Whether you are an executor looking up a grant, a family member trying to find a will, or a researcher tracing family history, the Probate Register is the starting point. This guide explains how to search it step by step, what you will find, and where to look for older records. For a broader overview of the probate process, see our complete guide to probate in Ireland.
What is the Probate Register?
The Probate Register is a public record of all grants of representation — both Grants of Probate and Grants of Administration — issued in the Republic of Ireland. The Courts Service maintains it and makes it available to search online at no cost.
Under Irish law, wills become public documents once a grant of representation has been issued. This means anyone can search the register and, on payment of a fee, obtain a copy of a will or grant from the Probate Office. The legal basis for this is the Succession Act 1965, which requires local probate registrars to file and preserve all original wills for which a grant has been issued.
The online register covers records from 1992 onwards. For earlier records, the National Archives of Ireland holds the Calendars of Wills and Administrations dating back to 1858.
How to search the Probate Register online
The search is free, takes only a few minutes, and does not require an account.
Go to the Probate Register
Visit the Courts Service Probate Register at courts.ie/app/probate-register. The search tool is free and available to anyone — you do not need to create an account or log in.
Enter the deceased person's details
You can search by first name, last name, and year of death. If the person was known by different names, search each variation separately. Use an asterisk (*) as a wildcard — for example, “Ma*” will match both Mary and Margaret.
For Irish surnames with prefixes, leave out Mc, Mac, O', Ó, Ní, Nic, or Uí for a broader search. If you include them, add a space after Mc, Mac, and Ó (e.g., “Mac Grath”) but not after O' (e.g., “O'Neill”).
Note the record details
When you find a matching record, note the record number, the date of grant, the grant type, and the Probate Office that issued the grant. You will need these details if you want to order a copy of the will or grant.
Order copies if needed
To get a copy of the will or grant, download the Probate Office order form from the Courts Service website. Complete it with the record details you noted and send it with the appropriate fee to the Probate Office that issued the grant. You can pay by postal order, money order, or cheque payable to the Courts Service.
What information does the register show?
When you find a matching record on the Probate Register, the results display the name of the deceased, the name of the grantee (the executor or administrator), the date of death, the type of grant issued, the date the grant was issued, and a reference number identifying the issuing Probate Office.
If the grant type is listed as “Intestate,” the person died without leaving a valid will. In that case, a Grant of Administration was issued under the rules of intestacy rather than a Grant of Probate.
The register itself does not show the contents of the will or the value of the estate. To see these details, you need to order a copy of the will and grant from the relevant Probate Office.
How to order copies of a will or grant
Once you have found a record on the Probate Register, you can order an official copy of the will, the grant, or both. Download the Probate Office order form from the Courts Service website and include the record number, date of grant, and the name of the issuing Probate Office.
Send the completed form with your payment to the Probate Office that issued the grant. You can pay by postal order, money order, or cheque made payable to the Courts Service. Do not send cash.
Official copy of a will or grant
€15
Sealed/certified copy of a will or grant
€40
Official copy of both will and grant
€30
Sealed and certified copy of a grant
€20
Sealed and certified copy of a will
€20
Copy of statement of affairs
€25
Fees for ordering copies of probate documents from the Courts Service.
| Document type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Official copy of a will or grant | €15 |
| Sealed/certified copy of a will or grant | €40 |
| Official copy of both will and grant | €30 |
| Sealed and certified copy of a grant | €20 |
| Sealed and certified copy of a will | €20 |
| Copy of statement of affairs | €25 |
Where to find older probate records (before 1992)
The Courts Service Probate Register only covers records from 1992 onwards. For earlier records, the National Archives of Ireland is the primary resource. The Archives hold wills and administration records from the Probate Office for Dublin and some district registries up to 1991.
The National Archives maintains the Calendars of Wills and Administrations — annual alphabetical indexes that record the name, address, occupation, and estate value of each deceased person, along with the names of executors or administrators. The Calendars from 1858 to 1920 are searchable free online. Before 1918, the Calendars cover all of Ireland; from 1918 onwards, they cover only the 26 counties of the Republic.
1992 onwards
Courts Service Probate Register
Free online search at courts.ie
1858–1920
National Archives (Calendars)
Free online search at willcalendars.nationalarchives.ie
1923–1982
National Archives (online catalogue)
Searchable via the National Archives main website
1921–1922 and 1983–1991
National Archives (Reading Room)
In-person visit to the National Archives required
Before 1858
National Archives (microfilm)
In-person visit required — records managed by Church of Ireland before civil courts
Where to find Irish probate records by time period.
| Period | Where to search | Access |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 onwards | Courts Service Probate Register | Free online search at courts.ie |
| 1858–1920 | National Archives (Calendars) | Free online search at willcalendars.nationalarchives.ie |
| 1923–1982 | National Archives (online catalogue) | Searchable via the National Archives main website |
| 1921–1922 and 1983–1991 | National Archives (Reading Room) | In-person visit to the National Archives required |
| Before 1858 | National Archives (microfilm) | In-person visit required — records managed by Church of Ireland before civil courts |
Which Probate Office holds the records?
Ireland has a Principal Probate Registry in Dublin and 14 District Probate Registries around the country. When you search the Probate Register, the record number includes a code identifying which office issued the grant. You must send copy requests to the office that issued the original grant.
The Principal Probate Registry in Dublin covers Dublin, Meath, Kildare, and Wicklow. District registries cover the remaining counties — for example, Cork covers County Cork, Limerick covers Limerick and Clare, and Galway covers Galway and Roscommon. The full list of offices and the counties they cover is available on the Courts Service website.
Why you might need to search the Probate Register
Executors and administrators commonly search the register to confirm that a grant has been issued, to check the details of a grant for a related estate, or to obtain copies of documents needed for asset transfers. Banks and financial institutions may also need to see the grant before releasing funds.
Family members and beneficiaries sometimes search the register to find out whether probate has been granted for a loved one's estate, or to obtain a copy of the will. Solicitors use the register when acting on behalf of clients in estate matters.
Genealogists and family history researchers use both the Probate Register and the National Archives Calendars to trace ancestors. The Calendars of Wills and Administrations are particularly valuable because they record the name, address, occupation, and relationships of the deceased and their executors or beneficiaries.