Gathering the right paperwork is the part of probate you can start on straight away, and getting it complete early saves weeks later. This checklist walks through every document you need and where to find it. If you are still weighing up whether to apply yourself, our guide to DIY probate versus hiring a solicitor explains when a personal application is realistic and when it is not.
Most of these documents support a single official form: Revenue's Statement of Affairs (Probate) Form SA.2. You complete the SA.2 online before you lodge anything with the Probate Office, so having the paperwork ready in advance is what keeps the whole process moving. The step-by-step in our guide to the probate application form shows where each document fits.
The documents you need for probate
Work through these five groups in order. Each one feeds the SA.2 and your application to the Probate Office.
The original will and any codicils
If your loved one left a will, you will need the original document, not a photocopy. A codicil is a signed amendment to a will — if there are any, gather those too. You upload a copy of the will and codicils to Revenue when completing the SA.2, then keep the originals safe.
When you lodge your application, the Probate Office asks for a photocopy of the will, not the original. Do not attach anything to the original, and do not remove staples, pins, or binding when copying it. The Probate Office requests the original later in the process.
The original death certificate
You will need the original death certificate, which you order from the General Register Office or any civil registration office once the death has been registered. A Coroner's interim certificate is accepted if a full death certificate has not yet issued.
It is worth ordering several certified copies at the outset. Banks, insurers, and other institutions each ask to see one when you notify them of the death, and obtaining extras later can add weeks of waiting.
PPS numbers for the deceased and every beneficiary
The SA.2 requires the Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) of the person who died and the PPSN of every beneficiary who inherits from the estate. The form will not progress without them, so gather these early.
If a beneficiary does not have a PPSN — for example, someone living abroad — they will usually need to apply for one before the application can be completed. Missing or incorrect PPSNs are a common cause of delay, so confirm each number against an official document.
A full schedule of assets, valued at the date of death
Revenue requires details of all assets held solely, jointly, and by nominationat the date of death. Every value must reflect what the asset was worth on the day your loved one died — not today's value. Build a written schedule so nothing is missed.
Typical assets to account for include:
- Bank, credit union, and An Post accounts— request a written balance as at the date of death from each institution
- Property and land— a market valuation at the date of death, ideally from a qualified valuer
- Life assurance policies— the amount payable, confirmed by the insurer
- Shares, pensions, and investments— date-of-death values from the provider
- Vehicles, household contents, and other valuables — a realistic market value
A list of liabilities and beneficiary details
The SA.2 also asks for all liabilitiesowed at the date of death — mortgages, loans, credit card balances, unpaid bills, and funeral expenses. These reduce the net value of the estate, so an accurate list matters both for Revenue and for the Probate Office fee.
For each beneficiary, you will record their name, PPSN, relationship to the deceased, and the value of what they inherit. The relationship determines which Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) group applies, so note it carefully for every person who benefits from the estate.
Quick reference: the probate document checklist
The table below summarises every document and detail you need, and where to obtain each one. Use it as a working list and tick items off as they arrive — some, such as institution balances and valuations, depend on third parties and can take time.
Original will and any codicils
Held by your loved one, their solicitor, or in safe storage. Upload a copy to Revenue; keep the original.
Original death certificate
General Register Office or any civil registration office, once the death is registered.
Deceased's PPS number
Payslips, pension or social welfare correspondence, or Revenue records.
Beneficiaries' PPS numbers
Each beneficiary's own records; non-residents may need to apply for one.
Bank, credit union, and An Post balances
Written date-of-death balance from each institution.
Property valuation
A qualified valuer or auctioneer, valued as at the date of death.
Life assurance payout figures
The insurer, confirming the amount payable.
Liabilities (loans, bills, funeral costs)
Statements from lenders and outstanding invoices.
Documents and details needed to apply for probate in Ireland (courts.ie and revenue.ie, June 2026).
| Document or detail | Where to get it |
|---|---|
| Original will and any codicils | Held by your loved one, their solicitor, or in safe storage. Upload a copy to Revenue; keep the original. |
| Original death certificate | General Register Office or any civil registration office, once the death is registered. |
| Deceased's PPS number | Payslips, pension or social welfare correspondence, or Revenue records. |
| Beneficiaries' PPS numbers | Each beneficiary's own records; non-residents may need to apply for one. |
| Bank, credit union, and An Post balances | Written date-of-death balance from each institution. |
| Property valuation | A qualified valuer or auctioneer, valued as at the date of death. |
| Life assurance payout figures | The insurer, confirming the amount payable. |
| Liabilities (loans, bills, funeral costs) | Statements from lenders and outstanding invoices. |
Why valuations must be at the date of death
Every asset on the SA.2 must be valued as at the date of death— the day your loved one died — not its value today. This is the figure Revenue and the Probate Office rely on, and it sets the baseline for any inheritance tax that may arise.
For bank, credit union, and An Post accounts, request a written balance as at the date of death from each institution. For property, a qualified valuer or auctioneer should provide a market valuation at that date. Insurers confirm the amount payable on any life assurance policy. Sourcing each figure directly avoids the queries that estimated values invite.
In the estates we coordinate, incomplete or estimated valuations are the single most common cause of Revenue queries on the SA.2 — and a query can push an application back by weeks. It is worth getting each number right before you submit rather than correcting it afterwards.
Beneficiary details and inheritance tax
For every beneficiary — that is, each person who inherits — the SA.2 records their name, PPS number, relationship to your loved one, and the value of what they inherit. The relationship determines which Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) group applies — and that decides how much each person can inherit tax-free.
There are three CAT thresholds, and each one is the amount a person can inherit tax-free:
- €400,000 (Group A)— mainly children.
- €40,000 (Group B)— close relatives such as siblings, nieces, nephews, grandparents, and grandchildren. (A minor grandchild of a child who has died qualifies for Group A instead.)
- €20,000 (Group C)— everyone else.
Anything above the threshold is taxed at 33%. The thresholds are lifetime totals, so earlier gifts within the same group reduce what is left.
If the estate is likely to trigger a CAT liability, a beneficiary may need to file their own IT38 return. Our guide to IT38 filing and the grant of probate explains how the valuation date and the filing deadline work together.
When the paperwork suggests you need help
A personal application suits many straightforward estates. But certain documents are a signal that professional input is sensible: a will whose validity is in question, assets held abroad, a beneficiary under 18, or signs of disagreement among the family. In these cases the law may require a solicitor.
Our guide to when you need a solicitor for probate sets out each situation in full, and our guide to common probate mistakes shows where document errors most often go wrong. If you are unsure, that uncertainty is itself a good reason to get a second opinion before you submit.