship to the person who died.
For inheritances taken on or after 2 October 2024, the thresholds are €400,000 for Group A, €40,000 for Group B, and €20,000 for Group C. Group A covers a child inheriting from a parent, and a parent inheriting in full from a child. Where someone who inherits is near these limits, a tax review is usually worth it.
The assessment helps you read which of these apply to you before you commit to anything. If you want to dig into the decision itself, our guide on when you need a solicitor for probate walks through the situations one by one.
If you have already started and feel stuck
Plenty of people begin probate themselves, confident it is “just forms,” and then hit a wall — a query from the Probate Office, a letter from Revenue they cannot decipher, or an asset they cannot value. If that is you, there is nothing to feel awkward about. It is one of the most common reasons people come to us.
The assessment works just as well part-way through. You tell us where you have got to and what has gone wrong, and we help you see whether it is a quick fix or a sign the estate needs professional handling. A solicitor can take over from where you left off — the work you have already done is not wasted.
For a closer look at where things go wrong and how they get fixed, see our guides on DIY probate gone wrong and probate mistakes that cost executors money.
Two ways to start — whichever suits you
Some people like to understand things in their own time before speaking to anyone; others would rather talk it through with a person first. Neither is better. The free online assessment and a phone call lead to the same place: a clear picture of the estate and the right help where you need it.
If you are not even sure probate is needed yet, that is a fine place to begin — our guide on whether you need probate in Ireland answers that first question, and the assessment picks up from there.