The real cost of a personal probate application

A personal probate application bypasses the €2,500 to €5,000 solicitor fee. The trade is the executor's time: 30 to 40 hours of information-gathering, form-completion, Probate Office attendance, and post-grant administration. This page shows the real cash cost, line by line.

Direct out-of-pocket costs

For a standard Irish estate (family home, a couple of bank accounts, a pension, a will, family beneficiaries, no unusual assets), with a net estate value of around €500,000:

Line item	Typical cost
Probate Office lodgement fee (personal, €250k–€500k band)	€700
Certified death certificates (5 copies at €20 each)	€100
Certified copies of the Grant (3 to 5 at €20 each)	€60 to €100
Property valuation (letter from estate agent)	€200 to €400
Bank balance confirmations	€0 (banks provide free on request)
Postage and registered mail	€30 to €60
Commissioner for Oaths (if applicable)	€0 to €25
Photo ID and miscellaneous	€0 to €20
Total	€1,090 to €1,405

Call it €1,250 at the mid-range for a €500,000 estate. Under €100,000 in net value the Probate Office fee drops to €200 and the total falls to around €600. Above €750,000 it rises: the fee bands are €1,000 up to €750k net and €1,300 up to €1,000,000 net, with €800 added per €500,000 above that.

For estates with more complexity (multiple properties, multiple banks, international shareholdings), costs scale with value. Use the Probate Office fee bands as your anchor.

Time cost

The executor's time is the real cost. For a standard estate, breaking the work down:

• Week 1 to 2 (initial setup): 5 to 8 hours. Gathering documents, registering for Revenue myAccount, ordering death certificate copies, initial notifications to banks and institutions.
• Week 3 to 8 (information gathering): 10 to 15 hours. Following up with institutions for written balance confirmations, getting valuations, chasing outstanding documents. Most of this time is waiting rather than doing, but the elapsed time is real.
• Week 9 to 10 (SA2 preparation and filing): 6 to 10 hours. Completing the SA2, reviewing, submitting, receiving the Notice of Acknowledgement.
• Week 11 to 14 (probate papers): 4 to 6 hours. Preparing the Oath, assembling the lodgement bundle, booking the Probate Office appointment.
• Probate Office appointment: 1 to 2 hours (half a working day including travel).
• Post-Grant: 5 to 8 hours. Collecting assets, paying debts, distributing to beneficiaries, requesting Revenue clearance.

Total: roughly 30 to 50 hours spread over 3 to 6 months of calendar time.

Comparing to a solicitor's fee

A solicitor handling the same €500,000 estate typically charges €2,500 to €3,500 plus VAT, which is €3,075 to €4,305 inclusive. The solicitor's Probate Office lodgement fee at the same band is €350 (lower than the personal rate). The solicitor does most of the work, but the executor still attends a couple of meetings, signs documents, and provides information. Roughly 8 to 12 hours of executor time either way.

The financial comparison for a €500,000 estate:

• Personal application: approximately €1,250 in cash plus 35 hours of executor time
• Solicitor application: approximately €3,825 to €4,825 in cash plus 10 hours of executor time

The cash saving from DIY is approximately €2,575 to €3,575. The time cost is an additional 25 hours of executor work. Implied hourly rate: roughly €100 to €140 per hour for the time saved.

For most people, that trade is worth it. For senior professionals whose current earning rate is above €140 per hour and who would be working rather than handling probate, the economics can flip.

Complexity that shifts the cost equation

The €1,250 figure assumes a standard €500,000 estate. Real estates often have wrinkles that add cost:

Second property. An additional estate agent valuation (€200 to €400) and one more institution to work with. Adds €200 and maybe 5 hours. If the second property pushes the net estate value into a higher Probate Office fee band, add that too.

Overseas assets. A separate probate grant in the foreign jurisdiction is usually required. UK grants alone can cost €1,500 to €3,000 in additional fees. Often makes the estate unsuitable for personal application.

Business or farm. Specialist valuations required (€1,000 to €3,000). Agricultural Relief or Business Relief on the CAT side typically needs a tax adviser. Adds €3,000 to €10,000 depending on complexity.

Multiple beneficiaries with disputes. The executor's prudent path is to pay for a solicitor to mediate. Personal application becomes risky.

Contested will or Section 117 claim. Personal application is no longer appropriate. Solicitor is essential.

For each wrinkle, ask: is this cost I would incur anyway if I went to a solicitor? If yes, the personal route still makes sense. If no, the wrinkle is pushing the estate toward solicitor territory.

What the €660 does not include

A few costs people sometimes miss:

Time off work. The Probate Office is open during business hours only. The appointment, plus the trip, takes half a day. Most banks and institutions also operate during business hours. Factor in unpaid leave or holiday time if your employer does not grant flexibility.

Parking and travel. Dublin Probate Office is on Phoenix Street; parking is €15 to €25 for the morning. Trains and taxis add €20 to €50 if travelling from further afield.

Accountant or tax adviser on the CAT side. Not required for the probate application itself, but many beneficiaries want professional help with their IT38, particularly where reliefs are claimed. Allow €200 to €1,000 per IT38 if professional help is wanted.

After the Grant

The Grant arrives in the post 2 to 4 weeks after the Probate Office appointment. The executor's remaining tasks are straightforward: collect assets, settle debts, distribute, file IT38s, request Revenue clearance. No additional Probate Office fees arise at this stage.

Total elapsed time from date of death to final distribution for a standard personal application: typically 4 to 8 months. Elapsed time is similar to solicitor applications; the Probate Office processing time dominates in both cases.