Executor based outside Ireland.
You are named executor in an Irish will but you live in the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, or elsewhere. You cannot easily visit Ireland to attend the Probate Office or deal with banks in person. ProbatePack is built for this. the entire process works by email, phone, and post.
Handling Irish probate without being in Ireland.
Irish emigrants routinely end up as executors for estates back home. The practical challenge is not legal. it is logistical. You need original documents, certified death certificates, institution responses, and a Probate Office appointment, all while being thousands of miles away.
The process works remotely. The Probate Office can accept applications by post or arrange remote appointments. Most Irish institutions respond by post. Revenue's SA2 is filed entirely online on myAccount. A well-organised non-resident executor can handle probate end-to-end without setting foot in Ireland, though most choose to travel for at least the appointment.
Four adjustments for non-resident executors.
Get certified death certificates by post
Request certified copies from the General Register Office (GRO) in Dublin by post. They ship to any address worldwide, typically within 10 days. You need one per institution plus two spares. €20 each.
Arrange an Irish correspondence address
Institutions will only post to Irish addresses. Use a trusted family member's address, or a solicitor's office if you are engaging one for a limited role. All your mail can be photographed and emailed to you.
Time the Probate Office appointment
Dublin Principal Probate Office offers personal-applicant appointments. You can travel to attend, or request remote handling for straightforward cases. Discuss options directly with the office when you lodge.
File Revenue SA2 from anywhere
Revenue myAccount is accessible internationally. You file the SA2 from your home country. The Notice of Acknowledgement is emailed. No Irish residency required for filing.
Three pitfalls for non-resident executors.
Timezone and response delays. Irish institutions operate 9am-5pm Irish time. If you are in California, the working overlap is limited. Email is reliable; phone calls need scheduling. Budget extra weeks for back-and-forth.
Document certification. Foreign solicitors or notaries can certify documents, but Irish institutions sometimes push back on foreign certifications. Request the Irish consulate or a UK/Irish-qualified solicitor where possible.
Personal tax on the inheritance if you are the beneficiary. If you are also a beneficiary and not resident in Ireland for tax purposes, complex rules determine whether Irish CAT applies. The rule depends on the disponer's residency. Revenue's Section 6 CATCA 2003 tests apply. take tax advice if the estate is above thresholds.
The Preparation Pack is built to work by post.
Every letter in the Preparation Pack is a DOCX you can print from anywhere. The SA2 briefing works on any device with Revenue myAccount access. Non-resident executors routinely complete Irish probate using just the Preparation Pack plus a trusted relative as their postal contact.
Preparation Pack
25 institution letters, SA2 briefing, affidavit, post-Grant walkthrough. Works remotely via post, email, and Revenue myAccount.
See the packComplete Bundle
Adds the full CAT layer for non-resident executors where inheritance tax complexity is high.
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