11 Jun 2026
You left home with a dream. You moved abroad, worked long hours, managed bills, supported your family, and regularly sent money home to the people who depend on you.
But here is a question many expats avoid: What would happen to your savings, property, investments, and personal belongings if something unexpected happened to you?
Many people spend years building financial security for their loved ones. Yet they delay one important step that could protect everything they have worked for. That step is Making a Will.
For expats living in Ireland and supporting family members overseas, having a valid will is not just about distributing assets. It is about reducing stress for your family, avoiding confusion, and ensuring your wishes are followed.
According to the World Bank, officially recorded remittance flows to low and middle-income countries were expected to reach EUR 635 billion equivalent in 2024, highlighting the significant role migrants play in supporting families worldwide.
If your family depends on your financial support, planning ahead becomes even more important. This guide explains everything expats in Ireland need to know about wills, based on current Irish guidance and legal requirements.
Many migrants focus on earning, saving, and supporting loved ones. Estate planning often gets pushed aside. However, a valid will can help:
Without a valid will, Irish intestacy rules may determine how your estate is distributed rather than your personal wishes. For expats with family in different countries, this can create additional challenges.
A will is a legal document that sets out what should happen to your money, property, possessions, and other assets after your death. It also names the person responsible for carrying out your wishes. This person is called an executor.
For migrants, a will can provide instructions relating to:
A properly prepared will can make the administration process clearer for those left behind.
Many expats regularly transfer part of their earnings to support: Parents, Spouses, Children, Siblings, and Extended family members.
When there is no will, loved ones may face uncertainty about assets, accounts, and legal entitlements. A clear will can help ensure that the people you intend to support receive the benefits you planned for them.
This is especially important when family members live in different countries and may already face administrative challenges during difficult times.
According to Irish Law Society guidance, a will generally needs to meet several legal requirements to be legally valid or considered valid under Irish law. The person making the will must be of sound mind and have testamentary capacity for it to be legally binding.
Generally, you must be: At least 18 years old, or Married.
You should understand that to make a legally valid will, you must be of sound mind and have testamentary capacity to understand: The nature of the document, The assets you own, and The people who may benefit from your estate.
A valid Irish will should be written and properly signed, whether you make your own will or use a solicitor, and an opening and revocation clause can help state the testator's intentions clearly.
The will must be signed or acknowledged in the presence of two witnesses. The witnesses must also sign the will according to legal requirements. How witnesses sign matters, and an attestation clause can help show the will was properly executed for probate.
A witness, or the spouse or civil partner of a witness, should not receive benefits under the will because those gifts may not be effective.
Yes, it can.
If a person dies without a valid will, they are considered to have died "intestate." In such cases:
A spouse or civil partner has a legal right share, and on intestacy a spouse inherits the entire estate if there are no children. If there are children, the spouse takes two thirds and the remaining one third, with that one third share divided equally among the children.
This may not reflect what the deceased actually wanted. The process can also become more complicated for families. For expats with family living abroad, intestacy can add further delays and confusion.
An executor is responsible for carrying out the instructions contained in your will.
Choose someone who is:
Common choices include:
The appointment of an executor in the will can be a family member, a trusted friend, or a solicitor. The person should be capable of handling legal and administrative responsibilities when the time comes. Executors may need to apply to the probate office for a grant of probate before dealing with bank accounts and other estate assets.
Many issues arise because people overlook important details. Some common mistakes include:
Assets not specifically dealt with in the will can create avoidable problems if no residuary gift covers them.
Irish legal professionals often highlight execution errors as one of the biggest causes of problems with wills.
A will should not be viewed as a one-time task. Review it when:
Regular reviews help ensure your wishes remain accurate, so you should also review your will at least every five years and after any change in marital status.
Families today are more internationally connected than ever before. Many migrants have assets in multiple countries, dependents living overseas, and international financial commitments.
At the same time, global migration continues to grow. The United Nations estimates that approximately 304 million people worldwide were international migrants in 2024, showing how many families now manage finances across borders. This makes proper estate planning increasingly important.
Life can change unexpectedly. A valid will gives your family clarity when they may need it most. It helps ensure your wishes are respected, your assets are distributed according to your intentions, and your loved ones avoid unnecessary complications.
For expats in Ireland, Making a Will is one of the most practical steps you can take to protect the people you work so hard to support.
And while you plan for tomorrow, ACE Money Transfer can help you continue supporting your loved ones today through secure and convenient international money transfers. Many expats use trusted digital remittance services like ACE Money Transfer to manage family support from Ireland to their home countries conveniently while staying connected to family needs abroad. Financial planning is not only about the future. It is also about helping the people who matter most today.
A solicitor is not always legally required, as you can write your own will or hire a solicitor. However, professional advice may help reduce mistakes, and legal professionals can advise on complex estates or overseas assets, especially if you have complex family circumstances or significant property. A properly prepared document can help avoid future disputes.
Many expats own property or financial assets in different countries. Depending on your circumstances, professional legal advice may help ensure your wishes are properly reflected and that international assets are considered appropriately. Any inheritance of overseas assets from a deceased person can also have tax consequences in Ireland. Beneficiaries may owe capital acquisitions tax depending on their relationship to the deceased, with spouses generally exempt and different group thresholds applying before tax is due.
Under Irish rules, gifts to a witness or the spouse or civil partner of a witness may not be effective. This is why choosing suitable witnesses is important when signing a will.
You should review your will after major life events such as marriage, having children, purchasing property, moving abroad, or significant financial changes. You may also decide to revoke an old will by making a new will. A will can also be revoked by intentionally destroying the document. Regular reviews help keep your wishes current.
If you die without a valid will, your estate may be distributed according to intestacy rules. Under the Succession Act, a spouse or civil partner may still have a legal right to share in the estate even where there is no will. Those rights can change in certain circumstances, including divorce or judicial separation. Children can also apply to court if they believe proper provision has not been made for them. A surviving spouse may, in some cases, keep the family home from the estate of the deceased civil partner or spouse. This process may not reflect your personal wishes and can create additional complications for family members, particularly when relatives live in different countries.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, regulatory, tax, business, or financial advice. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of ACE Money Transfer. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no warranty is given as to the completeness, accuracy, or currency of the information. Services and practices mentioned may vary by provider and jurisdiction. Readers should consult qualified professional advisors before making any financial or business decisions.
