Probate Court Fees: What Does the Probate Office Charge?

When you apply for a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration in Ireland, the Probate Office charges a filing fee based on the net value of the estate. These are the fees you pay directly to the Courts Service — separate from any solicitor fees, tax advisor costs, or valuations. For a full breakdown of all probate expenses, see our guide to probate costs and fees in Ireland.

The fee differs depending on whether you apply personally (a personal application) or through a solicitor. Solicitor applications attract lower Probate Office fees because the solicitor has already verified and prepared the paperwork. Personal applications require more Probate Office staff time, which is reflected in higher charges.

How Probate Office fees are calculated

The fee is calculated on the net value of the Irish estate. This means the total value of all assets located in Ireland — property, bank accounts, investments, and personal possessions — minus any Irish debts and liabilities. Foreign assets are excluded from the fee calculation.

The current fee schedule is set by S.I. No. 80 of 2021 (the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2021), effective from 1 March 2021. These fees apply to both Grants of Probate (where there is a will) and Letters of Administration (where there is no will).

Personal application fees

If you apply for probate yourself — without a solicitor — through the Probate Office's personal application process, you will pay the following fees based on the net estate value.

For estates over €1,000,000, you pay €1,300 for the first million plus €800 for each additional €500,000 or part thereof. For example, an estate valued at €1,400,000 would incur a fee of €2,100 (€1,300 + €800).

Solicitor application fees

If a solicitor lodges the probate application on your behalf, the Probate Office charges lower fees. The solicitor typically includes these fees as part of their overall bill, but it helps to know what the Probate Office portion is.

Personal vs solicitor fees compared

The table below puts both fee schedules side by side so you can see the difference at each estate value band. Solicitor applications cost exactly half the personal application fee at every level.

Additional Probate Office charges

Beyond the main filing fee, the Probate Office charges for specific services. You may not need all of these, but it helps to know what they cost before they appear on a bill.

Most executors will need at least one or two official copies of the Grant (€15 each). Banks, the Land Registry, and insurance companies typically require a certified copy before they release assets. Ordering several copies upfront saves time.

How to pay Probate Office fees

The Probate Office accepts payment by debit card, credit card, or official fee card from a Courts Service Stamp Office. Cash is not accepted. Payment is made when you lodge your application.

Because estate bank accounts are usually frozen until the Grant is issued, the executor often pays the filing fee from their own funds and reimburses themselves from the estate afterwards. This is a legitimate estate expense. If you are working with a solicitor, they will typically pay the fee as part of their outlays and include it in their final bill.

Where to lodge your application

Where you apply depends on where your loved one lived. If they lived in Dublin, Kildare, Meath, or Wicklow, you apply to the Dublin Probate Office (the Principal Probate Registry). For all other counties, you can apply either to the Dublin Probate Office or to the relevant District Probate Registry.

There are 14 District Probate Registries across Ireland — in Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Kilkenny, Wexford, Tralee, Clonmel, Castlebar, Letterkenny, Sligo, Dundalk, Cavan, and Mullingar. The full list with contact details is available on the Courts Service website. The fee schedule is the same regardless of which office you use.

Should you apply personally or through a solicitor?

A personal application saves on solicitor fees and is manageable for straightforward estates — a valid will, one property or fewer, cooperative beneficiaries, and no tax complications. The Probate Office provides guidance for personal applicants and you attend an in-person appointment where an official reviews your paperwork.

Professional help is worth considering when the estate involves multiple properties, business interests, foreign assets, or potential disputes between beneficiaries. Errors on a personal application can result in rejection, which does not carry an additional fee but does add weeks or months to the timeline. For more on why probate takes so long, see our dedicated guide.