Irish legal information in plain English

Clear, independent guides to the legal questions people in Ireland most often face: making a will, planning for loss of capacity, dealing with an estate, separation and divorce, buying a home, and small claims and injury compensation.

Each guide explains how the law and the official procedures work, in everyday language, with links to Citizens Information, the Courts Service and other official sources so you can check the detail for yourself.

Guides

• How to make a will in Ireland

  How to make a valid will in Ireland: who can make one, signing and witness rules, what to include, the legal right share, and when a will is revoked.

• How long after a death is a will read in Ireland?

  Is there a formal reading of the will in Ireland? Who sees the will, when it becomes public, the executor's year, and how an estate is shared with no will.

• Enduring power of attorney in Ireland

  How an enduring power of attorney works in Ireland since April 2023: what it covers, who can be an attorney, registering with the Decision Support Service.

• How long does probate take in Ireland?

  How long probate takes in Ireland, stage by stage: the SA.2 Revenue form, applying for the grant, fees, the executor's year, and what slows an estate down.

• How to get a divorce in Ireland

  How to get a divorce in Ireland: the two-in-three-years rule, the forms, mediation, consent and contested cases, plus how judicial separation differs.

• The small claims procedure in Ireland

  How the small claims procedure works in Ireland: the €2,000 limit, which disputes qualify, how to apply online, what the respondent can do, and enforcement.

• Personal injury claims and the Injuries Resolution Board

  How personal injury claims work through the Injuries Resolution Board (formerly PIAB): time limits, fees, mediation, assessment, accepting an award, court.

• Conveyancing in Ireland: the steps to buying a house

  The conveyancing steps when buying a house in Ireland: booking deposit, contracts, survey, requisitions on title, closing, stamp duty and registering the deeds.

How these guides are written

The guides describe the law of the Republic of Ireland. They are written for people who want to understand a process before they start it, or who want to know what questions to ask a solicitor. Facts such as time limits, fees and thresholds are taken from official sources and each guide lists those sources at the end. Laws and fees do change, so always check the current position before relying on a figure.

The site does not offer legal services, appointments or advice on individual cases. More about the approach is on the about page.

Useful official sources

• Citizens Information: public information on rights and entitlements
• Courts Service: probate, family law, small claims and court forms
• Law Society of Ireland: finding a solicitor
• Legal Aid Board: civil legal aid and family mediation
• FLAC: free legal advice clinics
• Decision Support Service: enduring powers of attorney