Whether you are researching a family member's estate, checking if someone left a will, or tracing a genealogical connection, the Irish probate register is an important resource. Once a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration has been issued, the details become part of the public record.
This guide explains where records are held, how to search them, and what you can expect to find. If you are new to probate, our complete guide to probate in Ireland covers the full process from start to finish.
How to search the probate register
The process depends on the time period and what you are looking for. Follow these steps to find the records you need.
01
Determine the time period
The first step is to identify roughly when the person passed away, as this determines where to search. Records before 1922 are held by the National Archives of Ireland. Records from 1922 onwards are held by the Probate Office in Dublin and the District Probate Registries.
02
For pre-1922 records — search online
The National Archives of Ireland has digitised probate calendars from 1858 to 1920, and they are freely searchable online. Calendars from 1923 to 1982 are available as PDFs on the National Archives website (1921 and 1922 have not yet been digitised; they are available in hardcopy only in the National Archives Reading Room). These calendars list the name of the deceased, date of death, estate value, and the names of executors or administrators. The original wills for this period were largely destroyed in the 1922 Four Courts fire, but the calendar entries and many will abstracts survive.
03
For 1922 onwards — visit the Probate Office or District Registry
Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration from 1922 to the present are held at the Probate Office in Dublin (Phoenix House, 15/24 Phoenix Street North, Smithfield) and at District Probate Registries around the country. You can visit in person to search the records. A fee of €20 applies for searches, with additional fees for certified copies.
04
Provide the deceased’s details
To search, you will need the deceased’s full name, approximate date of death, and last known address. The more precise the details you can provide, the faster the search. If you are unsure of the exact date of death, a date range of a few years will usually suffice.
05
Request copies of the Grant and will
Once a Grant of Probate has been issued, both the Grant and the will become public documents. You can request certified copies from the Probate Office. There is a fee for certified copies, typically modest. These documents show the executors, the beneficiaries named in the will, and the estate value declared at the time.
What you will find
The probate register records the fact that a Grant was issued, not the full details of the estate administration. Specifically, you will find:
The name and address of the deceased
The date of death and date the Grant was issued
The names of executors or administrators
The gross and net value of the estate as declared
A copy of the will (if one was filed)
The register does not include details of how the estate was distributed, correspondence between parties, or the full Statement of Affairs (Form SA.2). These remain private.
Key contacts
Probate Office (Dublin)— 1st Floor, Phoenix House, 15/24 Phoenix Street North, Smithfield, Dublin 7, D07 X028. Handles all probate applications for Dublin and serves as the principal registry for Ireland.
District Probate Registries— Located in Castlebar, Cavan, Clonmel, Cork, Dundalk, Galway, Kilkenny, Letterkenny, Limerick, Mullingar, Sligo, Tralee, Waterford, and Wexford. These handle applications where the deceased had a fixed place of abode within the district.
National Archives of Ireland— Bishop Street, Dublin 8. Holds historical probate calendars (1858–1920) searchable free online, plus PDFs for 1923–1982 and surviving will copies and abstracts.
If you are navigating the probate process and need help understanding what comes next, try our free assessment for a clear picture of what your estate needs.
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