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How to find a will

The National Archives preserves state records, including wills from the Probate Office, which is part of the High Court.

 

The National Archives holds the wills for Dublin and some district registries up to 1991. For all records from 1992 onwards please contact the Probate Office.

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How to find a will

This guide explains how to locate historic wills and grants of probate or letters of administration in Ireland. The National Archives preserves state records, including wills from the Probate Office, which is part of the High Court.

The National Archives holds the wills for Dublin and some district registries up to the year 1991. For all records from 1992 onwards please contact the Probate Office.

These records are invaluable for genealogists, researchers, and those exploring family history.

What is a will?

A will is a legal document expressing a person’s wishes regarding the distribution of their estate after death. To ensure its legality, the courts must issue a grant of probate.

If someone dies without a will (intestate), the courts can issue letters of administration to appoint someone to manage the estate’s distribution.

Types of testamentary records

  • Grant of probate: Legalises a will and confirms the executor’s authority to distribute the estate
  • Grant of letters of administration: Issued when no will exists, allowing an administrator to manage the estate
  • Records after 1858:
    • Managed by the civil courts (Principal and District Registries of the Probate Court before 1877, and the High Court from 1877)
    • Indexed in the annual Calendars of Wills and Administrations for 1858–1982

Key offices managing testamentary records

  • Principal Registry: Also referred to as the Probate Office, is the central office in Dublin for managing testamentary records. In the Calendars of Wills, it is noted as PR, PO, or Dublin. Find more at Dublin Probate Office
  • District Registry: A District Registry is a sub-office of the Probate Office located outside Dublin. Ireland has 14 District Probate Offices, which issue grants of probate and administration locally
  • Probate Office: The Probate Office is part of the High Court responsible for administering testamentary records. The central office is in Dublin, with additional District Probate Offices across Ireland

Searching for a grant of probate

A grant of probate is an official document that validates a deceased person’s will, allowing the executor to distribute their estate according to their wishes. These grants are indexed annually in an alphabetical record called the Calendar of Wills and Administrations.

How to search:

  • Look for the year the grant was issued (not the year of death)
  • Do a five-year search to account for potential delays in processing
  • The calendars are arranged by the surname of the deceased for easy navigation

Searching for a grant of letters of administration

If a person died without a will (intestate), the courts issue letters of administration to appoint someone to manage the distribution of the estate. These grants are also recorded in the Calendars of Wills and Administrations.

How to search:

  • Grants of administration are listed similarly to probate grants, by year of issue and surname of the deceased
  • From 1868 onwards, both probate and administration grants are included in the same calendar series

What is a will calendar?

A will calendar is an index summarising key details about wills and grants of probate or administration. It is an essential tool for locating the original records.

Each entry typically provides:

  • Name of the deceased
  • Date of death
  • Grant date
  • Grant type (e.g., probate or administration)
  • Address
  • Executor details
  • Estate value
  • Issuing registry

Searching will calendars

  • Online:
  • Search calendars for 1923–1982 in the online catalogue
    • Use the reference code CS/HC/PO/4 in the catalogue
    • Simple Search: Type “Calendar of Wills” and the year (e.g., Calendar of Wills 1962) to access a PDF link for that year
    • Advanced Search: Enter the series reference code CS/HC/PO/4 in the ‘Reference Code’ field for more precise results
  • Download PDFs for 1952–1982
    • Download the PDF calendars for this period and search for the individual within the document
  • Reading Room:
    • Calendars for 1921–1922 are available only in hard copy in the Reading Room
    • Calendars for 1983-1991 are available only in hard copy in the Reading Room
    • Use the deceased’s name to locate relevant records.
  • Northern Ireland:

Tips for effective searches

For common names, searches may yield multiple entries. Narrow your results by searching individual calendars when you know the grant date or date of death.

If no results are found, expand your search by using a five-year range, as registration delays were common.

Before 1858, records were managed by the Church of Ireland. Separate indexes for these records are available on microfilm in the Reading Room.

From 1858 onwards, records were managed by the civil courts and are indexed in the Calendars of Wills and Administrations.

 

Order a copy of a will or grant of probate

To obtain a copy:

  1. Complete the order form with:
  2. Name of the deceased
  3. Grant date
  4. Issuing registry
  5. Email the form to query@nationalarchives.ie

Once we have received your request and ordered the documents, we will revert back to you with final costs and methods of payment.

Download the form to order copies of wills or grants of probate

Help with research

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