Probate paperwork can feel overwhelming, especially when different forms come from different organisations. This guide explains every form you are likely to encounter during the probate process in Ireland, who needs each one, and where to find it.
If you are applying for a Grant of Probate yourself, you will need two core forms: one from the Courts Service and one from Revenue. Beyond those, there are specialist forms for specific situations — contesting a grant, stepping down as executor, or correcting an error.
Overview: which form do you need?
The table below summarises the most common probate forms. The right form depends on your situation — whether there is a will, whether you are applying personally or through a solicitor, and the date of death.
Personal Application Form
Apply for a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration yourself
Courts Service
Personal applicants
Statement of Affairs Form SA.2
Declare the estate's assets, debts, and beneficiaries to Revenue
Revenue (myAccount or ROS)
All applicants (deaths from 5 Dec 2001)
Inland Revenue Affidavit (CA.24)
Declare estate details for deaths before 5 December 2001
Revenue
All applicants (deaths before 5 Dec 2001)
Caveat
Stop a Grant from issuing while you raise an objection
Probate Office
Anyone with a beneficial interest
Renunciation of Probate
Formally step down as executor before you act
Probate Office
Named executors who do not wish to act
Copy Order Form
Request copies of a Grant or will from the Probate Office
Probate Office
Anyone
Common probate forms in Ireland (Courts Service and Revenue, 2026).
| Form | Purpose | Where to get it | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Application Form | Apply for a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration yourself | Courts Service | Personal applicants |
| Statement of Affairs Form SA.2 | Declare the estate's assets, debts, and beneficiaries to Revenue | Revenue (myAccount or ROS) | All applicants (deaths from 5 Dec 2001) |
| Inland Revenue Affidavit (CA.24) | Declare estate details for deaths before 5 December 2001 | Revenue | All applicants (deaths before 5 Dec 2001) |
| Caveat | Stop a Grant from issuing while you raise an objection | Probate Office | Anyone with a beneficial interest |
| Renunciation of Probate | Formally step down as executor before you act | Probate Office | Named executors who do not wish to act |
| Copy Order Form | Request copies of a Grant or will from the Probate Office | Probate Office | Anyone |
How to identify the right forms for your situation
Follow these steps to work out which forms you need based on your circumstances.
Determine the type of grant you need
A Grant of Representation is the legal order that gives you authority to deal with the estate. There are three types:
- Grant of Probate — when there is a valid will and you are named as executor
- Letters of Administration — when there is no will (intestacy) and you are the nearest next of kin
- Letters of Administration with Will Annexed — when there is a will but the named executor cannot or will not act
Personal applicants can apply for both a Grant of Probate and Letters of Administration using the same Personal Application Form. Letters of Administration with Will Annexed involves additional requirements — professional help can be useful but personal applications are accepted.
File the Statement of Affairs Form SA.2 with Revenue
For deaths on or after 5 December 2001, complete the Statement of Affairs (Probate) Form SA.2 online through Revenue's myAccount or ROS (Revenue Online Service) portal. This form declares the estate's assets, liabilities, and beneficiaries (the people who inherit).
The SA.2 replaced the old Inland Revenue Affidavit (Form CA.24) in September 2020. Once submitted, Revenue issues a Notice of Acknowledgement. Print this and have all applicants sign it — you need it for your Probate Office application.
Complete and submit the Personal Application Form
Download the Personal Application Form from the Courts Service website. Complete it and post it to the Probate Office with:
- The signed Notice of Acknowledgement from Revenue
- The original death certificate (or a coroner's interim certificate)
- A photocopy of the will and any codicils (amendments) — do not send the original
If the person who died lived in Dublin, Kildare, Meath, or Wicklow, submit to the Dublin Probate Office. For other counties, you can apply to Dublin or the relevant District Probate Registry.
Attend your Probate Office appointment
The Probate Office schedules an appointment approximately 10–12 weeks after receiving your application. At the appointment, a probate official reviews your documents and asks you to swear or affirm an oath. You pay the Probate Office fee at this stage.
