Probate, Executorship & Estate Management in Ireland – A Practical Guide for Executors

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Being named as an executor in a Will is an honour. It is also a responsibility that many people underestimate until they find themselves standing in the hallway of a family home, keys in hand, unsure where to begin.

In Ireland, executors are often ordinary people — sons, daughters, spouses or close friends — suddenly required to act in a quasi-legal, financial and administrative role at a time of grief. The task can feel overwhelming: legal obligations, tax documentation, property decisions, contents valuation, and managing beneficiaries’ expectations all at once.

At Herman White, we regularly assist executors and their solicitors through the entire process. This guide explains what the executor’s role involves and how professional estate management support can make a difficult job manageable, efficient and far less stressful.

The Role of an Executor — What You Are Actually Responsible For

An executor is legally responsible for administering the estate of a deceased person in accordance with their Will and Irish probate law. You are not simply arranging a sale — you are temporarily stepping into the financial shoes of the deceased.

Your duties typically include:

• Identifying and securing all assets
• Obtaining property and contents valuations
• Working with a solicitor to apply for the Grant of Probate
• Completing Revenue documentation
• Protecting the property
• Managing insurance and utilities
• Clearing and preparing the house
• Selling property where required
• Distributing proceeds to beneficiaries

Most executors quickly discover that the property — especially a long-owned family home — becomes the central challenge. It is not just a building. It contains decades of belongings, memories, paperwork, and often valuable items whose worth is unclear.

This is where professional estate management support becomes essential.

Step 1 — Securing and Understanding the Estate

Immediately after a death, the executor must ensure the property is safe and insured. Many people don’t realise that standard house insurance often becomes invalid if the property is vacant for a period.

At this stage, the executor needs:

• An initial market valuation for probate purposes
• Advice on protecting the property
• Guidance on what not to dispose of
• A plan before contacting clearance companies

Why valuation matters early

The probate valuation is not the same as the asking price.
It forms part of the Revenue Affidavit and can affect:

• Capital Acquisitions Tax for beneficiaries
• Potential future CGT exposure
• The fairness of the distribution between heirs

Over- or under-valuing can create serious complications later.

Herman White’s role:
We provide a probate valuation suitable for solicitor submission and advise on likely market sale value at the same time — helping executors and families make informed decisions early.

Step 2 — The Grant of Probate & Working With the Solicitor

Your solicitor prepares the application for the Grant of Probate, but they rely heavily on accurate information from the executor.

Common delays occur because:

• Assets were disposed of prematurely
• Valuable items were missed
• Property condition wasn’t assessed correctly
• Valuations were not appropriate for Revenue

This is where coordination matters. An estate agent working only at the sale stage is often too late in the process.

Herman White works directly with the executor and solicitor, ensuring:

• Correct valuation documentation
• Clear asset identification
• Practical sequencing of steps
• Avoidance of costly mistakes

The goal is simple: probate granted without queries or re-submissions.

Step 3 — Valuation of Contents, Antiques & Fine Art

One of the most stressful moments for executors is opening drawers and cupboards and realising they have no idea what is valuable and what is not.

Irish homes often contain:

• Paintings and Irish art
• Silverware
• Antiques
• Books and manuscripts
• Jewellery
• Collectables
• Period furniture

Mistakes here are common — and irreversible.

We frequently see estates where valuable items were:

• Donated unknowingly
• Discarded during clearance
• Divided unfairly between beneficiaries
• Incorrectly valued for probate

Herman White provides specialist contents and art valuation guidance so executors understand:

• What requires professional appraisal
• What should be retained
• What can be distributed safely
• What may be sold separately from the house

This protects the executor from personal liability — something many people do not realise they carry.

Step 4 — House Clearance & Preparation for Sale

The emotional and physical burden of clearing a lifetime’s belongings is usually the hardest part of the executorship.

Families often begin clearing too early, too quickly, or without a plan.

Why preparation matters

The presentation of a property can dramatically affect sale value.
Clearing everything is not always the best decision.

Sometimes we advise:

• Partial staging
• Retaining period features
• Removing specific items only
• Minor repairs instead of renovation
• Doing nothing at all

Every estate property is different.

Our service includes organising and coordinating:

• Structured clearance
• Donation and disposal
• Sensitive handling of personal items
• Property preparation
• Market positioning advice

Importantly, the executor deals with one dedicated point of contact throughout — not multiple contractors, agents and auctioneers.

Step 5 — Selling the Property

By the time a property reaches the market, the executor has often already endured months of administration.

A smooth sale now becomes critical because:

• Beneficiaries are waiting
• Estate expenses are ongoing
• Emotions can run high
• Delays can cause conflict

Our role is to guide the executor through:

• Pricing strategy
• Marketing
• Viewings
• Negotiations
• Closing timelines aligned with probate

Because we have been involved from the start, we understand the estate’s sensitivities and can manage buyers appropriately — particularly where probate is pending.

Step 6 — Supporting the Executor Throughout

Executors often tell us the hardest part is not any single task — it is managing everything at once while grieving.

They must communicate with:

• Family members
• Solicitors
• Revenue
• Buyers
• Clearance companies
• Auctioneers
• Insurance providers

Without coordination, stress multiplies.

Our approach

Herman White provides one dedicated contact for the entire process — from first valuation to final sale.

We act as a practical advisor rather than just a selling agent, helping the executor:

• Understand the correct order of steps
• Avoid common pitfalls
• Communicate clearly with beneficiaries
• Make confident decisions

The objective is not only achieving a strong sale result — it is protecting the executor from risk and unnecessary pressure.

Why Professional Guidance Matters

Executors are personally liable for mistakes in administering an estate.
Most people do not know this until after accepting the role.

Common problems we see:

• Incorrect valuation submitted
• Items disposed of prematurely
• Family disputes over contents
• Property sold before tax implications understood
• Delays causing financial loss

These issues are preventable when the estate is managed as a structured process rather than a series of tasks.

In Conclusion

Administering a loved one’s estate is not just paperwork — it is a transition between generations. It should be handled carefully, respectfully and correctly.

The executor should not have to become a legal expert, property expert and antiques specialist overnight.

With the right support, the role becomes manageable, decisions become clearer, and families can focus on what matters most.

At Herman White, we guide executors and their solicitors through every stage — valuation, advice, preparation and sale — providing one trusted point of contact from beginning to completion, nationwide.

If you have been named as an executor, early advice is the single most valuable step you can take.

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