The Grant is usually posted within three weeks of your appointment. For a full walkthrough of fees and costs, see our guide to probate costs in Ireland.
The Revenue form: Statement of Affairs (SA.2)
The Statement of Affairs (Probate) Form SA.2 is the first form you complete when applying for any type of Grant of Representation. It is filed online through Revenue's myAccount or ROS portal and declares the full details of the estate — assets, debts, and who inherits.
Revenue introduced the SA.2 in September 2020 to replace the paper Inland Revenue Affidavit (Form CA.24). The online form is designed to reduce errors and remove the need for a follow-up Corrective Affidavit (Form CA.26) in most cases.
Forms for specific situations
Renunciation: stepping down as executor
If you are named as executor in a will but do not wish to act, you can formally renounce the role by completing a Renunciation of Probate form. This form is available from the Courts Service website under the solicitor forms section.
You must renounce before you take any step to administer the estate. Once you begin acting as executor, you generally cannot step down later without a court order. After a renunciation, the next person entitled under the will (or the nearest next of kin) can apply for Letters of Administration with Will Annexed.
Caveat: stopping a probate application
A caveat is a formal objection that prevents the Probate Office from issuing a Grant until the objection is resolved. You might file a caveat if you question whether the will was validly signed, whether the person who made it had mental capacity, or whether they were subject to undue influence.
Filing a caveat costs €100. The person applying for the Grant can challenge the caveat by issuing a warning (€30), which must be served within 14 days. The person who filed the caveat then has 14 days to lodge an appearance (€30). If no appearance is filed, the caveat can be set aside. If an appearance is filed, the matter usually requires a court order to resolve.
Correcting errors: Form CA.26 and SA.2A
Mistakes happen. How you correct an error depends on which form you originally filed. If you filed the online SA.2, you can make corrections through Revenue's myAccount or ROS. For paper SA.2 filings, contact Revenue's National CAT Helpline to request an Amending Statement of Affairs Form (SA.2A).
For the older Inland Revenue Affidavit (CA.24), submit a Corrective Affidavit (Form CA.26) to Revenue, along with a copy of the Grant of Representation and administration bond (if applicable). The CA.26 is only for material errors or omissions — not for changes in value that occur after the date of death.
Solicitor-only forms
When a solicitor applies on your behalf, they use a different set of forms from the Courts Service. These include the Oath of Executor, the Notice of Application, and (for intestacy or administration cases) an Administration Bond. Solicitors also handle the various affidavits that may be needed — such as an Affidavit of Testamentary Capacity or Affidavit of Attesting Witness.
You do not need to worry about these forms if you are making a personal application. If your situation requires a solicitor — for example, a lost will, a disputed estate, or a case where the deceased was domiciled outside Ireland — the solicitor manages all the paperwork on your behalf.
When you must use a solicitor
The Probate Office requires you to use a solicitor in certain circumstances. You cannot make a personal application if:
- The applicant is under 18
- The original will is lost
- The validity of the will is in question
- There are disputes among next of kin
- The deceased was domiciled outside Ireland — for example, if the will is in a foreign language
- The applicant lacks the legal capacity to make decisions
- The applicant does not live in the Republic of Ireland, and there are beneficiaries (other than the spouse) who will inherit €20,000 or more
The Probate Office may also direct you to use a solicitor at any stage if they consider the estate too complex for a personal application.
Should you get professional help?
For straightforward estates with a valid will and no disputes, many executors complete the forms and apply for probate themselves. The Personal Application Form and Statement of Affairs Form SA.2 are designed for people without legal training.
However, if the estate involves property, foreign assets, business interests, or multiple beneficiaries with different expectations, professional guidance can prevent costly delays. A solicitor handles the paperwork, and a tax advisor ensures the Revenue filing is accurate — particularly important for estates with cross-border exposure.